If you are facing financial hardship in Memphis, various assistance programs run by churches and religious coalitions offer immediate support for basic needs such as rent, utilities, food, and housing. Funds are often limited, so it is highly recommended that you contact them as early in the month as possible.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) – Memphis District Council
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Memphis District Council provides direct, personalized assistance during crises, including help with rent, mortgages, utility bills (MLGW), food baskets, and medical expenses. Rather than operating from a centralized fund, the District Council oversees 10 parish-based “conferences” located throughout Memphis and Shelby County.
How emergency financial assistance works
Zip code restriction: You must call the specific phone number for the conference that covers the zip code of your current residence. Calls made to the wrong conference are automatically redirected or rejected.
Home visit model: Once you call, volunteers (“Vincentians”) typically schedule a home visit to hear about your situation, review your financial documentation, and verify the actual need.
Direct payment to the creditor: If assistance is approved, funds are never distributed as cash or individual checks. Instead, the SVDP issues a check directly to the landlord, mortgage lender, or utility company.
Frequency limit: Crisis financial assistance is generally limited to once per calendar year per household, due to high demand and limited funds.
Ozanam Center Food Mission
To provide immediate hunger relief, the District Council operates a daily soup kitchen that serves hot meals to anyone in need.
Location: 1306 Monroe Ave, Memphis, TN 38104.
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday. Guests may access the chapel starting at 9:30 a.m. to rest, charge electronic devices, and seek shelter from the elements. Hot, to-go meals are distributed between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA)
The Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) is one of the largest and most influential social service non-profits in Memphis and Shelby County. Founded in 1968 by a multicultural group of religious leaders following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., MIFA’s core mission is to support the independence of vulnerable seniors and stabilize families facing sudden crises.
Housing Stability and Crisis Care Programs
MIFA provides a safety net for families at imminent risk of eviction or currently experiencing homelessness.
Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance: Offers financial aid to eligible households facing a temporary, unavoidable crisis.
Key Requirements: Applicants must reside in Shelby County and demonstrate a documented crisis (such as a medical emergency or job loss) that occurred within the last 90 days. Assistance is generally limited to once every two years.
How to Apply: Applications must be submitted through MIFA’s online application portal. The online system accepts applications Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Homeless Family Hotline: A specialized assessment service for families with minor children who have lost their stable housing. Staff provide guidance on resources and mediation services to help families avoid entering shelters whenever possible.
Contact: Call (901) 529-4545; service available daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Family Shelter Placement and Rapid Rehousing: When homelessness cannot be avoided, MIFA works to secure immediate emergency shelter. Its Rapid Rehousing program helps families transition from emergency shelters to stable, permanent housing through short-term rental subsidies and case management.
Independence Programs for Seniors
Designed to preserve the dignity, health, and independence of seniors throughout the Mid-South region.
MIFA Meals on Wheels: The organization’s most far-reaching initiative; it delivers hot, nutritious meals—and conducts essential wellness checks—directly to the homes of homebound seniors across Shelby County. It also serves mobile seniors at senior community centers.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman: Professionally trained advocates who investigate complaints and protect the rights of residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and residential care homes in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale counties.
Quick Contact Information
Main Office Address: 910 Vance Ave, Memphis, TN 38126
General Administrative Phone: (901) 527-0208
Assistance Email: helpdesk@mifa.org
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Salvation Army – Memphis Area Command
The Salvation Army – Memphis Area Command (and its regional headquarters at the Purdue Center of Hope) serves as a primary crisis stabilization center for individuals and families in Shelby County. They specialize primarily in transitional housing, addiction recovery, and structured long-term self-sufficiency programs.
Housing and Family Shelters
Unlike standard overnight shelters, their residential programs focus on long-term stabilization (spanning several months), case management, and financial education.
New Directions Family Shelter: Offers short-term housing, life skills training, and education for up to one year, aiming to help homeless families with minor children break the cycle of poverty. Hotline: (901) 260-9104
AutoZone Residence for Single Women: A housing environment tailored to the needs of single women without dependent children who are experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence, job loss, or mental health issues.
Hotline: (901) 260-9126 or (901) 260-9139
Pathway of Hope (Camino de Esperanza): A long-term case management initiative designed for families with children. It focuses on systemic change by helping parents set concrete goals regarding education, career, and housing.
Addiction Treatment and Recovery
Renewal Place: A comprehensive residential recovery program lasting up to two years, aimed at women facing substance abuse issues. A key feature is that it allows mothers to live with their children while receiving trauma therapy, attending positive parenting classes, and training to maintain a substance-free lifestyle.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Offers group and individual counseling based on the 12-step and abstinence models to treat substance addiction. This allows participants to maintain local employment or attend to family responsibilities during the day while receiving essential recovery care.
Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC): Located at a standalone facility at 2649 Kirby Whitten Rd, this is a long-term (6-month) residential program based on work therapy, designed for men seeking spiritual and social recovery from chronic addiction.
Community Worship and Emergency Assistance
Emergency Disaster Services (EDS): Collaborates with regional organizations (including FedEx-funded mobile feeding units) to provide hot meals, water, and essential supplies to victims and first responders during urban crises or major storms.
Community Distribution: The main facility hosts food distribution events, community counseling services, and religious services.
Neighborhood Christian Centers (NCC)
Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc. (NCC) is a Christ-centered non-profit organization that has served under-resourced neighborhoods throughout Memphis for over 45 years. Rather than operating from a single facility, NCC coordinates its services through 10 local centers distributed across areas such as Binghampton, Orange Mound, Frayser, North Memphis, and South East Shelby. Its primary goal is to help individuals transition smoothly from a state of reliance on immediate emergency aid to long-term economic stability.
Utility Assistance Program (MLGW): NCC works closely with the City of Memphis to manage a dedicated assistance portal for low-income residents who have received utility shut-off notices from Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW).
Intake Policy: The application process for utility assistance typically opens on the third Wednesday of each month. Applications must be submitted exclusively via the NCC program’s online form and are subject to the availability of allocated monthly funds. Prepaid accounts or “PowerPay” system accounts are not eligible for this program.
Key requirements: Applicants must reside within Memphis city limits, hold the MLGW utility account explicitly in their name or their spouse’s name, and present a current disconnection notice.
Basic Needs and Emergency Services: NCC coordinates various stabilization resources directly at its centers:
- Food pantry and home food delivery service for families and homebound seniors.
- Clothing pantry, offering free clothing.
- Emergency furniture service for households recovering from structural crises, such as a fire.
Hope Church (Samaritan Fund)
The Hope Church Samaritan Fund offers localized, short-term assistance to alleviate crisis situations, specifically designed to prevent utility shut-offs or evictions.
Financial assistance process: Aid is approved by a committee and is strictly structured for emergencies. Approved funds are paid directly to creditors (e.g., utility companies or landlords); no cash or checks are given directly to applicants.
Required documentation: To be considered for assistance, you must submit complete documentation via email or during the initial interview, including:
Unpaid bills or lease agreements: Showing exact balances and billing addresses.
Proof of financial hardship: Recent bank statements, verification of job loss, or unemployment benefit documentation.
W-9 Form: Must be provided directly by the landlord or the specific company requiring payment.
Non-family reference: Contact information for an independent person who can vouch for your crisis situation.
Contact information: Located at 8500 Walnut Grove Rd, Cordova, TN 38018. Call the Caring Department at (901) 755-7721 or review the guidelines on the Hope Church Samaritan Fund portal.
Idlewild Presbyterian Church
Idlewild operates specific ministries addressing nutrition, legal aid, clothing needs, and mental health counseling.
“More Than a Meal” Ministry: Held every Thursday at 4:00 p.m., offering a safe space for fellowship, a brief religious service, and a freshly prepared hot meal.
The Care Closet: Open on the first Thursday of each month during the weekly meal event; distributes seasonal clothing and personal hygiene items free of charge.
Midtown Legal Clinic: Partners with Memphis Area Legal Services to host free legal clinics twice a year (spring and autumn). Volunteers provide pro bono advice on tenants’ housing rights, evictions, and basic civil matters.
Samaritan Counseling Center: Hosts an on-site center offering high-quality, affordable, professional mental health counseling for children, adults, and families, with fees adjusted based on income (sliding scale).
Contact information: Located at 1750 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104. Call the church office at (901) 726-4681 or email assistance@idlewildchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church
Located in downtown Memphis, this congregation fights hunger by providing ready-to-eat meals and basic food supplements.
Thursday Night To-Go Meals: Partners directly with Team Laeth to distribute boxes of free hot meals for takeout every Thursday at 5:00 p.m. (except on holidays). Meals are distributed at the church’s service alley.
Workers’ Food Pantry: Operates a food pantry aimed at working individuals on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This program is specifically dedicated to families or individuals who are employed but still face challenges ensuring food security.
Contact information: Located at 204 N Second St, Memphis, TN 38105. For schedule updates or pantry requirements, call (901) 527-8362.
