The GUS Resource Center

GUS — Growth, Unity & Success

That is us. Tutoring, clothing, financial literacy, sports and job readiness for young people ages 8 to 24 in Jamaica and South Jamaica.

175-61 Hillside Avenue, Suite 202, Jamaica, NY 11432

ACCESS NYC — check what you qualify for

Answer a few questions and it shows you every city, state and federal benefit you can get. Takes about 10 minutes. No account, no name, nothing saved.

Also in Spanish, Chinese, Bengali, Russian, Haitian Creole, Korean, Arabic, Urdu, French and Polish.

ACCESS HRA — the application itself

One form applies you for SNAP (food stamps), Cash Assistance and Medicaid at the same time.

NYC 311

The city's help line for anything you cannot find here. Free, 24 hours, over 175 languages.

The River Fund New York

One of the biggest pantries in Queens. Families take home roughly 100 pounds of produce, protein and staples. Bring bags or a cart.

89-11 Lefferts Blvd, Richmond Hill, NY 11418

Wednesdays serve seniors and people with disabilities. Saturdays serve everyone. Call to confirm hours.

Project Hospitality — Staten Island

Staten Island's largest food pantry, plus a soup kitchen a few doors down on Canal Street.

205 Canal St, Staten Island, NY 10304

CAMBA Beyond Hunger Emergency Food Pantry

Supermarket-style pantry in Flatbush where you pick your own food. Call before you come so they know to expect you.

21 Snyder Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226

The Campaign Against Hunger — Bed-Stuy

One of Brooklyn's largest pantries, with a rooftop farm and nutrition programs alongside the groceries.

2010 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233

POTS — Part of the Solution

Food pantry in the morning and a hot sit-down meal at midday, six days a week. They also run legal, medical and housing help in the same building.

2759 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458

Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen

New York's largest soup kitchen. A hot meal every weekday, holidays included. No questions, no paperwork, just come.

296 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10001

SNAP (food stamps)

Monthly money on a card for groceries. If you qualify for emergency processing you can get benefits in about 5 days.

Not sure if you qualify? Check first at access.nyc.gov.

Plentiful — find a pantry and book a time

Shows the food pantries closest to you and lets you reserve a slot so you are not standing in line.

No smartphone? Text the word FOOD to 726879 from any phone.

Food Bank For New York City

Nearly 800 pantries, soup kitchens and mobile pantries across the five boroughs. Search by your ZIP code.

HRA food assistance — pantries, meals and more

The city's own list of emergency food programs, plus how to get help applying for SNAP.

WIC — food for pregnant women, babies and kids under 5

Free healthy food, formula, breastfeeding support and health referrals. You can qualify even if you work.

Free school meals

Breakfast and lunch are free for every NYC public school student. No form, no income check.

Homebase Queens — Jamaica office

The Homebase office that covers Jamaica and the rest of Queens. Run by Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.

161-10 Jamaica Avenue, 5th Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432

CAMBA Homebase — Brooklyn

Brooklyn's Homebase provider. Free help with back rent, landlord trouble and emergency money to keep your apartment. Offices in Fulton Street, Eastern Parkway and Church Avenue.

Which office you use depends on your community district. Call and they will route you.

BronxWorks Homebase

The Bronx Homebase provider. Free help with rent arrears, eviction and emergency grants before you lose your home.

1130 Grand Concourse, 3rd Floor, Bronx, NY 10456

Second office at 630 Jackson Avenue, 2nd Floor, (347) 704-0001. Which one you use depends on your ZIP code.

CAMBA Homebase — Staten Island

Staten Island's Homebase provider. Free help with back rent, landlord trouble and emergency money to stay housed.

120 Stuyvesant Place, 4th Floor, Suite 413, Staten Island, NY 10301

Second office at 209 Bay Street, 1st Floor, (718) 226-0496.

Homebase — stop an eviction before it happens

Free help with back rent, landlord problems, and one-time emergency money to keep you in your apartment. Go here before you lose the place.

There is a Homebase office in every borough.

EvictionFreeNYC — free lawyer for eviction

If you got court papers, you have a right to a free lawyer in every NYC ZIP code. Immigration status does not matter.

One-Shot Deal — emergency money for rent

A one-time grant for back rent, a security deposit, movers, or a utility shutoff. Apply through ACCESS HRA.

Enter shelter tonight

Intake is open 24 hours. Men: 8 East 3rd St, Manhattan. Women: 114 Snediker Ave, Brooklyn or 1122 Franklin Ave, Bronx. Adult families: 333 Bowery, Manhattan. Families with children: PATH, 151 East 151st St, Bronx.

These addresses changed in August 2026. Call 311 to confirm before you travel.

Housing Court Answers

Free advice line if you are behind on rent, in Housing Court, or facing a lockout. They explain what the papers mean.

NYC Housing Connect — affordable apartment lottery

The city's official list of income-restricted apartments. Free to apply. Set up one profile and enter as many lotteries as you want.

There is never a fee for an HPD or HDC housing application. Anyone charging you is a scam.

NYCHA — public housing and Section 8

Apply for public housing and check where you stand on the waitlist.

HPD eviction prevention

The city's guide to your rights as a tenant, repairs, harassment and rent arrears help.

CityFHEPS — rental assistance voucher

A city voucher that pays most of your rent every month. For people in shelter or at risk of losing their home.

Homebase can help you apply. Start there if you are not in shelter yet.

Cash Assistance

Monthly cash for rent, food and basics if you have little or no income. Same application as SNAP.

Fair Fares NYC — half-price subway and bus

Half off subway, eligible buses and Access-A-Ride. Open to New Yorkers 16 to 84 at or below 145% of the federal poverty line.

Fair Fares now issues OMNY cards instead of MetroCards.

NYC Free Tax Prep

File your taxes free with an IRS-certified preparer and keep the whole refund. Roughly $68,000 or less filing single, $97,000 or less with family.

Financial Empowerment Centers — free money counseling

Sit down one-on-one with a counselor about debt, credit, budgeting or opening a bank account. Free, in every borough, no matter your income.

HEAP — heating and cooling bill help

Pays part of your heating or cooling bill, and can fix or replace a broken furnace or air conditioner. Money goes straight to the utility.

Application windows open and close each season. Call to check what is open now.

Con Edison payment help

Set up a payment agreement, stop a shutoff, or apply for bill credits.

IDNYC — free photo ID

A free government photo ID for anyone 10 and up living in NYC. Immigration status does not matter. Gets you into banks, clinics, schools and museums.

HRA Job Centers and SNAP Centers

Where to go in person for Cash Assistance, SNAP and Medicaid if you cannot do it online. There are centers in every borough.

Social Security, SSI and disability

Apply for retirement, SSI or disability benefits. You can start the application online and finish by phone.

National Grid bill help

Payment plans, budget billing and low-income discounts if your gas bill is behind.

File an unemployment claim

File the week you lose your job. Do not wait. You file once, then certify every week to get paid.

Telephone Claims Center, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. Press 9 for an interpreter.

Certify weekly for your benefit

You have to certify every single week or you do not get paid, even after you are approved.

Problem with your claim

Denied, stuck, overpaid, or waiting too long. This is where you push back and where you appeal.

Workforce1 Queens Career Center

Free resume help, interview coaching, training grants and direct hiring events. Walk in or call. This one is right on Jamaica Avenue.

168-25 Jamaica Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432

Generally Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call before you go.

NYS Queens Career Center

The state's own career center for Queens. Job listings, veterans services and help with your unemployment claim in person.

Queens Public Library — Adult Learning Centers

Free English classes, high school equivalency prep, computer classes and job search help. The Central Library in Jamaica has public computers you can use.

Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432

The Fortune Society — re-entry support

Housing, jobs, education and legal help for people coming home from prison or jail. Based in Long Island City, serving all of NYC.

Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center

Free resume help, interview coaching, training grants and hiring events in downtown Brooklyn.

9 Bond Street, 5th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Call 311 for current hours before you go.

Hunts Point Workforce1 Career Center

Free job placement, resume and interview help, and training grants in the South Bronx.

1029 East 163rd Street, 3rd Floor, Bronx, NY 10459

Upper Manhattan Workforce1 Career Center

Free job placement, resume and interview coaching, and training grants on 125th Street in Harlem.

215 West 125th Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10027

Staten Island Workforce1 Career Center

Free job placement, resume help and training grants in St. George, near the ferry.

120 Stuyvesant Place, 3rd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301

A South Shore office at 3845 Richmond Avenue takes appointments only, (347) 308-5018.

Workforce1 — all career centers

Free job placement help in every borough, run by the city. No cost, ever.

Jobs NYC — city government jobs and hiring halls

City jobs with benefits, plus in-person hiring halls where you can interview the same day.

Per Scholas — free tech training

Free 12 to 15 week training in IT support, cybersecurity, cloud and software engineering, with job placement after. No tuition.

Year Up United

Free year-long training plus a paid corporate internship for adults 18 to 29 with a high school diploma or equivalency.

NYC Department of Veterans' Services

Housing, benefits, mental health and job help for veterans and their families.

CUNY Reconnect — go back to college

For adults who started college and stopped. CUNY helps you re-enroll, clear old balances and finish the degree.

Small Business Development Center at York College

Free one-on-one business counseling in Jamaica. They help you write the business plan, find the money and file the paperwork. No charge.

York College, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11451

Greater Jamaica Development Corporation

A Community Development Financial Institution based in Jamaica with a revolving loan fund and hands-on technical help for local businesses.

90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432

Queens Economic Development Corporation

Free business courses, one-on-one help, and small grant programs across Queens. Home-based businesses count too.

Brooklyn Small Business Development Center

Free one-on-one business counseling in downtown Brooklyn. Business plans, financing and licensing, at no charge.

25 Chapel Street, 11th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Bronx Small Business Development Center

Free business counseling at Lehman College. Help writing the plan, finding financing and getting licensed.

Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, Bronx, NY 10468

Midtown Manhattan Small Business Development Center

Free business counseling at Baruch College. Business plans, loan packaging and licensing help at no cost.

Baruch College, 55 Lexington Avenue, Room 2-140, New York, NY 10010

Staten Island Small Business Development Center

Free business counseling at the College of Staten Island. Plans, financing and licensing, no charge.

College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd, Building 3A Room 105, Staten Island, NY 10314

NYC Business — start, run and grow

The city's business portal. Walks you through licenses, permits, free courses, and connects you to financing.

SBA funding programs

Federal loans, microloans, disaster loans and surety bonds. The SBA does not usually lend directly, it guarantees the loan so a bank will say yes.

Real SBA grants are rare and go to specific programs. Anyone who charges you a fee to get an SBA grant is a scam.

SBA local assistance

Find the free counselors, mentors and lenders nearest you, including the New York district office.

M/WBE certification

Certify your business as minority or woman-owned and get access to city contracts set aside for M/WBEs. Free to apply.

SCORE New York City

Free mentoring from retired and working executives. You can meet the same mentor for as long as you need.

Pursuit — small business lending

A nonprofit lender and top SBA lender in New York. Works with owners banks turn down.

Accion Opportunity Fund

Nonprofit small business loans and free coaching in English and Spanish, built for owners without perfect credit.

Roy Wilkins Recreation Center — Jamaica

Indoor pool, gym and free youth aquatics including Learn to Swim and a youth swim team for ages 6 to 18. Right in South Jamaica.

177th Street & Baisley Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11434

Queens Public Library — homework help

Free tutoring and homework help, in person at branches and online. Also free books, computers and wifi.

Brooklyn Public Library

Free homework help, after-school programs, English and equivalency classes, public computers and wifi at branches all over Brooklyn.

Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238

New York Public Library

Free homework help, after-school programs, English and equivalency classes, public computers and wifi. Branches across the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island.

DiscoverDYCD — find free programs near you

Search by your address for free after-school, sports, arts, tutoring and summer programs. This is the fastest way to find something for your kid this week.

COMPASS after-school — free, K through 12

Three hours a day, five days a week, including school holidays. Homework help, STEM, arts and sports. Every NYC student is eligible.

NYC Parks recreation centers — free under 25

Membership is free for anyone under 25 and for seniors. Gyms, indoor pools, classes and open gym time year round.

Free outdoor pools — summer

Every summer the city opens free outdoor pools in all five boroughs. No membership needed, even at pools next to a rec center.

Learn to Swim — free swim lessons

Free swim instruction for kids and adults at city pools. Spots fill fast, so sign up the day registration opens.

Summer Rising — free summer program

Free full-day summer program for public school students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Academics in the morning, trips and activities after.

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

A paid summer job for ages 14 to 24. The biggest youth jobs program in the country. Applications usually open in the winter for the coming summer.

MyCity — child care and 3-K

Apply for free or low-cost child care and see if you qualify for a voucher. One city account handles it.

Drop-in centers for youth 14 to 24

Food, clothing, laundry, a shower, counseling and emergency shelter. You do not have to be homeless and you do not need documents.

NYC Care — health care for everyone

Low-cost and no-cost care at NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who cannot get or afford insurance. No premiums. Immigration status does not matter and is not recorded.

NY State of Health — insurance marketplace

Apply for Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus or a subsidized plan. Many New Yorkers pay nothing.

NYC Health + Hospitals — find a clinic

Public hospitals and neighborhood clinics in every borough. They treat you regardless of ability to pay.

988 — mental health and crisis line

Call or text 988 any time, free and confidential, for you or for someone you are worried about.

Drug and alcohol help

Free treatment referrals, free naloxone, and syringe services. No insurance needed.

NYC Aging — help for seniors

Senior centers, home-delivered meals, caregiver support, elder abuse help and benefits screening for New Yorkers 60 and up.

Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities

Accessible housing, benefits, transportation and job help for New Yorkers with disabilities.

Queens Legal Services

The Queens office of Legal Services NYC. Free civil legal help for Queens residents.

89-00 Sutphin Blvd, 5th Floor, Jamaica, NY 11435

Office line is (347) 592-2200. They work in any language.

Brooklyn Legal Services

Free civil lawyers for Brooklyn residents. Housing, benefits, family, immigration and consumer debt.

29 Albany Avenue, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Office line is (718) 237-5500.

Bronx Legal Services

Free civil lawyers for Bronx residents. Eviction, benefits, family, immigration and debt.

349 East 149th Street, 10th Floor, Bronx, NY 10451

Office line is (718) 928-3700.

Manhattan Legal Services

Free civil lawyers for Manhattan residents. Housing, benefits, family, immigration and consumer cases.

40 Worth Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10013

Office line is (646) 442-3100.

Staten Island Legal Services

Free civil lawyers for Staten Island residents. Right across the street from the ferry terminal.

36 Richmond Terrace, Suite 205, Staten Island, NY 10301

Office line is (718) 233-6480.

Legal Services NYC

Free civil lawyers for housing, benefits, family, immigration, consumer debt and disability. Offices in all five boroughs.

Intake line, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm.

The Legal Aid Society

Free lawyers for civil, criminal and juvenile cases. The helpline points you to the right unit.

Helpline Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.

LawHelpNY

Plain-English answers about your legal problem plus a directory of free legal help near you.

ActionNYC — free immigration legal help

Free, safe, confidential immigration legal help through trusted community organizations and schools. You need an appointment.

Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Or call 311 and say ActionNYC.

Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs

Know your rights, find legal help, and see the city services that are open to you no matter your status.

IDNYC

Free NYC photo ID for anyone 10 and up. Immigration status does not matter and the city does not share your information.

Family Justice Center — Queens

The Queens center, in Kew Gardens. Walk in. You do not need a police report and you do not need to press charges.

126-02 82nd Avenue, Kew Gardens, NY 11415

Family Justice Center — Brooklyn

Walk in for counseling, legal help and safety planning after domestic or sexual violence. No police report needed.

350 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Family Justice Center — The Bronx

Free, confidential help after domestic or sexual violence. Counseling, legal help, safety planning, interpreters on site.

198 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451

Family Justice Center — Manhattan

Free help after domestic or sexual violence, downtown near the courts. Counseling, legal help and safety planning under one roof.

80 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013

Family Justice Center — Staten Island

Free, confidential help after domestic or sexual violence. Counseling, legal help and safety planning in St. George.

126 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301

Family Justice Centers

One place for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking and stalking. Counseling, legal help and safety planning, all free. Staff speak more than 30 languages.

Safe Horizon

The country's largest victim services nonprofit. Hotlines for domestic violence, crime victims and rape and sexual assault.

DYCD Youth Connect

One call connects a young person or a parent to youth programs, shelter, counseling and more. Over 180 languages.