Help for your family, without the runaround.
Assistance programs are split across agencies that do not talk to each other, and the rules for children are frequently not the rules for parents. FamilyHelper explains what exists, who runs it, and what to ask for — in plain language, free, with no account.
FamilyHelper is a private educational resource. We are not a government agency and do not process applications or determine eligibility.
Start here
What is happening right now?
Parents arrive describing a situation, not a program name. Pick the closest one — each leads to what applies, in the order worth doing it.
- 01We need groceries this weekWhat moves fastest, and which programs your kids can access separately from the household.
- 02My child needs a doctorWhy children are often covered when parents are not, and how to apply on any day of the year.
- 03We might lose our homeEmergency rental help, legal aid, and the school protections that follow your child through a move.
- 04I cannot afford child careAssistance programs, free preschool options, and the provider flexibility most families never hear about.
Topics
Six things families ask about most
Each topic covers the programs involved, which agency runs each one, what the application asks for, and — separately — what works differently for children.
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Tools
Three things you can sort out right now
All three run in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere, stored, or seen by us.
Need finder
Tell us what is happening this month and we will point you at the parts of the library that apply — starting with whatever moves fastest.
Open02Household counter
Programs count households differently, and it changes the income limit. Work out who counts, for which program.
Open03Document checklist
Pick the programs you are looking into and get one combined, printable list of the paperwork they ask for.
OpenGuides
Latest from the library
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