Need money urgently? Where to find emergency financial help

Emergency assistance is mostly local and mostly targeted to specific bills: rent, utilities, car repairs needed for work, medical costs, burial costs. Payments are usually made directly to the landlord, utility or vendor rather than in cash.

Community action agencies run emergency programmes in nearly every county. Faith-based charities - Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St Vincent de Paul, Jewish Family Services, local churches and mosques - often have discretionary funds. Many limit help to once a year.

TANF agencies in many states offer diversion payments - one-time cash to resolve a crisis - and emergency assistance for families with children.

Targeted programmes exist: veterans' emergency funds through VA partners and veterans' organisations; employer and union hardship funds; disaster assistance from FEMA and the Red Cross after declared disasters; and funds for specific illnesses through patient foundations.

Payday loans, title loans and refund advances can trap people in debt. Credit unions sometimes offer small, affordable emergency loans.

Emergency programmes typically help with a specific, documented need rather than general cash. Expect to bring the bill or estimate you need help with - a past-due rent notice, a utility shutoff notice, a mechanic's quote, a funeral home invoice - plus ID and proof of income. Many programmes pay the landlord, utility or vendor directly. Some can respond the same week; others take longer or open funding only on certain days, so calling early in the week and early in the month helps.

Combining sources is normal. One charity might cover a third of a bill, a congregation another third, and a community action agency the rest. Telling each programme what others have pledged often makes them more willing to help, because they can see the problem will be fully solved.

Watch for scams aimed at people in financial trouble: offers of 'free government grant money' that require an upfront fee, loan offers that ask for your bank login, or callers claiming to be from a benefits agency asking for payment. Legitimate emergency assistance never charges you a fee to receive help.

Most programmes need proof of the bill and your income.

1. Call 211

   List the bill and amount.

2. Contact several sources

   Combine help.

3. Ask TANF about diversion

   If you have children.

4. Check employer/union funds

   Ask HR.

5. Bring documents

   Bill, ID, income.

6. Avoid predatory loans

   Ask credit unions.

Emergency assistance

One-time help with a specific crisis cost, usually paid directly to the creditor.

Diversion payment

A TANF lump sum offered instead of ongoing cash assistance to resolve a short-term crisis.

Community action agency

A local nonprofit, present in most counties, running emergency help, utility bill and weatherization support, job training and other anti-poverty programmes.

Payday loan

A short-term, very high-cost loan due on your next payday, which often leads to repeat borrowing.

Title loan

A high-cost loan secured by your car title; missing payments can mean losing the car.

Payday alternative loan (PAL)

A small, lower-cost loan offered by some federal credit unions as an alternative to payday loans.

• Community Action Partnership - find an agencycommunityactionpartnership.com
• HHS - TANFwww.acf.hhs.gov