Texas Financial Help
Texas Financial Help, Food Assistance & Basic Needs
Verified statewide benefits, regional food banks, and basic needs programs across Texas that may help with food, cash assistance, utilities, and other essentials. Always confirm eligibility, bring ID and paperwork, and get your officer’s approval if you are on probation or parole.
Statewide & Online Benefits
Covers: All Texas counties
✅ Verified Statewide Benefits & Assistance
Your Texas Benefits – SNAP, TANF & Health Coverage
State portal to apply for SNAP food benefits, TANF cash help, Medicaid/CHIP, WIC, and related support. Create an account to apply, upload documents, and renew benefits.
State portal to apply for SNAP food benefits, TANF cash help, Medicaid/CHIP, WIC, and related support. Create an account to apply, upload documents, and renew benefits.
Online / App
Texas TANF Cash Help (HHS)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides monthly cash payments to eligible families to help with food, housing, clothing, and other basic needs.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides monthly cash payments to eligible families to help with food, housing, clothing, and other basic needs.
Call 2-1-1
2-1-1 Texas / United Way Helpline
24/7 helpline and online search that connects you to local food pantries, rent and utility help, transportation, and other basic needs anywhere in Texas.
24/7 helpline and online search that connects you to local food pantries, rent and utility help, transportation, and other basic needs anywhere in Texas.
Dial 2-1-1 or visit
211texas.org
2-1-1 / Online
🛠️ Eligible Other Statewide Options (Confirm First)
Local Churches & Faith-Based Assistance
Many churches across Texas offer food pantries, clothing closets, gas cards, or limited bill help. Availability and rules vary by location and charges.
Many churches across Texas offer food pantries, clothing closets, gas cards, or limited bill help. Availability and rules vary by location and charges.
Use 2-1-1 or your regional food bank website to find church-based programs.
Varies by county
Community Action & County General Assistance
Community Action Agencies and some county offices provide rental, utility, and emergency aid when funds are available. Priority often goes to families with children, elderly adults, or people with disabilities.
Community Action Agencies and some county offices provide rental, utility, and emergency aid when funds are available. Priority often goes to families with children, elderly adults, or people with disabilities.
Search “Community Action” + your county or call 2-1-1 for current programs.
By county
Houston & Southeast Texas
Counties: Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston (and nearby)
✅ Verified Food & Financial Help
Houston Food Bank – Find Food & Programs
Largest food bank in the U.S. by distribution, serving 18 counties in southeast Texas through a network of pantries, meal programs, and community partners.
Largest food bank in the U.S. by distribution, serving 18 counties in southeast Texas through a network of pantries, meal programs, and community partners.
(713) 223-3700
2-1-1 Texas / United Way of Greater Houston
Connects Houston-area callers to food, rent and mortgage help, utility assistance, and more. Available 24/7 by phone, text, chat, or online search.
Connects Houston-area callers to food, rent and mortgage help, utility assistance, and more. Available 24/7 by phone, text, chat, or online search.
Dial 2-1-1
🛠️ Eligible Additional Local Resources
Neighborhood Food Pantries & Assistance Centers
Smaller nonprofits and churches partnered with Houston Food Bank often provide groceries and sometimes limited financial help. Policies about criminal history differ by site.
Smaller nonprofits and churches partnered with Houston Food Bank often provide groceries and sometimes limited financial help. Policies about criminal history differ by site.
Search by ZIP on the Houston Food Bank “Find Food” map or call 2-1-1.
Various locations
Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex
Counties: Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton
✅ Verified Food & Basic Needs
North Texas Food Bank (NTFB)
Regional food bank providing access to hundreds of partner pantries and programs across 13 North Texas counties, including parts of the DFW Metroplex.
Regional food bank providing access to hundreds of partner pantries and programs across 13 North Texas counties, including parts of the DFW Metroplex.
(214) 330-1396
🛠️ Eligible Other DFW Assistance
Community Action & Charity Programs (DFW)
Multiple agencies in Dallas–Fort Worth offer rent, utility, and emergency financial help when funding is available. Eligibility often depends on income, family size, and documentation.
Multiple agencies in Dallas–Fort Worth offer rent, utility, and emergency financial help when funding is available. Eligibility often depends on income, family size, and documentation.
Search “rent assistance” + your city on 2-1-1 or NTFB partner list.
Various locations
San Antonio & Southwest Texas
Counties: Bexar and surrounding counties
✅ Verified Food & Benefits Assistance
San Antonio Food Bank
Serves Southwest Texas through a network of 500+ partner agencies, offering food distribution, benefits assistance, and programs that support long-term stability.
Serves Southwest Texas through a network of 500+ partner agencies, offering food distribution, benefits assistance, and programs that support long-term stability.
(210) 337-3663
🛠️ Eligible Additional San Antonio Resources
Local Pantries, Shelters & Charities
Many churches and nonprofits in San Antonio provide groceries, clothing, and limited financial help. Each program screens applications and may have waiting lists.
Many churches and nonprofits in San Antonio provide groceries, clothing, and limited financial help. Each program screens applications and may have waiting lists.
Use the San Antonio Food Bank partner locator or 2-1-1 to find providers.
Various locations
Austin & Central Texas
Counties: Travis, Williamson, Hays (and nearby)
✅ Verified Food & Financial Stability
Central Texas Food Bank
Largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas, serving 21 counties with mobile pantries, partner agencies, and help connecting to benefits.
Largest hunger-relief charity in Central Texas, serving 21 counties with mobile pantries, partner agencies, and help connecting to benefits.
(512) 282-2111
Catholic Charities of Central Texas – Financial Stability
Provides case management and limited financial assistance to help pay rent, mortgage, and utilities, plus referrals to food banks and other social services.
Provides case management and limited financial assistance to help pay rent, mortgage, and utilities, plus referrals to food banks and other social services.
(512) 651-6100
🛠️ Eligible Additional Central Texas Assistance
Neighborhood Pantries & Emergency Aid
City-level coalitions and churches in Austin, Round Rock, and surrounding areas provide food boxes, hygiene items, and sometimes emergency bill help.
City-level coalitions and churches in Austin, Round Rock, and surrounding areas provide food boxes, hygiene items, and sometimes emergency bill help.
Use Central Texas Food Bank “Find Food” plus 2-1-1 for rent/utility programs.
Various locations
Rio Grande Valley
Counties: Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, Willacy
✅ Verified Food & Support Services
Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley
Major regional food bank in Pharr providing emergency food through pantries and feeding programs across Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties.
Major regional food bank in Pharr providing emergency food through pantries and feeding programs across Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties.
(956) 682-8101
Tropical Texas Behavioral Health – Case Management & Referrals
Regional behavioral health authority offering counseling, case management, and referrals that can help connect clients to housing and basic-needs resources.
Regional behavioral health authority offering counseling, case management, and referrals that can help connect clients to housing and basic-needs resources.
24/7 Crisis: 1-877-289-7199
🛠️ Eligible Other RGV Assistance
Regional Disaster & Relief Programs
During floods and storms, food banks and partners may offer emergency food distributions and basic supplies throughout the Valley. Availability changes with events and funding.
During floods and storms, food banks and partners may offer emergency food distributions and basic supplies throughout the Valley. Availability changes with events and funding.
Check Food Bank RGV news, local city pages, and 2-1-1 during disasters.
Event-based
West Texas / Midland–Odessa & El Paso
Counties: Ector, Midland, El Paso (and surrounding)
✅ Verified Food & Basic Needs
West Texas Food Bank
Hunger-relief organization serving the Permian Basin and 19 West Texas counties with pantries in Odessa and Midland and mobile distributions.
Hunger-relief organization serving the Permian Basin and 19 West Texas counties with pantries in Odessa and Midland and mobile distributions.
(432) 580-6333
🛠️ Eligible Other West Texas Resources
Local Food Pantries & Community Aid
In cities like El Paso, Midland, and Odessa, smaller food pantries and community centers can help with groceries, clothing, and sometimes emergency bills.
In cities like El Paso, Midland, and Odessa, smaller food pantries and community centers can help with groceries, clothing, and sometimes emergency bills.
Search by city on 2-1-1 or through West Texas Food Bank partner lists.
Various locations
East Texas / Tyler & Longview
Counties: Smith, Gregg, Angelina (and nearby)
✅ Verified Food & Benefits Support
East Texas Food Bank
Regional food bank in Tyler serving 200+ partner agencies with food distribution, resource centers, and benefits assistance across East Texas.
Regional food bank in Tyler serving 200+ partner agencies with food distribution, resource centers, and benefits assistance across East Texas.
(903) 597-3663
🛠️ Eligible Additional East Texas Help
Local Food Pantries & Assistance Offices
Churches, community ministries, and city-level programs provide groceries and, when funds allow, limited rent and utility help for families in crisis.
Churches, community ministries, and city-level programs provide groceries and, when funds allow, limited rent and utility help for families in crisis.
Use East Texas Food Bank partner list + 2-1-1 search by ZIP.
Various locations
Coastal Bend / Corpus Christi & Galveston
Counties: Nueces, Galveston, Brazoria (and nearby)
✅ Verified Food & Shelter
Good Samaritan Rescue Mission – Corpus Christi
24/7 shelter offering meals, basic needs, and help replacing ID for people experiencing homelessness in the Coastal Bend region.
24/7 shelter offering meals, basic needs, and help replacing ID for people experiencing homelessness in the Coastal Bend region.
(361) 883-6195
🛠️ Eligible Other Coastal Resources
Regional Food Banks & Disaster Relief
Coastal Bend and Southeast Texas food banks, along with partner shelters, often coordinate special distributions after hurricanes or flooding.
Coastal Bend and Southeast Texas food banks, along with partner shelters, often coordinate special distributions after hurricanes or flooding.
Check local food bank websites and city emergency pages during storms.
Event-based
Texas Panhandle / Amarillo
Counties: Potter, Randall (and surrounding Panhandle counties)
✅ Verified Food & Basic Needs
High Plains Food Bank
Largest hunger-relief organization in the Texas Panhandle, distributing food to 150+ agencies across 29 counties and running direct nutrition programs.
Largest hunger-relief organization in the Texas Panhandle, distributing food to 150+ agencies across 29 counties and running direct nutrition programs.
(806) 374-8562
🛠️ Eligible Other Panhandle Programs
Local Pantries, Churches & Clothing Closets
Smaller agencies in Amarillo and nearby towns provide groceries, clothing, and sometimes limited assistance with utilities or prescriptions.
Smaller agencies in Amarillo and nearby towns provide groceries, clothing, and sometimes limited assistance with utilities or prescriptions.
Find options through High Plains Food Bank partners or 2-1-1.
Various locations
Verification & supervision notes: Programs marked ✅ Verified are established state agencies or regional food banks that publicly advertise food or basic-needs assistance. They may still have waiting lists, income limits, or ID rules. Always ask how your criminal history or supervision status could affect eligibility.
Documentation: When you go to appointments or distributions, bring ID if you have it, proof of address, income documents, and any court or supervision paperwork that explains your restrictions. Ask for receipts or letters you can show your probation/parole officer if required.
Get listed or updated: Are you a Texas food bank, pantry, or financial-assistance program serving second-chancers? Email contact@oacra.app with your service area, eligibility, and referral process so we can review your listing.
