Stressed About Your Finances? The City Can Help.

On any given day, thousands of people in Portland are in financial distress. Some have lost a job, some have lost benefits, some are just struggling to afford the cost of living.

The City of Portland can help you save money on bills, transportation, and housing.

(For help with SNAP benefits, unemployment benefits, or health insurance, try Multnomah County, the Oregon Department of Human Services, or OregonHealthCare.gov.)

This page also has links to resources for food, shelter, eviction help, and more.

SNAP alert

Get the latest updates on SNAP from the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Where to find food

• Oregon Food Bank: Find free food through the food-finder tool.
• Produce for People: Community gardeners donate thousands of pounds of fresh food to local food pantries. Find a list of partners.
• School meals: All students in Portland Public Schools can enjoy breakfast and lunch for free during the school year.

Cut your bills

• Sewer, stormwater, and water bill: Get help paying your bill. Many people don't realize they're eligible for financial assistance.
• Garbage bill: Get help paying your garbage bill. Start by applying for help with your water bill.

Housing and shelter

• Overnight Emergency Shelters: You need immediate shelter. Tonight.
• City Day Centers: Connect with services like health care, housing, drug treatment, job training.
• Home Retention: Get help to stay in your home and prevent foreclosure.
• Homeless Assistance Guide: Find resources for shelter, immediate needs, health, and more.

Help for renters

• Free eviction help: Free legal support for low-income tenants facing eviction.
• Free mediation for renters and landlords: Mediation can help you resolve disputes with your landlord without going to court.
• Relocation assistance: Your landlord may have to pay you if they serve you a no-cause eviction, raise the rent by 10%, or won't renew your lease.

Getting around

• TriMet Hop Card: Reduced fare options for qualifying riders.
• Transportation Wallet: Passes and credits so people have more choices to get around: transit, bike-share, e-scooters, and ride-share. Programs for people on low incomes. Offered by the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
• Portland Rides: the E-bike rebate program will start providing rebates in March 2026. You may qualify for a rebate for a new e-bike at a local bike retailer, thanks to the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF).

Fix it

• Resourceful PDX: Practical tips and resources to help you waste less, spend wisely, and support our community.
• Resourceful PDX Map: Tool libraries, repair shops, resale shops, donation centers.
• Repair, borrow, share: Resources for fixing stuff and borrowing stuff from the Community Resource Guide.
• Find and fix leaks: Learn how to check for water leaks and fix simple toilet and faucet leaks yourself.

Free stuff to do

• Portland Parks & Recreation offers hundreds of classes and activities. Many are free. Apply for a discount based on your income.
• Office of Arts & Culture supports a wide variety of events, classes, and programming – including free and family-friendly opportunities.

Home repair and insulation

• Weatherization: Save on energy bills by making your home more efficient – for free. From Multnomah County.
• Home repair: Free weatherization and safety repairs for low-income households, seniors, and people with disabilities. From the Community Energy Project.
• Home water leak repair: Free leak repair for income-qualified homeowners. You must be enrolled in the Portland Water Bureau's financial assistance program and own your own home to qualify.

More resources

The resources on this page are just a tiny fraction of all the resources available in Portland. Learn more at:

• 211info.org or call 211 for:
  • Housing and shelter
  • Mental and behavioral health
  • Basic needs
  • Help with bills
  • Legal services
• Community Resource Guide: A wealth of information for living on a tight budget from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
• Homeless Assistance Guide: Resources for shelter, immediate needs, health, and more from Portland Solutions.
• Rose City Resource Guide: A guide to shelter, food, health care, clothes, and practically everything from Street Roots.