Help & Resources
Free resources for every Iowan. Crisis hotlines, food assistance, shelter, healthcare, and more.
Immediate Crisis
Life-threatening emergencies and crisis support
Emergency Services
911Police, fire, ambulance
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988Call or text, 24/7
Poison Control
1-800-222-122224/7 — Iowa Poison Control Center
Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-942-0333Iowa hotline, 24/7
Child/Elder Abuse Hotline
1-800-362-2178Iowa HHS, 24/7 reporting
Iowa Victim Services
1-800-770-1650Or text IOWAHELP to 20121
Mental Health & Substance Use
Crisis support, counseling, and peer services
Your Life Iowa
855-581-8111Substance abuse, mental health, gambling — 24/7
Iowa Warm Line
844-775-9276Peer support, non-crisis, 24/7
Veterans Crisis Line
988 (press 1)Veterans and service members, 24/7
Crisis Text Line
Text NAMI to 741741 — free, 24/7
NAMI Iowa
515-254-0417Support groups and education
Food Assistance
Food pantries, SNAP, WIC, and meal programs
Iowa SNAP / Food Assistance
855-944-3663Apply: hhsservices.iowa.gov
Food Bank of Iowa
515-564-033055 counties, 700+ agencies
Summer Meals for Kids
Text FOOD to 304-304 or call 211. All kids 18 and under, no application needed.
Iowa WIC
Pregnant/postpartum women, infants, children under 5
Double Up Food Bucks
SNAP users: $1 free produce for every $1 spent (up to $15/day)
Housing & Heating
Shelters, rent help, and energy assistance
LIHEAP Heating Assistance
Apply: liheap-apply.hhs.iowa.gov. Through April 30.
Iowa Community Action Agencies
LIHEAP, weatherization, housing help in all 99 counties
Iowa Legal Aid (Housing)
1-800-532-1275Eviction defense, housing rights
Find Emergency Shelter
Call 211 for shelters in your area
Iowa Utilities Board
877-565-4450Utility disconnection disputes
Veterans Services
VA healthcare, benefits, and county services
VA Iowa City Medical Center
319-338-0581Full medical center
VA Des Moines Medical Center
3600 30th Street, Des Moines
County Veterans Service Officers
Every Iowa county has one — find yours at dva.iowa.gov
Home Base Iowa
Jobs, education, and transition support for veterans
Disability Services
Vocational rehab, legal advocacy, and assistive technology
Iowa Compass
1-800-779-2001Disability info and referral for all ages
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation
800-532-1486Employment services for people with disabilities
Disability Rights Iowa
800-779-2502Free legal advocacy
Iowa ABLE Accounts
Tax-advantaged savings that don't count against SSI/Medicaid
Aging & Senior Services
Meals, Medicare help, elder care, and transportation
LifeLong Links
1-800-779-8707Iowa's aging and disability resource center
Iowa SHIIP (Medicare Help)
877-839-2675Free Medicare counseling
Meals on Wheels
Call 211 or your local Area Agency on Aging
Elder Abuse Reporting
1-800-362-217824/7 — Iowa HHS
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
1-866-236-1430Advocate for nursing home residents
Children & Families
Childcare, Head Start, family assistance
Iowa Child Care Assistance
Subsidized childcare for eligible families
Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral
Find quality childcare
ASK Resource Center
Special education advocacy for families
Iowa Head Start
Free early childhood education
Family Investment Program (FIP)
Cash assistance for families with children — apply at hhsservices.iowa.gov
Employment & Training
Job search, training programs, and career services
IowaWORKS
Iowa's state job board and career services
PROMISE JOBS
Work and training for FIP recipients
Iowa Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn
VITA Free Tax Prep
Free tax preparation for qualifying Iowans
Health & Insurance
Medicaid, free clinics, and health programs
Iowa Medicaid
Health coverage for eligible Iowans — apply year-round
Hawki (Children's Health)
Low-cost health insurance for Iowa kids
Free Clinics of Iowa
Healthcare regardless of ability to pay
ACA Marketplace Navigator
Help enrolling in health insurance
Naloxone (Overdose Reversal)
Find free naloxone
All resources on this page are free. You do not need an account to access them.
Information verified as of April 2026. If you find an error, please contact us.