Community Support
Where to Start When Looking for Community Assistance
A plain-language starting point for finding local programs, community organizations, and helplines, plus tips for preparing before you reach out.
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Community Support
Route C · Resource hub
Community Support
Community support can come from many places: local programs, nonprofits, libraries, transportation services, and neighbors. These guides explain how common community resources work and where people often begin looking.
- Community assistance
- Local programs
- Family support
- Transportation resources
- Senior resources
- Household support
- Community organizations
Guides on the community route
Community Support
Getting Around: A Practical Guide to Transportation Resources
An overview of reduced transit fares, paratransit, medical and senior rides, carpooling, and bike programs, with tips for finding what operates near you.
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Community Support
Resources Worth Knowing About for Older Adults and Caregivers
A general guide to Area Agencies on Aging, the Eldercare Locator, meal programs, caregiver support, and free Medicare counseling through SHIP.
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Where to start
Practical first steps
A few simple moves that make researching community support resources easier.
- 1
Call or search 211
211 is a widely used information and referral line that can point you toward local services in many areas.
- 2
Check your library
Public libraries often keep lists of local programs and offer free computer, internet, and help-desk access.
- 3
Write down your needs
A short list — rides, meals, household help — makes conversations with organizations faster and clearer.
- 4
Ask about eligibility directly
Each organization sets its own rules. Ask what they offer and what information they need before you visit.
Connecting routes
Related guides from other topics
Food & Essential Needs
Finding Community Food Resources Near You
How food banks, pantries, community meals, and community gardens work, how to find them locally, and what to expect on a first visit.
Read More
Other resource routes
CommunityResourcePath is an independent informational website. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any federal, state, or local government organization. Information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes. Availability and eligibility for third-party programs, benefits, products, or services are determined by the organizations providing them.