Delaware Hardship Program: Cash, Energy, Housing, and Emergency Help by County

Where a Delaware hardship program search should begin

Delaware is small, and most help runs through a few shared doors. Knowing them saves a lot of phone calls.

Delaware 211 is a free, confidential helpline run with the United Way of Delaware. You can dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or chat online. The Delaware 211 website lists phone and chat hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Specialists can point you to food, utility help, housing, legal help, transportation, and crisis services near you.

The ASSIST portal is the state's online application for Division of Social Services programs. At assist.dhss.delaware.gov you can screen yourself, apply, upload papers, and check a case. One application can cover food benefits, cash assistance, Medicaid, and child care help, so you do not have to fill out the same form over and over.

State Service Centers are the in-person offices of the Division of State Service Centers. Staff there handle Emergency Assistance and can help you use ASSIST. Not every center offers every service, so call ahead.

Programs matched to your need

This table sorts the main Delaware programs by the problem you are facing. It is a starting map, not a promise of help, since most programs depend on funding and income rules.

Cash help from TANF and General Assistance

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is Delaware's main cash program for families with children. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty's 2025–26 Delaware profile, the most a family of three can receive is $338 a month. That is about 16% of the poverty line and has not changed in years, so TANF works best as one piece of a budget, not the whole thing.

The diversion payment is worth asking about. It is a one-time payment for a specific short-term need, such as a car repair that keeps a parent working. NCCP notes that a family that takes a diversion payment may have to wait up to three months before getting monthly TANF. In some cases that trade is worth it, and in others it is not, so ask your caseworker to explain both paths.

Adults without children who cannot work may qualify for General Assistance, a small state-funded cash program for people who do not fit federal programs. The monthly amount is very low, well under $100 for one person in the state's most recent tables. It is mainly a bridge while someone waits on a disability claim. If you are applying for SSI or Social Security disability, tell DSS so they can screen you for both.

Emergency Assistance at the State Service Centers

Delaware's Emergency Assistance Services are the closest thing to a true hardship fund. They are paid through the Division of State Service Centers and aim to keep low-income households housed and safe. Depending on funds, Emergency Assistance can help with:

• Rent or mortgage to stop an eviction or foreclosure
• Utility bills when service is cut off or about to be
• A short stay in emergency shelter
• Other urgent needs that threaten health or safety

There are limits. Payments are capped by the state's Social Services Manual for each 30-day period, and the state will not pay if the emergency happened because a household did not follow the rules of another DSS program. Bring proof of the emergency (an eviction notice, court papers, or a shutoff notice), photo ID, and proof of income for everyone in the home. Because some centers do not offer Emergency Assistance or emergency energy help, call 211 or the State Service Centers line at 1-866-843-7212 to find the right office before you travel.

Energy bills and the Delaware LIHEAP program

Delaware runs LIHEAP, the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington. It is a one-time yearly benefit paid straight to your utility or fuel company. Homeowners and renters can both apply.

The heating program covers October 1 through March 31, and Catholic Charities begins taking applications in July. Funding is limited, so being eligible does not guarantee a payment, and it helps to apply early in the season. The charity asks for Social Security cards for household members, proof of citizenship or qualified immigration status, photo ID with your address, recent utility bills, a lease or proof of ownership, and three months of income for every adult. Missing papers are the most common cause of delay.

If you have a shutoff notice or are almost out of fuel, say so. Federal LIHEAP rules call for crisis help within 48 hours, or 18 hours in a life-threatening situation. For income limits and how the program works nationally, see our LIHEAP guide.

Other energy help

• Summer cooling and heater repair: First State Community Action Agency lists a Summer Cooling Assistance Program and heater repair or replacement among its services.
• Utility relief funds: Energize Delaware lists a Delaware Energy Fund. Its page says the Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund has spent all its money.
• Your utility: ask Delmarva Power, Delaware Electric Cooperative, or your town utility about payment plans before the bill reaches shutoff.

Rent, eviction, and shelter options

Delaware's pandemic-era rent help has ended. The Delaware State Housing Authority's Housing Stability Program paid up to $1,800 a month for up to three months for tenants facing a court-scheduled eviction. DSHA reported that its application portal closed on May 7, 2025, as federal funds ran out. DSHA now points renters to 211 for other options.

That leaves three main routes if you are behind on rent:

1. Emergency Assistance at a State Service Center, described above.
2. Local charities such as Catholic Charities' basic needs program and First State Community Action Agency, which lists emergency services and a rental assistance program. Funds are small and come and go, so ask what is open now.
3. Legal help in eviction court. A 2023 Delaware law created a right to free legal representation for many tenants facing eviction, generally those with household income under 200% of the poverty line. Contact the Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI) or Legal Services Corporation of Delaware as soon as you get court papers.

If you have nowhere to stay tonight, contact the Homeless Helpline run by Housing Alliance Delaware. You can call or text 1-833-FIND-BED (1-833-346-3233), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It handles centralized intake for shelters across the state. Homeowners should read our Delaware mortgage relief guide, which covers the state's foreclosure mediation program and free housing counselors.

Food and health coverage

Delaware's SNAP program, called the Food Supplement Program, uses the same national income rules as other states. For 2026–27 the maximum for one person is $306 a month, and our SNAP calculator gives an estimate for your household. Apply through ASSIST. For groceries this week, 211 can point you to pantries run by the Food Bank of Delaware's partner agencies and to the First State Community Action Agency food pantry in Georgetown.

For health care, Delaware Medicaid and the Delaware Healthy Children Program cover many low-income adults and children. New federal rules are changing how Medicaid works for some adults, and our Medicaid guide explains the dates. If medical bills are already piling up, Delaware's Medical Debt Protection Act limits what hospitals and their collectors can do; our Delaware debt relief guide explains it.

Help in each county

New Castle County and Wilmington

Most of Delaware's people live here, and most nonprofits have their main offices in Wilmington. Catholic Charities runs financial assistance and money-skills help from its office at 2601 W. 4th Street (main line 302-655-9624). Several State Service Centers serve the county, including the Appoquinimink center in Middletown. Services vary by site, so call before you go.

Kent County and Dover

The Kent County energy office of Catholic Charities is at 302-674-1782. The Smyrna State Service Center is one of the offices serving Kent County. The Department of Justice also has a Dover office if you are dealing with a scam or an unfair business practice.

Sussex County

First State Community Action Agency in Georgetown (302-856-7761) lists emergency services, a food pantry, case management, housing counseling, heater repair, summer cooling help, and free tax preparation. The agency says all services require registration, online or by phone. The Sussex energy office of Catholic Charities is at 302-856-6310, and the Edward W. Pyle State Service Center in Frankford is among the offices serving the county.

How to apply without delays

1. Call or text 211 first and describe every need at once, such as rent, power, and food.
2. Apply on ASSIST for SNAP, cash help, and Medicaid in one application.
3. Gather papers once: photo ID, Social Security numbers, 30 to 90 days of income, your lease, and any notices. Our documents checklist has a general list.
4. Bring the notice. Emergency programs want the eviction notice, court date, or shutoff notice itself.
5. Apply for LIHEAP early in the season, even before you are behind.
6. Keep copies of everything you submit and write down who you spoke with.

Related guides

• Delaware debt relief programs
• Delaware mortgage relief program
• LIHEAP energy assistance
• Hardship grants for individuals

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Program rules, amounts, and funding change, so confirm details with the agency before you rely on them. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government agency.