Help Starts Here.
When disaster strikes, knowing where to turn can make the next steps a little easier. United Way Northwest Indiana has gathered local, regional, and state resources to help individuals and families find assistance before, during, and after a disaster. Resources are provided by a variety of organizations and agencies. Eligibility, availability, and application requirements vary. Contact each organization directly for the most current information.
Indiana 211
Start with Indiana 211, (call 211 or 866-211-9966), free, 24/7 referrals to meals, food pantries, pet food, clothing, cleaning supplies, public showers, mental health support, water testing, mold checks, vaccinations, debris removal, shelters and cooling centers, along with help submitting disaster reports and applying for disaster relief funds.
Disaster Damage Reporting - report storm damage so IDHS can build a damage estimate.
State Disaster Relief Fund Application - for uninsured or underinsured damage to your primary residence, in a jurisdiction with a local disaster declaration. Covers home repairs, essential furnishings, appliances, and tools, debris removal, medical devices and essential transportation. Does not replace insurance or pay deductibles. IDHS reviews each application and may request more information before processing the claim.
Shelter and Housing
Red Cross Open Shelters - find a shelter near you.
Housing and Community Development Authority Temporary Housing Grants - apply for assistance for hotel vouchers or rental assistance by calling 211. Learn more by clicking the link.
Indiana Housing Now - free rental housing locator. Bilingual line 1-877-428-8844, weekdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Food
Feeding Indiana's Hungry - Indiana's food bank map.
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana - find food assistance in Northwest Indiana.
SNAP - administered by Indiana FSSA.
Health
WIC - WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a nutrition program, nationally recognized as an effective means for improving access to nutritious foods and promoting healthier eating and lifestyles. The Indiana WIC Program serves an average of 153,000 women, infants, and children each month through a statewide network of 174 WIC clinics (including hospital sites). WIC supports over 500 jobs, and nearly $140 million in food sales at 600 WIC-authorized grocery stores and pharmacies across Indiana.
Indiana Medicaid - learn about the different Medicaid programs and how to apply. View the eligibility guide to learn more about certain programs to see if you may qualify.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - call or text 988, 24/7, for emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, or a mental health or substance use crisis. Also for people worried about someone else.
REST Teams - short-term emotional support for survivors and responders, run by the FSSA Division of Mental Health and Addiction.
Other Directories and Tools
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) - if the August 11 storms affected your ability to work, you may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, providing financial support to eligible workers.
Indiana Department of Homeland Security Individuals and Households Program (IHP) - When disasters take place, the FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides grant money and services to people in the declared disaster area when the losses are not covered by insurance and property has been damaged or destroyed. The Individuals and Households Program and the Other Needs Assistance will not put you where you were before the disaster but can get you back to a safe and sanitary condition. While some money is available through IHP, most disaster aid from the federal government is in the form of loans from the SBA, the disaster loan program that must be repaid. Applicants to IHP may be required to seek help from SBA first before being considered for certain IHP help.