The
Multiverse
School

Part VI: Appendices

Housing & Survival Resources

If You Need Help Right Now

This page is for when you need food, housing, money, or other survival resources—not therapy or emotional support (though those matter too).

You are not a burden for needing help. Mutual aid means we help each other.

Find Local Resources Fast

FindHelp.org

findhelp.org

What it does:

  • Enter your zip code
  • Find local resources for:
    • Food assistance
    • Housing/shelter
    • Financial assistance
    • Healthcare
    • Childcare
    • Transportation
    • Job training
    • Legal help
    • And more

This is the fastest way to find what you need in your area.

Housing & Homelessness

If You're Homeless or About to Be

National Resources:

211

  • Call or text: 211
  • Connects you to local services
  • Housing, food, utilities, healthcare
  • Available 24/7 in most areas
  • Multi-language support

National Homeless Hotline

  • Call: 1-877-4-SHELTER (1-877-474-3583)
  • Helps locate shelters nationwide

Homeless Shelter Directory

LGBTQ+ Specific Housing

Ali Forney Center (NYC)

True Colors United

National LGBTQ+ Homeless Youth Provider Listing:

Youth & Young Adults (Under 25)

National Runaway Safeline

  • Call/Text: 1-800-786-2929
  • 24/7 crisis support
  • Can help with shelter, transportation, resources
  • Confidential

Covenant House

  • Youth shelters across U.S., Canada, Latin America
  • covenanthouse.org
  • Under 25 years old

Domestic Violence Housing

National Domestic Violence Hotline

  • Call: 1-800-799-7233
  • Text "START" to 88788
  • thehotline.org
  • Help finding safe housing, emergency shelter

Veterans Housing

VA Homeless Services

  • Call: 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)
  • Website: va.gov/homeless
  • Emergency housing, supportive services

Rent & Utilities Assistance

Modest Needs

The Salvation Army

Catholic Charities

211 - Call for local emergency assistance programs

Food

Food Assistance Programs

SNAP (Food Stamps)

WIC (Women, Infants, Children)

Food Banks & Pantries

Feeding America

Local Food Banks:

  • Search "food bank near me"
  • Most don't require proof of income
  • Many deliver or have mobile pantries

Free Meals

Food Not Bombs

  • 500+ chapters in 60+ countries
  • Free vegan meals, no questions asked
  • Autonomous, community-run (not government-funded)
  • Find local chapter: foodnotbombs.net
  • Usually serves in parks or public spaces weekly
  • Note: With feed manipulation, you may need to ask around in person or check local flyers

HUNGER HOTLINE

  • 1-800-884-1136
  • Connects to local food resources

211 - Call to find:

  • Soup kitchens
  • Community meals
  • Senior meal programs (often open to all)

Places of Worship:

  • Many offer free community meals
  • Check local churches, mosques, temples, synagogues

Sikh Gurdwaras (worldwide):

  • Langar (free community meal)
  • Open to everyone, no questions asked, found globally
  • Ask locals or look for Sikh temples/gurdwaras in your area

Free Food Apps

Too Good To Go

  • Discounted food from restaurants/stores
  • App: iOS & Android

Olio

  • Neighbors sharing surplus food
  • App: iOS & Android

Healthcare

Medical Care

Community Health Centers

Free/Low-Cost Clinics:

Planned Parenthood

Prescriptions

NeedyMeds

GoodRx

Pharmacy Assistance Programs:

  • Most drug manufacturers offer assistance
  • Ask your doctor or pharmacist

Mental Health Care

See: Therapy & Mental Health Resources

SAMHSA National Helpline

  • 1-800-662-4357
  • Free, confidential, 24/7
  • Referrals to local treatment

Money & Financial Assistance

Emergency Cash Assistance

Modest Needs

BeenVerified Assistance

  • Various mutual aid funds
  • Check r/Assistance (Reddit)

211 - Local emergency financial assistance

Unemployment Benefits

Apply: Contact your state unemployment office Federal site: dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance

Disability Benefits (SSI/SSDI)

Apply: ssa.gov/disability Help applying: Disability Rights organizations in your state

Transportation

Reduced Fare Programs:

  • Most cities offer low-income transit passes
  • Contact local transit authority

Uber/Lyft Health:

  • Some insurance/Medicaid covers rides to medical appointments

Gas Cards:

  • Local charities often provide
  • Ask at 211

Legal Services Corporation

LawHelp.org

Eviction Defense:

  • Tenants' rights organizations
  • Legal aid societies
  • justfix.org (NYC)

Immigration:

Domestic Violence:

LGBTQ+ Resources

The Trevor Project (Youth under 25)

Trans Lifeline

  • 877-565-8860 (US)
  • 877-330-6366 (Canada)
  • Peer support by/for trans people

LGBTQ+ Community Centers:

SAGE (LGBTQ+ Elders)

Disability-Specific Resources

Disability Rights Resources:

Benefits Assistance:

Hearing/Speech:

  • 711 - Telecommunications Relay Service

Job Search & Training

American Job Centers

Goodwill/Salvation Army Job Training:

  • Free job training programs
  • Local centers

SkillsUSA, Year Up, Per Scholas:

  • Free tech training programs for low-income individuals

Internet & Phone

Lifeline Program

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

Free WiFi:

  • Public libraries
  • Coffee shops (Starbucks, etc.)
  • Community centers

For Immigrants & Refugees

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

International Rescue Committee

Catholic Charities Immigration Services:

RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)

For People Leaving Prison

National Reentry Resource Center

Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO) - NYC

Local Reentry Programs:

  • Search "[your city] reentry services"

For Parents

Childcare Assistance:

School Meals:

  • Free/reduced lunch programs
  • Ask at your child's school

Diapers:

Mutual Aid Networks

Why Mutual Aid Matters Now (Sept 2026)

Government resources are being shut down. Community-based mutual aid is more reliable than government programs.

Information is being manipulated. You can't always find resources through Google search or social media feeds. Trust peer networks and in-person organizing.

Find Local Mutual Aid

⚠️ Finding resources is harder now:

  • Feeds are manipulated - Can't find protests or organizing on Google
  • Try multiple sources - Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram groups
  • Ask in person - Community centers, libraries, local shops
  • Look for flyers - Physical bulletin boards, street posts
  • Word of mouth - Ask people you trust
  • Local organizing meetings - Show up in person

Mutual Aid Hub

  • mutualaidhub.org
  • Map of local mutual aid groups
  • May not be fully updated due to information suppression

Town-Specific Mutual Aid:

  • Search "[your city] mutual aid" on multiple platforms (Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp)
  • Many operate underground or semi-privately now
  • Facebook/Instagram may not show results due to feed manipulation

Food Not Bombs

  • foodnotbombs.net
  • 500+ chapters worldwide
  • Autonomous, harder to shut down
  • Ask around your city - they usually serve in same location weekly

How Mutual Aid Works

  • Not charity - Horizontal support
  • No means testing - If you need, you need
  • Give what you can, take what you need
  • Community-based - Not reliant on government funding
  • Harder to shut down - Decentralized, autonomous

Examples of what mutual aid groups offer:

  • Food/grocery delivery
  • Rent assistance
  • Transportation
  • Childcare
  • Prescription help
  • Translation services
  • Hormone sharing (trans mutual aid)
  • Safe housing networks

Crisis Lines (Quick Reference)

Emergency: 911

Suicide/Crisis: 988 (call or text)

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-7233

RAINN (Sexual Assault): 1-800-656-4673

SAMHSA (Mental Health/Substance): 1-800-662-4357

Homeless Hotline: 1-877-474-3583

Runaway/Youth: 1-800-786-2929

Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386

Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

National Helpline for Resources: 211

Remember

Needing help doesn't make you weak. Mutual aid is how we survive.

Start with 211 or findhelp.org if you're overwhelmed—they'll connect you to local resources.

See Also:

The handbook is written in the open. See this page on GitHub.

Ask the handbook

Ask about refunds, rescheduling, the code of conduct, campus, or anything else in the handbook. Answers come only from the handbook text.