Mississippi Emergency Assistance Guide for Food and Shelter

GotTrouble.org provides information on Mississippi’s local, state, and federal resources for people going through life-changing financial trouble and hardship. We provide information on helpful services from private, public, religious, and non-profit organizations.

FEDERAL RESOURCES:

Hunger

Feeding America

Feeding America is one of the leading national hunger-relief organizations providing food assistance for over 25 million low-income people nationwide, including children and seniors.

Homeless Shelters

Shelters

Thrift Stores

Salvation Army

Assists children, women, elderly men, addicts, and families through troubled times. Find a location near you.

Social Security

Social Security Disability Insurance (SDI)

The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you are “insured.” This means you worked long enough – and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children who meet our requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.

Supplemental Income (SSI)

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides monthly payments to adults and children with a disability or blindness who have income and resources below specific financial limits. SSI payments are also made to people aged 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial qualifications.

Food Assistance – SNAP

Food Stamps

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is a Federally is a federally funded program. The program helps people buy the food they need for good health. People also can buy garden seeds with SNAP benefits.

Temporary Cash

Temporary Cash Assistance

TANF program stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. It is a joint program between all states and the Federal government that provides cash payments to help families pay for food, clothing, housing, and other essentials. The program is for families with children aged 18 and younger; families who qualify for this help have little to no money or don’t have a way to get money.

Public Housing

Public Housing – Section 8   

The Public Housing Choice Voucher Program provides rental assistance payments on behalf of low-income individuals and families, including the elderly and persons with disabilities. The program provides financial assistance for decent, safe, and sanitary housing to eligible households whose annual gross income does not exceed 50% of HUD’s median income guidelines.

Health Clinics

Health Services Clinics

Medicaid and federal cooperative venture that provides medical coverage to eligible needy persons. The purpose of Medicaid is to improve the health of people in the state who might otherwise go without medical care for themselves and their children.

To be eligible for Medicaid, you must be a state resident, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or a legal alien in need of health care/insurance assistance whose financial situation is low. You must also be one of the following:

• Pregnant, or
• Be responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger, or
• Blind, or
• Have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability.
• Be 65 years of age or older.

Child Health Assistance

Child Healthcare CHIP

Members in the CHIP program can get benefits like:

• Regular checkups with the doctor and dentist.
• Prescription drugs and vaccines.
• Hospital care and services.
• X-rays and lab tests.
• Vision and hearing care.
• Access to medical specialists and mental health care.
• Treatment of special health needs and pre-existing conditions.

Legal Aid Services

Legal Aid

Inquire to see if you qualify for free or low-cost legal assistance.

• consumer law
• landlord tenant
• foreclosure
• public benefits
• tax relief
• family law
• domestic violence
• sexual assault
• crime victim rights

NATIONAL EMERGENCY HOTLINES:

Local Critical Emergency (Dial 911)   

Non-Critical Emergency (Dial 211)   

Suicide Prevention

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or Lifeline Chat

Domestic Violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project: 800-832-1901  

STAND! For Families Free of Violence crisis line: 888-215-5555 

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-422-4453  

Darkness to Light Child Sexual Abuse National Helpline: 866-367-5444  

Stop it Now! Prevent child sexual abuse helpline: 888-PREVENT    

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Hotline: 800-843-5678    

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656- 4673       

Elder Abuse

Eldercare Locator Abuse and Neglect: 800-677-1116

National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) directory of state helplines   

Addiction

SAMHSA’s National Helpline (substance abuse and mental health): 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)

Partnership to End Addiction: 855-378-4373 or text CONNECT to 55753 to get one-on-one help to address your child’s substance use    

National Problem Gambling Helpline Network: 800-522-4700    

Smokefree.gov helpline to stop smoking: 800-784-8669.    

National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline: 877–44U–QUIT (877–448–7848) 

ADHD

Contact an ADHD Specialist at CHADD: 866-200-8098

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Alzheimer’s Association helpline: 800-272-3900.   

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America AFA helpline: 866-232-8484   

Lewy Body Dementia Association Lewy Line: 800-539-9767. 

Eldercare Locator – U.S. Administration on Aging: 800-677-1116

Autism

Autism Society National Helpline: 800-328-8476  

Bullying

Crisis Support Services National Helpline: 800-273-8255

Teen Line: 800-852-8336   

 Caregiving

Caregiver Action Network caregiver help desk: 855-227-3640

Alzheimer’s Association helpline: 800-272-3900

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America AFA helpline: 866-232-8484

Eldercare Locator – U.S. Administration on Aging: 800-677-1116

AARP caregiving resource line: 877-333-5885

VA’s National Caregiver Support Line: 855-260-3274

Eating Disorders

National Eating Disorders Association Helpline: 800-931-2237 (talk or text)

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) eating disorders helpline: 888-375-7767

Mental Health

National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI Help-Line: 1-800-950-6264 or text NAMI to 741-741

Crisis Support Services National Helpline: 800-273-8255

SAMHSA’s National Helpline (substance abuse and mental health): 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)

Teen Line for Youth: 800-852-8336

LGBTQ+

LGBT National Hotline: 888-843-4564, 800-246-7743 (Youth Talkline), or 888-234-7243 (Senior Hotline)

Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678

Trans-Lifeline: 877-565-8860

Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project: 800-832-1901

Parenting 

National Parent Helpline: 855-427-2736

Partnership to End Addiction: 855-378-4373 or text CONNECT to 55753 to get one-on-one help to address your child’s substance use

Crying Baby Hotline: 866-243-2229

Fussy Baby Warmline: 888-431-BABY (888-431-2229)

Self-Harm

S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Self-Abuse Finally Ends) self-harm helpline: 800-DONT CUT (800-366-8288)

Teen Trouble  

Teen Line for youth in need of support: 800-852-8336 or text TEEN to 839863

Boys Town crisis hotline for girls and boys: 800-448-3000 or text VOICE to 20121

Thursday’s Child National Helpline for teens and young adults: 800-USA-KIDS (800-872-5437)

National Runaway Safeline for runaway and homeless youth, teens in crisis, and concerned family/friends: 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929)

Veterans Crisis

Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 (Press 1)

Vet Center Call Center hotline for veterans and their families to talk with another combat veteran: 877-WAR-VETS (877-927-8387)

VA’s National Caregiver Support Line for veterans and their caregivers/family members: 855-260-3274

Please Help Us Add To Our List!

Courageous individuals and organizations from the private and public sectors are developing innovative ways of fighting hunger, providing shelter, and offering creative solutions to many life-changing troubles.

If you know of such an organization, please contact us, and if your suggestion is approved, we will post the information on our site.