Ohio Financial Help
Ohio Financial & Basic Needs Directory
A statewide, living directory for cash assistance, food, utilities, and emergency help that may be available to people on probation, parole, pretrial release, or reentry in Ohio. Policies change often — always call ahead and get approval from your supervising officer, attorney, or court before relying on any program for compliance.
Statewide & Online Programs
Covers all Ohio counties – access via county Job & Family Services or statewide portals.
✅ Verified State cash, food, & basic-needs benefits
Ohio Benefits – Cash, Food & Medical
State portal to apply for cash assistance, SNAP (food), and medical benefits. Applications are routed to your county Department of Job & Family Services (JFS) for eligibility.
State portal to apply for cash assistance, SNAP (food), and medical benefits. Applications are routed to your county Department of Job & Family Services (JFS) for eligibility.
Apply online or use county JFS lobby kiosks
Ohio Works First (OWF) – Cash Assistance
Time-limited cash assistance for eligible low-income families with children, connected to work participation or employment activities. Managed through local JFS offices.
Time-limited cash assistance for eligible low-income families with children, connected to work participation or employment activities. Managed through local JFS offices.
Ask your county JFS or officer if OWF participation can support your case plan
Via county JFS
Ohio Food Assistance (SNAP / Ohio Direction Card)
Monthly food benefits loaded onto an EBT card for groceries at authorized stores. Often paired with employment and training programs.
Monthly food benefits loaded onto an EBT card for groceries at authorized stores. Often paired with employment and training programs.
Apply together with cash/medical on Ohio Benefits portal
Via county JFS
🛠️ Eligible General basic-needs & utility help (confirm first)
Ohio 211 – Food, Rent, Bills & More
24/7 helpline and online search that connects you to local food pantries, shelters, rental assistance, and other basic-needs programs throughout Ohio.
24/7 helpline and online search that connects you to local food pantries, shelters, rental assistance, and other basic-needs programs throughout Ohio.
Tell 211 you are on supervision so they can flag appropriate referrals
Dial 2-1-1
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP & Crisis)
Helps income-eligible households with heating and cooling costs, including shut-off notices and certain emergency situations. Applications usually go through local community action agencies.
Helps income-eligible households with heating and cooling costs, including shut-off notices and certain emergency situations. Applications usually go through local community action agencies.
Ask your provider if HEAP help satisfies any payment-plan conditions
Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel – Utility Help Info
State consumer advocate with guides on payment plans, shut-off protections, and energy assistance programs for electric, gas, and water utilities.
State consumer advocate with guides on payment plans, shut-off protections, and energy assistance programs for electric, gas, and water utilities.
Good reference before calling your utility or negotiating arrears
Central Ohio – Columbus & Franklin County
Counties: Franklin (primary), plus nearby central-Ohio counties.
✅ Reentry-aware Public benefits & large food networks
Franklin County Job & Family Services – Cash, Food & PRC
County agency for SNAP, Ohio Works First cash, Medicaid, and Prevention/Retention/Contingency (PRC) emergency help such as past-due rent, utilities, or car repairs.
County agency for SNAP, Ohio Works First cash, Medicaid, and Prevention/Retention/Contingency (PRC) emergency help such as past-due rent, utilities, or car repairs.
Ask if PRC or OWF support can be documented for your supervision case
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Central and eastern Ohio’s largest food bank, operating free Mid-Ohio Markets and a network of pantries, with help finding groceries and sometimes connections to other basic-needs resources.
Central and eastern Ohio’s largest food bank, operating free Mid-Ohio Markets and a network of pantries, with help finding groceries and sometimes connections to other basic-needs resources.
Use the “Find Food” tool to locate pantries near your supervision address
🛠️ Eligible Local food & basic-needs help (confirm first)
Mid-Ohio Markets & Partner Pantries
Grocery-style markets and partner food pantries providing free fresh food and pantry staples across Franklin and neighboring counties.
Grocery-style markets and partner food pantries providing free fresh food and pantry staples across Franklin and neighboring counties.
Ask the pantry to sign any attendance or community-service forms your officer needs
Northeast Ohio – Cleveland, Akron & Surrounding
Counties: Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, Lake and nearby.
✅ Reentry-aware Reentry & county basic-needs support
Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry / Bridge Beyond
County reentry office that helps returning citizens with barriers like income, housing, and benefits, including coaching and referrals for basic-needs support.
County reentry office that helps returning citizens with barriers like income, housing, and benefits, including coaching and referrals for basic-needs support.
Ask your officer or case manager for a referral if you live in Cuyahoga County
Via county reentry office
North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center
Community-based reentry hub in Cleveland with classes and limited Rapid Reentry emergency funds that can help stabilize housing and basic needs for qualifying participants.
Community-based reentry hub in Cleveland with classes and limited Rapid Reentry emergency funds that can help stabilize housing and basic needs for qualifying participants.
Confirm eligibility; funding is limited and often tied to specific programs
Search: “North Star Reentry Cleveland”
🛠️ Eligible Regional food banks & pantries
Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Regional food bank offering a Help Center, hot-meal sites, mobile distributions, and assistance with SNAP and other benefits for people in Cuyahoga and nearby counties.
Regional food bank offering a Help Center, hot-meal sites, mobile distributions, and assistance with SNAP and other benefits for people in Cuyahoga and nearby counties.
Use the “Get Help” or “Find Food” tools for sites near your address
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
Serves Summit, Stark, and surrounding counties with a network of food pantries, hot-meal programs, and benefits outreach.
Serves Summit, Stark, and surrounding counties with a network of food pantries, hot-meal programs, and benefits outreach.
Search by zip code to find food near your supervision address
Southwest Ohio – Cincinnati, Dayton & Surrounding
Counties: Hamilton, Montgomery, Butler and nearby.
✅ Reentry-aware Reentry & stabilization programs
Hamilton County Office of Reentry
Coordinates services for people returning from incarceration in Hamilton County, including referrals to food, clothing, employment, and other basic-needs support.
Coordinates services for people returning from incarceration in Hamilton County, including referrals to food, clothing, employment, and other basic-needs support.
Ask probation or parole if they can connect you to this office
Via county reentry office
United Returning Citizens (URC)
Ohio-based reentry organization offering financial literacy, workforce readiness, and support for returning citizens; headquartered in Youngstown but supports people across the state.
Ohio-based reentry organization offering financial literacy, workforce readiness, and support for returning citizens; headquartered in Youngstown but supports people across the state.
Check if current programs include emergency support or stipends
🛠️ Eligible Regional food banks & emergency help
Freestore Foodbank
Serves the Greater Cincinnati region with food assistance, benefits coordination, and some emergency financial-assistance programs for qualifying households.
Serves the Greater Cincinnati region with food assistance, benefits coordination, and some emergency financial-assistance programs for qualifying households.
Call or check programs page for current rent/utility assistance options
Northwest Ohio – Toledo & Surrounding Counties
Counties: Lucas, Wood, Hancock and nearby.
✅ Reentry-aware Food & basic-needs hubs
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
Regional food bank with an interactive “Find Food” map and SNAP outreach, serving Lucas and surrounding counties in northwestern Ohio.
Regional food bank with an interactive “Find Food” map and SNAP outreach, serving Lucas and surrounding counties in northwestern Ohio.
Use the map to locate pantries close to your approved residence
SeaGate Food Bank
Provides emergency food through partner pantries, plus specialized programs for seniors, veterans, and families in recovery across northwest Ohio.
Provides emergency food through partner pantries, plus specialized programs for seniors, veterans, and families in recovery across northwest Ohio.
Ask if your participation can be documented as part of your stability plan
🛠️ Eligible Pantries & emergency support (confirm first)
Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio – Emergency Choice Food Pantry
Offers a choice-style food pantry and personal-needs pantries in the Toledo area for individuals and families facing short-term hardship.
Offers a choice-style food pantry and personal-needs pantries in the Toledo area for individuals and families facing short-term hardship.
Call ahead for documentation requirements and pantry hours
Verification & compliance: Programs marked ✅ Reentry-aware are described as working with justice-involved people, returning citizens, or supervision programs. This does not guarantee acceptance in your specific case. Always disclose your supervision status honestly and get approval from your officer, attorney, or court.
Limits & changes: Funding for cash assistance, food, utilities, and emergency help can change quickly. Waiting lists, county-specific rules, and charge-related restrictions may apply. When in doubt, bring your paperwork and ask how they document attendance, support, or payments.
Get listed or updated: Are you an Ohio agency, food bank, community action program, or reentry organization serving justice-involved individuals and second-chancers? Email contact@oacra.app with your program details so OACRA can review your listing against our safety and neutrality guardrails.
