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Archived News Article: Information may be out of date
January 30, 2019

Find Resources to Improve Your Living Conditions

Find Resources to Improve Your Living Conditions
Find Resources to Improve Your Living Conditions

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 12% of Americans, or almost 40 million people, are living in poverty. Benefits.gov offers information on a range of resources that can help improve the living conditions of low-income families. If you are facing challenges such as homelessness, poor health, or need financial support, you may be eligible for Federal assistance through the following programs.

Housing

If you need housing support, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a Resource Locator Tool, where you can view housing resources offered in your state, from local shelter information to guidance on foreclosure prevention. If you have a low income and need help finding affordable rental housing, you may be eligible for HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) offered through your local Public Housing Authority.

Healthcare

Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible low-income adults and children. Medicaid programs and eligibility requirements vary from state to state, but Healthcare.gov allows you to search by state to find requirements. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), providing health coverage to children in families that may not qualify for Medicaid. CHIP benefits and eligibility requirements are different in each state, but InsureKidsNow.gov provides information on the available programs by state.

Financial Assistance

HHS offers many programs with the goal of improving the well-being of individuals and families, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). TANF provides financial assistance to states to help families with things like childcare, employment services, housing, and other necessary expenses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers benefits to eligible low-income people and families. Use the SNAP Pre-Screening Tool to help determine if you are eligible to receive SNAP benefits.

Explore more Resources

To find additional housing, healthcare, or financial resources, visit our Browse by Category page. We also encourage you to take our Benefit Finder questionnaire to find out what additional assistance you may be eligible to receive.

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