Free Help in Queens

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.

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

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 and eligible buses, and 50% off Access-A-Ride. Open to New York City residents ages 18 to 64 whose household income is at or below $23,940 for one person or $49,500 for a family of four (2026 limits).

Not available if you already get full carfare from HRA or reduced fare through another NYC program. Need help applying? Call 311.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.