Do you need help?
Don’t worry – you aren’t alone. In fact, everyone – even the richest, strongest, most successful person needs help in some form.
Whether you’re struggling to feed your family, keep a roof over your head, or make ends meet financially, there’s a wealth of services out there that can help you.
At RaiseUp Families, we believe that no family should ever experience homelessness, and every child deserves the opportunity for a brighter future. Because of these beliefs, we offer several programs to help struggling families do better financially.
We also partner with organizations and charities all around Houston because we know that even if we can’t help you with your specific struggle, someone can!
In this blog, we’ll go through a list of helpful resources in the Houston area. But even if you don’t live in Houston, you can find a list of community resources in your area by going to findhelp.org and entering your zip code.
If your life feels like it’s spiraling out of control, with bills to pay, a family to feed and clothe, an unexpected illness or death in the family, or legal trouble, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help.
In this section, we’ll look at organizations that offer multiple services to help you when your world is falling apart and you simply don’t have the money or resources to get through it on your own:
BakerRipley is an organization that offers numerous resources, including:
Catholic Charities (713-526-4611) offers:
The Faith Center at Houston’s First Baptist Church can be reached by calling 713-554-8820 between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm Monday-Friday. It’s important to leave a message with your full name and phone number if you don’t reach anyone. The Faith Center’s resources include:
Gulf Coast Community Services (713-393-4700) provides access to:
Harris County Social Services (713-696-7900) has several helpful resources, including:
The Houston Food Bank offers several assistance programs for people needing food.
Katy Christian Ministries (281-391-9623), which serves Katy area residents only, has a social services program that offers:
Memorial Assistance Ministries (English: 713-574-7533)(Spanish: 713-574-7536) offers the following services:
St. Cecilia Church (713-468-1185) helps needy families in the Spring Branch area. They are available Monday-Wednesday mornings, although it’s better to call earlier in the week. Feel free to leave a message if you call and no one answers. St. Cecilia Church provides:
St. Vincent de Paul Society at All Saints Catholic Church can be reached by calling 713-741-8234. It’s best to call on Monday or Tuesday as they typically meet capacity by Wednesday. They offer:
Star of Hope Mission (713-748-0700) offers many helpful programs, including:
United Way has many programs to help people become financially stable. To get help, simply call or email 211. They’re available 24/7. United Way offers:
West Houston Assistance Ministries (713-780-2727) has several services, including:
Even if you have a stable, steady income, it can be difficult, even impossible, to make ends meet if you can’t find affordable childcare. Here are some local subsidized childcare options for the Houston area:
If you’re struggling to afford utilities, the last thing you want is to lose your AC in the sweltering summer and for everything in your fridge and freezer to go bad! Here are local programs that provide utility assistance:
If you are about to lose your housing, several programs in the Houston area can help!
Harris County has a Coordinated Access Intake line (832-531-6041) for people who are either:
The Harris County Housing Authority offers access to high-quality housing assistance programs.
Finally, Spring Branch Community Health Center offers housing support and housing assistance programs. You can contact their housing case manager by phone (713-684-2303) or email (housingsupport@sbchc.net).
If you need a shelter, there are many resources in the Houston area. As a first step, go to Houston’s Coalition for the Homeless website to find a list of their shelter partners and day center partners.
Shelters in the Houston area include:
Mission of Yahweh (713-466-4785)
Houston Area Women’s Center (713-528-2121)
Turning Point Center (713-957-0099)
Santa Maria Hostel (713-957-2413)
Bay Area Homeless Services (281-837-1654)
Transitional living programs are designed to help people move from unstable or temporary housing, such as their car or temporary shelter, into independent living, such as a house or apartment. These programs offer temporary housing and support services to address challenges like financial instability, poor mental health, and a lack of education or life skills.
The Women’s Home for women in recovery (713-521-3150) offers:
Gracewood (713-988-9757) is a transitional living program for single mothers that offers:
If you are living in a situation that involves domestic violence, it’s crucial to get help as soon as possible for you and your children. Here are hotlines to call immediately:
For legal help dealing with domestic violence, here are some resources:
Final Thoughts
At RaiseUp Families, we don’t want to see any family fall into homelessness. That’s why we offer our Handup and Aftercare programs to help struggling families get the help they need, and why we’ve written this blog detailing other helpful resources in the Houston area.
If you want to know more about how our programs help people, read our blog post: From Struggle to Success: Real Stories of Women Who Have Flourished Through RaiseUp.
We’ve also written helpful blogs about writing a resume, accessing affordable education options, and breaking the cycle of generational poverty.
We hope the resources above give you hope that help is available, and a stable, financially secure lifestyle is possible!
