- Who it's for
- Outside Caregiver, Whole Family
- Child / youth age
- All ages
- Geography
- Local
- Action type
- Find Help
- Reading time
- About 4 min
- Last verified
- August 2026
What this is
How to use 211, the national referral service, to locate nearby food, housing, transportation, and utility assistance by ZIP code or by dialing 211.
Why it matters
Local help usually exists but is scattered across dozens of small organizations. One search by ZIP code is faster than a dozen phone calls.
What you should know
- Search by ZIP code and category rather than by organization name.
- Call ahead — hours and eligibility change more often than listings do.
- Ask each program what documents they require before you travel there.
- Some programs serve anyone in the ZIP code; others require referral.
- Utility assistance is often seasonal, with application windows.
- Keep a written list of who you called and what they said.
Your next step
Search your ZIP code for one category you need this month and note two programs.
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