In Raleigh and Wake County, various faith-based assistance programs and ministries—supported by local churches—provide essential aid, such as emergency assistance for rent and utility payments, food banks, and crisis support. Because these funds are local and often subject to weekly or monthly limits, these organizations typically require proof of residency in Wake County, evidence of an active crisis, or a formal referral from another agency.
Collaborations Among Downtown Raleigh Churches
Three historic downtown Raleigh churches manage a unified, coordinated process for providing emergency financial assistance. If you are seeking help with rent or utility payments through these congregations, you must use their shared application system.
Joint Financial Assistance Portal
The Joint Financial Assistance Portal is a crisis-support ministry managed collaboratively by three historic downtown Raleigh congregations: First Baptist Church Raleigh, Edenton Street United Methodist Church, and First Presbyterian Church.
Instead of needing to contact each church individually, individuals experiencing severe financial hardship can submit a single, shared application to access funds designated for rent and utility payments (such as the Mike Morris Fellowship Fund and the Friendship Fund).
How the Process Works
As this is a high-demand community resource managed by a small team of church staff and volunteers, the application process is subject to strict guidelines:
Application Period: The digital Google form becomes available every Monday at exactly 11:00 a.m.
Capacity Limits: Due to limited weekly funding, the portal closes quickly—often within minutes—once the maximum number of applications for the week has been reached. If you access the link outside of these hours or after the limit has been reached, the form will appear as closed or unavailable.
Where to submit your request: You must complete the online form via the First Baptist Church assistance page.
Policy regarding phone calls: Participating churches do not accept requests for financial assistance over the phone or through in-person, walk-in visits. However, if it is absolutely impossible for you to access the online form due to technical limitations, you may try calling the First Presbyterian Church at (919) 833-4070 on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. as an alternative way to make contact.
What happens after you submit your request?
If your request is successfully submitted before the portal closes, the review process will take place throughout the week:
Single request: You only need to complete one form to indicate all your current urgent needs (for example, a combination of overdue rent and a utility shut-off notice).
Response timeframe: A volunteer from one of the three partner organizations will review the details and contact you by phone or email within 48 to 72 hours.
Keep an eye on your inbox: since the assessment process is handled collaboratively, the email response may come from a staff member with an email address ending in @fbcraleigh.org, @esumc.org, or @fpcraleigh.org. Be sure to check your junk (spam) folder throughout the week so you don’t miss the message.
Regional and County-Level Church Ministries
Society of St. Vincent de Paul – St. Francis of Assisi
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) conference at St. Francis of Assisi parish is a faith-based crisis-assistance ministry that provides short-term financial aid to vulnerable families and individuals in northwest Raleigh. Funded primarily through parish tithes and donations, the group focuses on preventing immediate displacement and stabilizing households during unexpected crises, such as medical emergencies or the sudden loss of a job.
How does the intake and home visit process work?
Unlike conventional social service agencies, the SVdP uses a highly personalized, human-connection-centered “Vincentian” model to distribute aid.
Helpline: If you are experiencing a crisis, the first step is to call the St. Francis of Assisi SVdP helpline at (919) 534-4842 and leave a detailed message explaining your situation.
Phone Assessment: An intake volunteer monitors the helpline, conducts an initial assessment, and will call you back to gather demographic information and document your financial emergency.
Home Visit: If you meet the geographic criteria and basic assessment requirements, two volunteers (“visitors”) will schedule a visit to your home. The goal of this visit is to listen to your story without judgment, treat you with dignity, determine the amount of assistance needed to resolve your immediate crisis, and—if you wish—offer spiritual support.
Catholic Parish Outreach (Catholic Charities)
Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO), a core program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, operates one of the largest emergency food pantries in North Carolina. Serving families and individuals in Wake, Johnston, and Franklin counties, CPO focuses primarily on combating food insecurity and providing essential resources to help stabilize the situations of young children and their mothers.
How to get help
To ensure efficient distribution and reduce wait times, CPO organizes its operations according to a specific schedule:
Location: The Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO) food distribution center is located at 2013 Raleigh Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604.
Distribution Hours: Food and supplies are distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The center is also open on the second and third Saturday of each month, during those same morning hours (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). It is closed on Tuesdays and Sundays.
No referral required: CPO does not require a formal referral from a social worker, medical provider, or human services agency to receive standard emergency assistance, such as food or diapers. Individuals may arrive in person—either on foot or by vehicle—during operating hours.
Contact number: You may reach the staff at the food distribution center directly at (919) 873-0245 to inquire about holiday closures or to check on the availability of items.
The Salvation Army of Wake County
The Salvation Army of Wake County, operating out of the Judy D. Zelnak Center of Hope in Raleigh, provides comprehensive crisis assistance, housing intervention, and nutritional support. As the largest network of family shelters in Wake County, this faith-based organization focuses on helping families overcome immediate displacement while also addressing underlying financial instability.
How to get in touch and access services
Main location: The Salvation Army / Judy D. Zelnak Center of Hope is located at 1863 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604.
General administrative hours: Open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (closed daily for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.).
Main helpline: To join the waiting list for family shelters or to request an appointment for an assessment regarding utility payment assistance, please contact the social services team directly at (919) 834-6733.
NeighborUp (formerly Western Wake Crisis Ministry)
NeighborUp—formed through a significant 2024 merger between Western Wake Crisis Ministry (WWCM) and Dorcas Ministries—is a prominent faith-based community support network serving the western and southern areas of Wake County. Operating from its primary resource hubs in Apex and Cary, this unified organization coordinates emergency financial assistance, food security initiatives, and personalized, client-led guidance toward stability, with the goal of preventing homelessness and fostering long-term household resilience.
How to Request Assistance
NeighborUp has structured its access points to minimize long wait times and process requests efficiently:
Online Portal Access: Individuals seeking financial assistance or food pantry appointments should use the unified intake system available on the official NeighborUp Wake portal.
Phone Access: If you do not have internet access, you may contact the appropriate resource hub to request an assessment by phone:
Apex Resource Hub (WWCM): Call (919) 363-0135
Cary Resource Hub (Dorcas): Call (919) 469-9861
Food Pantry Hours: General distribution takes place Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with some additional availability in the late afternoon. Scheduling an appointment is highly recommended.
ChurchNet Foundation
ChurchNet Foundation is a non-profit (501(c)(3)) interdenominational Christian coalition that brings together local churches to provide emergency assistance with utility payments and prescription medications. This ministry operates with a strictly local focus, serving only individuals and families residing in the communities of Wake Forest, Rolesville, and Youngsville.
How to Apply & Office Hours
Physical Address: The office is located at 121 Front St, Wake Forest, NC 27587. (Note: The mailing address for donations is P.O. Box 1434, Wake Forest, NC 27588).
- Step 1: Online Application: If you meet the residency requirements, you must first complete the digital form via the ChurchNet Foundation’s financial assistance application portal.
- Step 2: Interview and Assessment: As part of the verification process, a volunteer will contact you to discuss your emergency situation. You will need to provide a valid, government-issued photo ID and a copy of your most recent utility bill, which must explicitly show your name as the account holder.
Assessment Hours: In-person assessments and follow-ups are conducted by appointment only, during the following scheduled hours: Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact Number: You may reach the administrative office by calling (919) 569-0020.
Other Crisis Assistance Options
If the funds from local churches have been exhausted for the week, you may explore broader, county-level resources:
A Doorway to Hope: A faith-based crisis assistance organization that provides supplemental funding for rent or utility bills to working families facing sudden emergencies. They require a referral (dated within the last 3 months) from an affiliated social worker or school counselor.
Wake County Coordinated Entry: If you do not have a place to live or are facing an immediate eviction, you can go to Oak City Cares, located at 1430 S Wilmington St. This center serves as the primary point of contact for connecting residents with various rental assistance programs and emergency shelter options.
