Resource library · 21 guides

Explore Community Resources

Browse practical guides and educational resources covering everyday needs, finances, housing, education, careers, health, insurance, and community support.

Showing all 21 guides

Housing & Utilities
A Guide to Housing and Utility Resources
An overview of common housing and utility programs, including rental information, energy bill assistance, weatherization, and HUD-approved housing counseling.
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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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Food & Essential Needs
Understanding Food Assistance Resources
A plain-language overview of common food assistance programs, including SNAP, WIC, school meals, and senior meals, and where to begin researching them.
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Money & Savings
8 Practical Ways to Reduce Monthly Household Expenses
Eight practical, low-effort ways to trim recurring household costs, from reviewing subscriptions to lowering utility use and planning meals.
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Education & Careers
Education and Career Resources Worth Exploring
A plain-language tour of training programs, apprenticeships, community colleges, scholarships, and career centers that may help you take a next step at work.
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Money & Savings
How to Search for Unclaimed Property
How official state unclaimed property programs work, how to search them yourself at no cost, and how to spot finder-fee offers and scams.
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Health & Insurance
Health Coverage Basics: Understanding Your Options
A plain-language overview of employer plans, the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid and CHIP, and Medicare, plus tips on enrollment periods and comparing plans.
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Housing & Utilities
Where to Look for Utility Savings
Practical ways to use less energy and water at home, plus how budget billing, rate plans, efficiency rebates, and home energy audits work.
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Education & Careers
A Practical Job Search and Resume Guide
Step-by-step tips for building a clear resume, tailoring it to each job, searching smarter, preparing for interviews, and spotting job scams.
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Money & Savings
How to Build a Simple Household Budget
A step-by-step, plain-language guide to building a household budget you can actually keep, using tools you already have.
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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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Food & Essential Needs
Grocery Savings Strategies That Add Up
Practical grocery savings habits, from meal planning and unit pricing to seasonal produce and cutting food waste, that can help stretch a food budget.
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Education & Careers
Understanding Scholarships and Education Grants
Learn how scholarships and education grants work, where to look for them, how the FAFSA fits in, and how to spot scholarship scams.
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Housing & Utilities
Ways to Lower Internet and Mobile Costs
How to review your internet and phone plans, research provider low-income plans and the FCC's Lifeline program, and find low-cost connectivity options.
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Health & Insurance
Understanding Insurance Deductibles, Premiums, and Copays
Plain-language definitions of premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums for health, auto, and home or renters insurance.
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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.
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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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Money & Savings
Free Tax Filing Help and Tax-Season Resources
An overview of free tax preparation help, how IRS Free File works in general, what documents to gather, and how to avoid common tax-season scams.
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Education & Careers
Online Certificates and Continuing Education: What to Know
How to evaluate online certificates and continuing education courses, check accreditation, compare costs, and find low-cost learning through libraries and colleges.
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Housing & Utilities
Renting Basics: Understanding Your Lease and Tenant Resources
A plain-language look at common lease terms, security deposits, renters insurance, and where tenants can find information about their rights.
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Health & Insurance
Renters and Auto Insurance Basics for Everyday Households
Learn the main types of renters and auto insurance coverage, how to compare policies side by side, and what questions to ask before you choose.
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