Alabama Hardship Program: Where to Turn for a Shutoff, an Eviction, Food, or Medical Bills

Alabama hardship program help for power, gas, or water shutoffs

Call the community action agency for your county; ADECA does not take LIHEAP applications directly, as it explains on its LIHEAP page. LIHEAP pays heating and cooling costs and has crisis help for shutoffs, for households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level ($23,940 a year for one person; $49,500 for four in 2026). Bring the shutoff notice, a recent bill, ID, Social Security numbers, and proof of income. At the same time, call the utility and ask for a payment arrangement or medical certificate if someone in the home depends on power for health reasons. Alabama Power, Spire, and many co-ops also run customer assistance funds distributed through local agencies. Water bills are not covered by LIHEAP; ask your water utility and 211. See our Alabama utility relief guide.

If you are being evicted

1. Read the notice date. Under the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a landlord can file for eviction after a 7-day notice for unpaid rent, and you have a short time to answer the court summons.
2. Answer the summons and go to court. Missing the deadline means a default judgment.
3. Call Legal Services Alabama for free legal help if you are low-income.
4. Dial 211 for charity rent funds (Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, churches) and HUD-funded homelessness prevention; HUD Exchange lists prevention among ESG’s uses in its program requirements.

Alabama’s pandemic rent program ended in December 2022, and the federal funding behind it closed in 2025; see our Alabama rent relief guide.

When you have no food

Apply for SNAP through myDHR or your county DHR office and ask for expedited processing; households with very little income or cash can get benefits within 7 days. From Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027, SNAP pays up to $306 a month for one person and $1,023 for four; estimate with our SNAP calculator. For food today, find a pantry through the Feeding America food banks serving Alabama or dial 211. Pregnant women and children under 5 can also get WIC through the county health department.

Medical bills you cannot pay

• Ask for financial assistance: nonprofit hospitals must have a written financial assistance policy and screen you before extraordinary collection actions, under IRS rules.
• Check Medicaid: children (Medicaid and ALL Kids), pregnant women, very-low-income parents, seniors, and people with disabilities can qualify; retroactive coverage can pay recent bills.
• Use community health centers with sliding fees for ongoing care.
• Get an itemized bill and ask for an interest-free payment plan; see our medical debt guide.

After losing your income

File for unemployment with the Alabama Department of Workforce the first week, and apply for SNAP. Families with children can apply for Family Assistance through DHR; the maximum for a family of three is about $344 a month, per the National Center for Children in Poverty’s 2025–26 profile. If you have a disability that will last a year or more, apply for SSI or SSDI. See our unemployment guide.

Hardship caused by a storm or fire

Call the American Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) after a home fire or storm damage. After a federally declared disaster that includes Individual Assistance for your county, apply to FEMA at DisasterAssistance.gov; Alabama sometimes runs D-SNAP after major storms. See our Alabama disaster relief guide.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

What to do today, step by step

1. Name the emergency and make the first call in the table above.
2. Apply for SNAP through myDHR if money is short for food.
3. Dial 211 for local charity funds, food pantries, and legal aid.
4. Keep every notice and receipt; agencies need them.
5. Follow up with each office within a few days.

For more specifics, see our guides on Alabama assistance programs and government phones in Alabama.

Related guides

• Hardship grants for individuals
• The real programs behind “hardship relief program”
• Alabama mortgage relief
• Benefits for low-income families

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice, and not an application. Program rules change; confirm with the agency that runs each program. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.