If you or someone you're with is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to
the nearest ER. For everything else, this hub collects the free and
low-cost help available in the Chattanooga area - food, health care,
housing, utilities, legal aid, rides, and the self-sufficiency programs
people actually use.
Not sure where to start? Call 211 (United Way). It's the county's
clearinghouse for assistance programs - many services require a 211
referral anyway. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7.
- Food Pantries & Free Meals - SNAP/food
stamps, hot meals, pantries by area, and free clothing/necessities.
- 211 for a referral where one is required.
- Eviction prevention: the Hamilton County Eviction Prevention
Initiative (City + Legal Aid + Habitat) — (423) 710-9432, call ASAP if you
have a court date (rent423.com).
- The Samaritan Center - emergency financial help with utilities, rent,
or life-sustaining medications; 9231 Lee Hwy, Ooltewah, (423) 238-7777
(thesamaritancenter.net).
Once per 13 months; call and schedule with a case manager.
- Ooltewah United Methodist Church - utilities, prescriptions, and car
repair help up to 3x/year (no rent/mortgage help); 6131 Relocation Way,
(423) 238-9216 (ooltewahumc.com).
- Good Neighbors - one-time emergency payment help for bills in your
name (must be cleared by 211 first); 737 E 10th St, (423) 266-1772. See
Health Insurance & Low-Cost Care for the full list.
- Chattanooga Housing Authority: five site waitlists are currently open:
Boynton Terrace, Emma Wheeler, Dogwood Apartments, Mary Walker, and
Villages at Alton Park. Apply through CHA's portal.
Applying does not guarantee placement. CHA: (423) 752-4893.
- HCVP/Section 8: the general lottery is currently closed.
- Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition: (423) 710-1501 for a
Universal Housing Assessment and coordinated-entry housing resources.
Help
- Office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing: (423) 643-7663;
rapid rehousing and deposit assistance may be available. Office
- Domestic-violence shelter: Partnership for Families, Children, and
Adults, (423) 755-2700. Services
- City eviction-prevention help requires an unsubsidized household in
Chattanooga, past-due rent, no filed eviction, and documented income or
expense disruption. Contact [email protected].
- Family Support Program: (423) 643-6434; six-month coaching and possible
financial help for qualifying Hamilton County households.
Program
- Legal Aid of East Tennessee - free civil legal help for income at or
below 125% of poverty (or DV victims and seniors 60+). Intake by phone at
(423) 756-4013 or online at laet.org. Clients
must be US citizens or documented aliens unless a domestic violence victim.
Offices at 100 W MLK Blvd, Ste 402.
- Fewer rides needed? Reduced fares: CARTA $1.50 regular, $0.75 for
seniors 65+ and people with disabilities; free downtown shuttle. See
Getting Around.
- Free volunteer rides for adults 60+: MyRide TN Southeast,
(423) 424-4201 (myridetnse.org).
- Rides to medical appointments: STS (TennCare), the VA van, and private
NEMT shuttles - see Getting Around.
- CARTA Care-A-Van paratransit - $2.50 each way, (423) 698-9038 (gocarta.org).
These programs help with the bigger picture - coaching, budgeting, and
getting out of the squeeze:
- Generations Stronger - free personal life coaching across parenting,
employment, education, housing, financial literacy, and health. Call 211
and request a Generations Stronger Life Coach; intake happens at the
Bethlehem Center (200 W 38th St), (423) 266-1384 (thebeth.org).
- Self-Sufficiency Case Management - goal-based life skills coaching
with financial support for low- to moderate-income Hamilton County
residents (6-month to 1-year commitment). City of Chattanooga Office of
Family Empowerment, 6098 Debra Rd, (423) 643-6434 (chattanooga.gov).
- The Chattanooga Purpose Center - "Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By
World", a 16-session program to help you move beyond paycheck-to-paycheck.
951 N Orchard Knob Ave, (423) 698-0707.
- Rahab's Rest Recovery Home - free 24-month holistic recovery home for
women exiting trafficking, prostitution, and addiction; 4001 Rossville
Blvd, (423) 580-6553 (rahabsrest.org).
- Deaf Services (Partnership for Families, Children & Adults) - life
skills, employment help, financial counseling, and tech access for Deaf
and hard-of-hearing people; 5600 Brainerd Rd, Ste E3, (423) 664-3086 (partnershipfca.com).
- TTAP (Tennessee Technology Access Program) - assistive technology:
funding help, device loans and demos for people with disabilities; DHS
Hamilton County, 5600 Brainerd Rd, Ste 602-A, (833) 772-8347 (tn.gov/humanservices).
- White Oak Bicycle Co-Op - free bikes and free repair classes;
[email protected] (whiteoakbicycle.org).
- IRS VITA: free basic return preparation through certified volunteers.
Find a site at IRS VITA.
- Chatt*Lab Repair Café: free best-effort repairs every third Saturday,
11am-3pm, at 100 Cherokee Blvd., Suite 125. Bring a replacement part if
you have one. Schedule
- Christ United Methodist Church - basic clothes, shoes, blankets, and
some household goods; 8645 E Brainerd Rd, (423) 892-9363.
Assistance programs, hours, and eligibility change. Phone numbers and
211 referrals are the fastest way to get the current picture. If a program
or number here is out of date, update it.
Last updated: September 2026 — web-verified (added official websites for phone-only resources).