Feeling the Economic Crunch
AZ 2-1-1 has developed a new tool to help Arizonans who need assistance in the following areas: housing, employment, family stress and paying the bills. For more information please visit: www.az211.gov.

Child Care Assistance
The Child Care Assistance Program assists eligible families with free or low cost child care. Applications for child care assistance must be submitted at your local Department of Economic Security Child Care Office. For more information: 602-255-3729 or visit www.azdes.gov/childcare/default.asp.

Emergency Food Boxes
Emergency Food Boxes are available at food banks in Maricopa County and across the state.

For information on Food Banks in Maricopa County please contact:

United Food Bank, 480-926-4897 or www.unitedfoodbank.org

St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, www.firstfoodbank.org

Desert Mission Food Bank, 602-870-6062 or www.jcl.com

For Food Banks across the state please contact:

Association of Arizona Food Banks, 602-528-3434 or www.azfoodbanks.org

Energy Bill Assistance
Project Share -- May help pay energy bills if you meet the following criteria
1. You're over 60, living on a fixed income and facing a financial emergency
2. You're under age 60 and experiencing special hardships
3. You're disabled with no source of income

The Salvation Army selects the recipients and disburses the funds.

For more information: The Salvation Army, 602-267-4100, www.salvationarmycares.org

Family Services Emergency Assistance
The Salvation Army's Family Services Emergency Assistance program provides social services to residents of Phoenix who are experiencing financial crisis. Clients of this program are undergoing a temporary stage of financial hardship and come to this program to stay in their homes, keep their utilities running, and feed their families.

For more information: The Salvation Army, 602-267-4100, www.salvationarmycares.org

Financial Education Classes
Arizona Saves, a non-profit organization, offers workshops on saving, budgeting, tax preparation, credit repair, purchasing a home or car and identity theft.

For a complete list of classes: 602-246-3500 or visit www.arizonasaves.org

Foreclosure Resources
HOPE NOW is an alliance between counselors, servicers, investors and other mortgage market participants. If you are having trouble paying your mortgage they can help.

For more information: 1-888-995-HOPE or visit www.hopenow.com

AzLawhelp.org created the Lawyers Helping Homeowners program to help homeowners find appropriate financial arrangements to prevent foreclosure.

For more information: visit www.azlawhelp.org

Fuel Cost Help
Click here to find the Valley's lowest gas prices using 3TV's gas tracker.

Valley Metro provides bus service to various areas of the Valley.

For more information: www.valleymetro.org

Government Assistance
Arizona 211 online provides Arizona residents access to child care, jobs, health care and insurance resources.

For more information: visit www.az211.gov

Arizona Self Help is a free and easy way to find out if your family can get help from 18 different health and human services programs including Women, Children & Infant (WIC) program, emergency assistance services, free child care, Headstart and the school lunch program.

For more information: www.arizonaselfhelp.org

Legal Services
The Maricopa County Bar Association's Legal Referral Service helps people connect with attorneys in the Valley.

For more information: 602-257-4434 or www.maricopabar.org

Referral Service
The Community Information & Referral Service is a non-profit organization with a 24-hour helpline to connect individuals with organizations that can help them with their needs. For more information: 602-263-8856 or visit: www.cirs.org