Government assistance programs — housing, food, healthcare, and more. 87 programs available.
Showing 23 programs
Bureau of Indian Education, U.S. Department of the Interior
The Bureau of Indian Education Higher Education Grant program provides financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native students to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees at accredited colleges and universities. Awards help cover tuition, fees, books, and living expenses, and are distributed through BIE directly or through federally recognized tribes participating in the program. Students must reapply annually and maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain funding.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
ERAP provides financial assistance to low-income renters experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent eviction and housing instability. Funds cover up to 18 months of past-due and prospective rent, utilities, and other qualifying housing costs. Eligible households must earn at or below 80% of area median income and demonstrate COVID-related financial hardship.
Department of Education
Need-based federal grant for low and moderate income undergraduate students. Does not need to be repaid. Award amount depends on financial need, cost of attendance, and enrollment status.
U.S. Department of Education
FSEOG provides supplemental grant funding to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, prioritizing Federal Pell Grant recipients with the lowest Expected Family Contributions. Awards range from $100 to $4,000 per year and do not require repayment. Students must be enrolled at a participating institution and complete the FAFSA.
U.S. Department of Education
Federal Work-Study (FWS) provides part-time employment to undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, enabling them to earn money to help pay education expenses while enrolled at least half-time. Jobs are available on-campus and off-campus, with many off-campus positions at nonprofits, public agencies, or employers providing community services related to the student's field of study. Work-Study wages do not count against the following year's financial aid calculation, preserving aid eligibility.
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange, providing grants for U.S. students, scholars, professionals, teachers, and artists to study, teach, and conduct research abroad, and for international participants to do the same in the United States. Student grants typically cover international travel, tuition, a monthly living stipend, and health insurance for one academic year. The program operates in more than 160 countries and is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) for student awards.
U.S. Department of Education
GAANN fellowships support doctoral students with exceptional financial need in academic areas of national need including biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, and other Secretary-designated fields. Awards are made to graduate programs at eligible institutions, which then select fellows and administer stipends and tuition assistance. Fellows are typically expected to teach or conduct research as part of their academic preparation, and priority is given to students with exceptional academic merit alongside demonstrated need.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door program offers law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and pre-K through 12th-grade teachers a 50% discount on the list price of eligible HUD-owned single-family homes located in designated revitalization areas. Buyers must commit to living in the purchased home as their sole residence for at least 36 months. Properties are listed weekly on the HUD Homestore website and must be purchased through a registered HUD-approved real estate agent.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HOPWA provides housing assistance and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families who are at risk of homelessness or residing in substandard housing. Funded services include short-term rent and utility assistance, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and case management. Grants are awarded to states, cities, and nonprofit organizations that deliver services directly to clients across the country.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD's Housing Counseling Program funds a national network of approved nonprofit agencies to provide free or low-cost counseling on buying a home, renting, avoiding foreclosure, resolving homelessness, and improving financial literacy. Counselors help individuals understand their rights, navigate housing options, and develop sustainable household budgets. Services are available in multiple languages and are open to people of all income levels.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD's Public Housing program provides safe, decent, and affordable rental housing for low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities through local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) that manage approximately one million housing units nationwide. Rent is typically capped at 30% of the household's adjusted gross income, making it the most affordable option for very low-income households. Applications are submitted directly to the local PHA, and waiting lists are common due to high demand.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants find their own housing and use the voucher to pay for all or part of the rent. The program is administered by local public housing agencies (PHAs).
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development / U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
HUD-VASH combines HUD Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance with ongoing VA case management and clinical services to help homeless veterans achieve stable, permanent housing. Veterans use the voucher to lease private-market housing while VA social workers provide mental health treatment, substance abuse counseling, and employment support. It is the nation's largest permanent supportive housing program for veterans and has helped house over 100,000 veterans since its inception.
NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America and its network of nearly 250 local nonprofit organizations provide down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, and homebuyer education for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers. Programs vary by location but typically help buyers purchase homes in targeted neighborhoods and communities across the U.S.
U.S. Department of Education
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans for borrowers who have made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer — federal, state, local, or tribal government organizations or eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Borrowers must be enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan and must submit annual Employment Certification Forms to track progress toward the 120-payment threshold. After 120 qualifying payments (10 years of full-time public service), the remaining balance is forgiven tax-free.