911 Emergency
For police, fire or medical emergencies where life or safety is at risk. Call 911 from any phone.
Checked Friday, October 9
Resources
Resources for everyone
Verified city, state and community resources for people living in Brooklyn and across New York City.
Emergencies & city services
Who to call or contact first for emergencies, city information and crisis support.
NYC 311
The City's information and non-emergency service line and portal: report problems, request services and find city programs. Interpretation is available.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC 988
Free, confidential mental health, substance use and crisis support in NYC, 24/7. Call or text 988; press 2 for Spanish; interpreters in 200+ languages.
Checked Friday, October 9
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
National free, confidential support by call, text or chat, 24/7, for emotional distress, mental health or substance use concerns. Text and chat are also available in Spanish.
Checked Friday, October 9
Notify NYC
The City's free official emergency alert system from NYC Emergency Management. Sign up with an NYC ID to receive alerts by text, email or phone. Questions: call 311.
Checked Friday, October 9
Jobs & training
Free help finding work, training and starting a business.
Workforce1 Career Centers
City-run career centers offering job search help, hiring events and training referrals. Brooklyn sites include Downtown Brooklyn, East New York, Coney Island (virtual) and the Industrial & Transportation center.
Checked Friday, October 9
NY State Unemployment Insurance
New York State Department of Labor page to file an unemployment claim, certify weekly for benefits, and find the claimant handbook, appeals and fraud reporting.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Small Business Services: free business courses
The City's Department of Small Business Services offers free live online courses on business planning, financing and marketing, in several languages.
Checked Friday, October 9
Health care
Public hospitals, low-cost care and health coverage options.
NYC Health + Hospitals / Kings County
Public hospital in Brooklyn (East Flatbush) of the NYC Health + Hospitals system, with emergency, inpatient and outpatient services.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Health + Hospitals / Woodhull
Public hospital serving Williamsburg, Bushwick and surrounding neighborhoods, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals system.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Health + Hospitals / South Brooklyn Health
The former Coney Island Hospital, now South Brooklyn Health, a modern public health campus in South Brooklyn.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Care
Health care access program for New Yorkers who do not qualify for, or cannot afford, health insurance. Services are provided through NYC Health + Hospitals.
Checked Friday, October 9
NY State of Health
New York's official health insurance marketplace: compare and enroll in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and private plans. Phone hours: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-1pm.
Checked Friday, October 9
Medicaid (ACCESS NYC)
Free health coverage for eligible low-income residents, covering doctor visits, hospital care, mental health, dental, vision and prescriptions. Check eligibility and how to apply.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Health Department immunization clinics
Low- or no-cost vaccines for ages 4+ regardless of immigration status. The Brooklyn clinic is at the Fort Greene Health Center; walk-ins accepted, appointments recommended.
Checked Friday, October 9
Food & benefits
Find out which benefits you may qualify for and where to get free food.
ACCESS NYC
The City's online screening tool showing which City, State and federal benefits you may be eligible for, with links to apply. Available in 11 languages.
Checked Friday, October 9
SNAP (food stamps) via HRA
The Human Resources Administration administers SNAP, which helps eligible households buy groceries. Apply through HRA; the HRA site also covers cash assistance and other help.
Checked Friday, October 9
Food Bank For NYC
NYC's largest hunger-relief organization. Its site helps you find free groceries and hot meals, and SNAP and tax-filing help, across the five boroughs.
Checked Friday, October 9
City Harvest
NYC's first and largest food rescue organization, collecting surplus food and distributing it at no cost to New Yorkers facing hunger.
Checked Friday, October 9
WIC nutrition program
Healthy food, nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support for pregnant or postpartum people and children up to age 5, on an eWIC card. Call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline to book.
Checked Friday, October 9
Free school meals (NYC Public Schools)
NYC Public Schools offers free breakfast, lunch and afterschool meals to all NYC public school students during the school year.
Checked Friday, October 9
Housing & tenants
Affordable housing applications, rental help and support for tenants facing eviction.
NYC Housing Connect
The City's portal to find and apply for affordable rental and homeownership lotteries.
Checked Friday, October 9
HPD Housing Ambassadors
Volunteer community organizations that help you prepare and submit Housing Connect applications, free of charge. Filter by borough, language and accessibility needs. No unit is guaranteed.
Checked Friday, October 9
HPD (Housing Preservation & Development)
The City agency for housing quality and affordability: report heat, hot water or safety complaints, look up building violations, and learn about tenant rights and rental assistance.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYCHA
New York City Housing Authority, North America's largest public housing authority. Residents, Section 8 voucher holders and applicants can use the 24/7 Customer Contact Center to report emergencies and schedule repairs.
Checked Friday, October 9
CityFHEPS
City rental assistance supplement that covers part of eligible tenants' monthly rent, run by the Department of Social Services (HRA/DHS). Use the DSS rental assistance line.
Checked Friday, October 9
Free lawyers for tenants (Right to Counsel)
Tenants facing eviction in Housing Court can get free legal help in every ZIP code, regardless of immigration status. Contact Housing Court Answers or call 311 for the Tenant Helpline.
Checked Friday, October 9
Homebase
Department of Homeless Services program for people at imminent risk of entering shelter: eviction prevention, benefits help, emergency rental help and job placement. Find your office or call 311.
Checked Friday, October 9
Legal & immigration help
Free or low-cost legal help and consumer protection. Information only, not legal advice.
ActionNYC
Free, safe immigration legal screenings and help with citizenship, green cards, DACA and TPS, regardless of status. Call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline.
Checked Friday, October 9
Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)
City office running a network of 125+ MOIA Centers with free immigration legal help, Know Your Rights resources and English classes. Or call 311 and say "Immigration Legal."
Checked Friday, October 9
The Legal Aid Society
The city's largest legal services non-profit, providing no-cost legal help to people with limited incomes in criminal, housing, immigration and other matters in all five boroughs.
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Bar Legal Referral Service
Connects you with a lawyer for a low-cost initial consultation. Phone: English 212-626-7373, Spanish 212-626-7374 (hours vary; closed holidays).
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
City agency that investigates consumer and workplace violations; file complaints about businesses, workplace rights, subscription cancellations or tow companies online.
Checked Friday, October 9
Seniors & disability
Services for older adults and people with disabilities.
NYC Aging
City agency for older adults: 300+ older adult centers with meals and programs, caregiver support, elder abuse services and employment help. Call Aging Connect or 311.
Checked Friday, October 9
Access-A-Ride
MTA door-to-door shared paratransit for people whose disabilities prevent using buses or subways. Requires an eligibility assessment; fares match bus/subway fares.
Checked Friday, October 9
MTA Reduced-Fare program
Half-price fares for riders 65 or older or with a qualifying disability, on subway and local buses. Reduced-fare OMNY and MetroCard options are available.
Checked Friday, October 9
Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
City office with resources on disability rights and access, and information on the Rent Freeze program for eligible older adults and people with disabilities.
Checked Friday, October 9
Education & language
Free English classes and high school equivalency preparation for adults.
Brooklyn Public Library: free ESOL classes
Free English classes at branches across Brooklyn: drop-in classes, conversation groups and registered courses, plus free one-on-one case management. Email ESOL@bklynlibrary.org.
Checked Friday, October 9
CUNY Adult Literacy, HSE & ESL
Free English classes at several levels plus Pre-GED and GED/HSE prep at 14 CUNY campuses across the five boroughs; some programs include job training.
Checked Friday, October 9
Money & taxes
Free tax filing help and financial counseling.
NYC Free Tax Prep
Free tax help at 140+ VITA and TCE sites in NYC, in person, online or by phone. Income limits apply (tax year 2025: up to $97,000 with dependents, $68,000 without).
Checked Friday, October 9
NYC Financial Empowerment Centers
Free, private one-on-one financial counseling on budgeting, credit and debt, including student loans, for anyone 18+ who lives or works in NYC. No loans or grants provided.
Checked Friday, October 9
Transportation & utilities help
Discounted fares and help paying energy bills.
Fair Fares NYC
Half-price subway, eligible bus and Access-A-Ride fares for NYC residents 18-64 with low incomes (e.g., up to $23,475 for one person). Call 311 for help.
Checked Friday, October 9
HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program)
Helps income-eligible households pay heating and cooling costs and avoid utility shutoffs; includes emergency benefits and heating repair. Check which parts are open.
Checked Friday, October 9
Con Edison bill assistance
Utility programs including payment agreements, budget billing, the Energy Affordability Program discount and hot/cold weather shutoff protections. Resource Direct line for help.
Checked Friday, October 9
Brooklyn community anchors
Local institutions that connect residents to services and civic life.
Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn's free public library system: branches across the borough with books, digital resources, programs and adult learning.
Checked Friday, October 9
Brooklyn Community Foundation (Brooklyn Org)
Local philanthropy platform connecting residents with giving, volunteering and funds that support nonprofits across the borough.
Checked Friday, October 9
Brooklyn Community Board 1
Community board serving Greenpoint and Williamsburg, one of Brooklyn's local boards that handle neighborhood planning and land-use review. Each district has its own board; find yours via nyc.gov.
Checked Friday, October 9