No cost New York Help Guides

Hi friend. These guides walk you through finding shelter, food, housing help and more in New York, in plain words. Pick the one you need, or start with Guide 1. Every guide has a Download the PDF button too.

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• 1Start Here: No cost New York Help GuideNew to finding help in New York? Start here. How 211 and 311 work, what to do first, and where to find shelter, food, housing, health care and ID help, in plain words.
• 2Emergency Shelter Tonight in New York: No cost GuideNeed a safe place to sleep tonight in New York? NYC intake centers by household, county DSS numbers, family and women only options, shelter safety questions and Code Blue.
• 3Housing Help in New York: Rent, Deposits and VouchersNo cost New York guide to rent help, one shot deals, Section 8 vouchers, security deposit rules, rent notices and housing counseling.
• 4No cost Food Help in New York: SNAP, WIC and Food BanksHow to find food today in New York, apply for SNAP food benefits, sign up for WIC, and reach your county food bank.
• 5No cost Clothing, Showers and Hygiene Help in New YorkWhere to find no cost clothes, showers, laundry, diapers and hygiene items in New York, how to ask for them, and tips for cold weather.
• 6No cost Job Help in New York: Career Centers, Training and UnemploymentHow to find no cost job help in New York: Career Centers, unemployment through the Department of Labor, training, disability job help and a fresh start after a record.
• 7No cost and Low Cost Health Care in New York: Clinics, Medicaid and 988How to find low cost clinics in New York, apply for Medicaid, Child Health Plus or the Essential Plan, get mental health help, and call or text 988 in a crisis.
• 8Domestic Violence Help in New York: Hotlines, Shelter and SafetyNo cost, private help in New York if someone is hurting you: the state hotline, shelters, safety planning, orders of protection, address privacy and housing help.
• 9Help for Veterans in New York: VA Care, Housing and BenefitsNo cost help for New York veterans: VA health care, homeless veteran programs, the NYS Department of Veterans' Services, and crisis support.
• 10Help for Youth and Young Adults in New York: Shelter, School and JobsNo cost help in New York for young people: youth shelters and hotlines, help after foster care, school help, jobs and Job Corps.
• 11How to Replace Your ID in New York: ID Card, Birth Certificate and SSNStep by step help to get your New York ID card, IDNYC, birth certificate and Social Security card back, with fees, waivers and where to go.
• 12No cost and Low Cost Phones and Internet in New York: Lifeline and MoreHow to get a low cost phone or internet in New York: Lifeline, the Affordable Broadband Act plans, no cost WiFi at libraries, and tips to stay reachable.
• 13No cost Legal and Tenant Help in New York: Legal Aid and Eviction BasicsFind no cost legal aid in New York, learn the basics of rent demands, eviction cases and security deposits in New York, and reach legal help in your county.
• 14How to Make Blessing Bags in New York: What to Pack and How to GiveA simple, kind guide to making blessing bags for neighbors in New York: what to pack for cold winters and hot summers, what to skip, and how to give.

Looking for help in your county? Each guide has a county section near the end with local places to call. No separate county pages yet.

Made by the Bunklow team. No sign up, no paywall. Bunklow does not run these programs. Last updated October 16, 2026.