Necessities are expensive right now — food prices are high, health care costs are rising. When you don’t know where to start with finding help, know that organizations in Indianapolis offer free and affordable resources to get you through the winter.
Mirror Indy compiled a list of where to find basic needs such as food, rent, utilities, transportation and clothes. When you need help, check out this guide, reach out to Indiana 211 or apply for assistance through one of Marion County’s nine townships.
Use these buttons to jump down the list to the type of help you need.
Food pantries and free meals
If you need help feeding your family, start by checking out Community Compass. The website includes a map of locations where you can get free meals, and find food pantries and stores that accept WIC and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments. You can also check out the Central Indiana Food Asset Map, which includes churches, food pantries, restaurants and grocery stores organized by neighborhood.
In November, Hoosiers faced uncertainty over whether SNAP payments would be sent out on time. So, Mirror Indy put together several guides you can use year-round to find food pantries.
- A starter guide to food pantries across the city
- Food pantries at local colleges
- Food pantries at IPS
- Food pantries at township schools
- Food pantries on the south side
Rent assistance and tenants’ rights
- Marion County’s nine townships offer assistance for things such as rent, utilities, medical bills, school clothing and food. Contact the township you live in to see what the eligibility requirements are and how to apply for help. Different townships have different guidelines. For example, Wayne Township can only help with your current month’s rent, not any prior months you missed.
- If your landlord filed an eviction against you, call the Tenant Information Hotline at 317-327-2228. The Tenant Advocacy Project is part of the city’s Office of Public Health and Safety, and it offers legal assistance at all nine townships’ small claims courts, where eviction hearings happen.
- The Indianapolis Housing Agency runs the Housing Choice Voucher program, which provides rent assistance to low-income families. But, IHA is not handing out more vouchers right now and families who have the vouchers are in danger of losing them.
Helping paying for utilities
If you’re struggling to pay your utility bills, you can apply for the Energy Assistance Program. The federally funded program runs from October to April. Apply online at indyeap.org.
AES Indiana takes part in the Energy Assistance Program, offers two types of bill extensions and has a few other options, too.
- If you qualify based on your income, AES Indiana offers free assessments to find out how energy efficient your home is. If AES finds issues with insulation or sealing against outside air, it can provide the weatherization upgrades for free. If you don’t qualify for this service, you can meet online with an advisor who will share energy-saving tips.
- AES also offers the Power of Change one-time assistance grant. You can use an online map to find a partner agency near you to apply for the program.
Citizens Energy also takes part in the Energy Assistance Program and offers year-round assistance.
- The Warm Heart Warm Home Foundation is a nonprofit organization through Citizens that offers assistance with bills. Grants from the program can help you catch up on past bills or pay current ones. Call 317-924-3311 to apply or ask questions.
Townships in Marion County offer help paying for utility bills. Check with your township trustee’s office to find out if you qualify and how to apply for assistance.
United Way of Central Indiana has the Winter Assistance Fund, which offers help to Marion County residents who make too much to qualify for EAP but whose income is up to 225% of the Federal Poverty Level. The application opens Jan. 1.
Bus passes, shuttles and carpool services
IndyGo is raising bus fares starting Jan. 1. It will continue to offer half-fare ID cards for people who qualify, and you can fill out an application in English or Spanish. It costs $2 for a half-fare ID card. Here’s how you can get help paying for bus passes from IndyGo and other organizations:
- IndyGo offers half fares to:
- people who are 65 years old or older with a Medicare card
- people who are 18 years old or younger with a K-12 student ID
- people with disabilities
- anyone who fits in those categories and has an IndyGo half-fare ID card
- IndyGo also offers free fares for veterans.
- Washington Township, on the north side, offers help paying for bus passes.
- Irvington Community Advocacy Network is offering a limited number of bus passes.
People who are on Medicaid can get free rides to medical appointments. You can learn more through specific Medicaid providers, including CareSource.
Commuters can share gas costs by finding others to carpool with through CIRTA’s Commuter Connect program.
Free and affordable winter clothing
Check with your townships and local community centers to see if they offer free clothes. Westminster Neighborhood Services has a list of clothing pantries, and here are six more places you can find free clothes:
- The Julian Center has two locations of its free thrift store, Thrifty Threads. The stores offer gently used clothing, furniture and household goods. Call 317-802-9612 to learn more or visit the stores at 8424 Castleton Corner Drive or 1501 W. 86th St.
- The B.A.B.E. program provides new and gently used clothing, baby items and hygiene products for pregnant people and children up to age 5. Call 317-221-3050 to learn more.
- Staff at Indianapolis Public Schools and the Metropolitan School Districts of Lawrence, Pike, Warren, and Washington townships can refer kids to get clothes from the Assistance League of Indianapolis.
- Lambswear is a nonprofit that gives away free gently used clothing for kids. Call 317-721-1664 or visit the website.
- Horizon House gives out clothing and hygiene supplies to people who are homeless at 1033 E. Washington St. Call 317-423-8909 or visit the website.
- You can get clothes, food and hygiene items from Catholic Charities Indianapolis. The organization takes walk-ins at its crisis office in the Xavier Building at 1435 N. Illinois St.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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