When you’re stuck in a hard spot and you need money for rent, utility bills or your kids’ school clothes, you can apply for help in your township. Marion County is split into nine townships, and each one is required by law to provide financial assistance for residents who live there.
Each township offers help with basic needs, but some townships offer more than others, such as bus passes, a free clothing closet or baby items for new parents.
To get help from your township, you have to fill out an application. Then, you’ll meet with a caseworker who will talk through what you’re eligible for and what information you need to bring.
The townships only offer help for people who live within their boundaries, so you have to know which township you live in.
Top tips for getting help from your township
- Start by using this tool to find out what township you live in.
- Gather the right documents. Take a look at the general list of documents you’ll need and print them out. (You can print at any library branch for 15 cents a page.) The biggest obstacle people have to getting assistance is not having all their documents.
- Call the township trustee’s office. They’ll walk you through the application process, explain what they offer and what you’ll need to apply.
- Don’t disqualify yourself. If you aren’t sure if you qualify, still fill out an application or call your township trustees’ office to check.
Bring these documents to apply
- Bank statements, paychecks or card statements that verify your household income for the past 60 days. If you don’t have bank statements, bring receipts. This includes child support, too.
- Receipts for all bills you’ve paid in the past 60 days.
- Copy of your rental agreement or lease — or mortgage payments if you own your home.
- Photo IDs for all adults in your household. For example, this includes valid state IDs or driver’s licenses.
- Social Security cards or proof of application for everyone in your household.
- Copies of income tax returns and W-2s.
- A print out of food stamps information.
- A print out from the Work One Center, which helps people in Indiana find jobs and get career training.
- Any other documents that could apply to why you’re asking for help, such as medical bills or police reports.
What each township offers and how to apply
Click on your township to learn more about how to apply.
Center Township
📞 317-633-3610
📍 300 E. Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive
Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday. 8 a.m.-11 a.m. the last Saturday of each month.
Township trustee: LaDonna Freeman
What they offer: Food, rent, utilities, burial/cremation, prescriptions, bus passes, clothing. The trustee also has a free clothing closet, showers, notary services and regular events such as haircuts, HIV testing and job fairs. You can check the calendar here.
How to apply:
- Center Township only takes walk-ins for assistance applications. A receptionist will check your address and then you’ll be added to a line to meet with a caseworker.
- A caseworker will ask questions about what kind of assistance you need and help you fill out an application. There’s a computer lab in the office where you can print documents.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
Decatur Township
📞 317-856-6600
📍 5410 S. High School Road
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Township trustee: Jason Holliday
What they offer: Assistance with rent, mortgage payments and utilities, mostly. They also help with burials and cremations and sometimes, clothing requests. If you ask for assistance with food, the trustee can help, but they’re likely to point you to a food bank so you’re served faster.
How to apply:
- Pick up a paper application at the trustee’s office or fill out an application online. If you have any questions while applying, call the office.
- Next, you’ll get scheduled to meet with a caseworker who will talk through your situation. Decatur Township does not do walk-in appointments, only scheduled ones.
- Bring all the required documents to your appointment.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have all the required documents, you also have those 72 hours to bring the documents back.
Franklin Township
📞 317-780-1700
📍 6231 S. Arlington Ave.
Hours: 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday
Trustee: Danny Meador
What they offer: Help paying for housing, utilities, school clothing and burials and cremations. There’s also an emergency food pantry.
How to apply:
- Call the office to make an in-person appointment, where you will fill out an application.
- Bring documents to your appointment, where a caseworker will talk through the process with you. It’s important to be on time. If you’re late, your appointment may be rescheduled.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
Lawrence Township
📞 317-890-0011
📍 4455 McCoy St., Suite 100
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Township trustee: Steve Talley
What they offer: Rent and utility assistance, school clothes and financial assistance with burial and cremation. The trustee’s office also has a partnership with Community Health to run a food pantry.
How to apply:
- Call the office to schedule an appointment to visit.
- Bring the necessary documents when you meet with a caseworker, who will listen to your story and talk about what the township and other community partners offer.
- Next, you’ll fill out a nine-page application. It takes about an hour to complete.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
Perry Township
📞 317-788-4815
📍 4925 Shelby St., Suite 400
Hours: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Township trustee: Patty Hagenmaier
What they offer: Housing, utilities, burial expenses and school uniforms. Perry Township also maintains relationships with churches and nonprofits that offer more help.
How to apply:
- Call to schedule an intake appointment to meet with a caseworker. Perry Township does not take walk-ins. If you aren’t able to print out documents before your appointment, email them to contact@perrytownship-in.gov one hour before your appointment’s start time.
- You’ll meet with a caseworker who will help you fill out an application and figure out what assistance you’re eligible for. If you’re more than 15 minutes late or don’t bring the required documents, your appointment will be rescheduled.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
Pike Township
📞 317-291-5801
📍 5665 Lafayette Road
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Township trustee: Annette Johnson
What they offer: Rent, utility assistance, burials, clothing vouchers, food vouchers and vouchers for school clothes and shoes once in the fall and once in the winter. They also have an on-site food pantry and a room with clothing, shoes and personal hygiene items. Sometimes, they give out free bus passes.
How to apply:
- The office takes walk-in appointments. Or you can call to make an appointment or fill out an online form.
- Once you fill out an application, you’ll get a next-day appointment to meet with a caseworker. If your situation is an emergency, you may get to meet with a caseworker the same day you apply. They do meetings over the phone for people who can’t take off work to come in.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
Warren Township
📞 317-327-8947
📍 501 N. Post Road, Suite A
Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Township trustee: Vernon Brown
What they offer: Assistance for utilities, food, bus passes, medical and dental care and burial costs.
How to apply:
- It’s best to call ahead to make an appointment. Walk-ins are accepted, but make note: no walk-in appointments are accepted after 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. No walk-ins or new clients are accepted on Fridays. The trustee doesn’t take online applications.
- You can’t fill out an application for assistance until you’ve scheduled an appointment. At your appointment, you’ll meet with a caseworker who will help you apply.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
Washington Township
📞 317-327-8800
📍 5302 N. Keystone Ave., Suite E
Hours: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Township trustee: Frank Short
What they offer: Assistance with food, shelter, utilities, clothing, medical care, bus passes, household necessities and burial costs.
How to apply:
- Call the office to make an appointment.
- Use this checklist to make sure you have all the right documents, and bring those to an interview with a caseworker, who will walk you through the application.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
Wayne Township
📞 317-241-4191
📍 5401 W. Washington St.
Hours: 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Township trustee: Jeb Bardon
What they offer: Burial assistance, disaster relief funds, utility assistance, school clothing, food, clothing, household items, items for babies, pet food and money for housing, including rent, mortgage payments and payments toward transitional housing, such as rehab. Wayne Township also offers a Social Security representative program, where a township employee can help you manage the money you get from Social Security.
How to apply:
- Call to make an appointment or walk in. They suggest showing up in the morning if you want to get a decision the same day. If you can’t show up to apply in-person, you can download the forms and drop them off in a secure drop box at the office. (The forms are at the bottom of this web page.)
- You’ll meet with a caseworker, who will guide you through the process and figure out what assistance you’re eligible for.
- You’ll get a decision within 72 hours, or three business days. If you didn’t have certain documents, you also have those 72 hours to get the documents and bring them back.
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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