Assistance Programs in Ohio – Get Help with Rent, Health, Bills and More

Ohio unemployment benefits are set by the legislature each year and at $443 to $598 per week, many people find it difficult to cover basic necessities, especially if it takes more than a couple weeks to find a new job.

Fortunately, there are public and private organizations and nonprofit agencies that can help if you are in a difficult financial spot. Whether you need help with your mortgage, utilities, food, health care or even childcare and other supplies, you will usually be able to find an organization near you to give you a helping hand.

Help with Healthcare and Medical Expenses in OH

Medicaid

The Ohio Medicaid program is available to low income individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements:

You must be a resident of Ohio.
You must be a citizen of the United States or meet Medicaid’s citizenship requirements.
You must have a Social Security number.

There are several different Medicaid programs in Ohio, including a managed care plan, a spend-down program, and Healthchek for children, and each has different income guidelines:

Source: Ohio Medicaid Department

You can apply for Medicaid in four ways:

Apply online through the Ohio Benefits portal.
You can call 800-324-8680 and apply over the phone.
Visit your local County Department of Jobs and Family Services (CDJFS) to apply in person.
Print out the Medicaid application and mail it to your local CDJFS office.

If you are not a citizen, you may qualify for Refugee Medical Assistance or Alien Emergency Medical Assistance.

To see if you qualify for Medicaid in Ohio, you can use this online prescreening tool. If you have any questions about the Medicaid program, call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 800-324-8680.

Help with Prescription Drugs in Ohio

If you need help paying for prescription drugs, all residents of Ohio are eligible for the Ohio Best Rx card, which offers discounted prices at participating pharmacies on a variety of commonly prescribed medications. There is no cost for the card and you can apply online at the link above.

The Ohio Drug Card is another free discount prescription program open to any Ohio resident. Visit the website to apply.

In addition, many of the free and low cost health and dental clinics detailed in the section below offer free or deeply discounted prescription medications to their patients. If you need help paying for prescription drugs, be sure to ask your provider if there is any medication assistance available.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY – CLEVELAND

Circle Health Services/The People’s Clinic

This clinic provides free medical and dental care plus behavioral health services to uninsured and underinsured individuals, as well as those covered under Medicaid. You’ll need to bring the following with you to your registration visit, which is required before you can schedule a health or dental care appointment:

Valid state ID
Proof of income (pay stubs, tax forms, etc.) – they determine your income by looking at the ways you are supported, even if you are not working.
Insurance card, if relevant
Proof of family size (birth certificates of children, tax forms, etc.)

Call (216) 721-4010 to schedule your registration appointment to see if you qualify for free care. Registration appointments and walk-in hours are available Monday – Friday between 9:30am-2:30pm.

Circle Health Services

12201 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44106

P: (216) 721-4010

Metrohealth Medical Centers

Metrohealth has several locations in the Cleveland area and they have various financial assistance programs to help low-income and uninsured individuals and families access affordable medical care. Below is a list of their sliding scale based on income:

Income as compared to Federal Poverty Guidelines	Reduction Applied to MetroHealth’s Bill
0-100%	100% Resident State of Ohio 100% Non-Resident of State of Ohio for Emergency, Trauma or Burn Care 75% Non-Resident State of Ohio for all other services
101-300%	100% Resident of Cuyahoga County 100% Non-Resident of Cuyahoga County for Emergency, Trauma or Burn Care 75% Non-Resident of Cuyahoga County for all other services
301 – 400%	75% Resident of Cuyahoga County 75% Non-Resident of Cuyahoga County for Emergency, Trauma or Burn Care 75% Non-Resident of Cuyahoga County for all other services
401% and above without insurance coverage	65% Resident of Cuyahoga County 50% Non-Resident of Cuyahoga County

For patients whose income is at or below (0% to 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) and meets all additional eligibility criteria, The MetroHealth System participates in Ohio’s Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP), with 100% reduction of the bill.

To learn more about the financial assistance programs, please call 216-957-2325, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can see a list of their locations here.

FRANKLIN COUNTY – COLUMBUS

Heart of Ohio Family Health

Heart of Ohio offers complete family medicine services including OB-GYN and pediatrics care on a sliding-scale basis to individuals and families who are at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Fees start at a flat $25 payment and are discounted between 20% and 60% depending on income and family size.

You will need to apply for the sliding scale fees before you receive care. You can read more about their sliding-scale policy and see a list of documents you will need to bring when you apply here.

Whitehall Family Health Center
Phone: (614) 235-5555
882 S. Hamilton Road Columbus, OH 43213
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Tuesday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 8:00 AM- 7:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Capital Park Family Health Center
Phone: (614) 416-4325
2365 Innis Road Columbus, OH 43224
Monday-Wednesday Thursday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

HAMILTON COUNTY – CINCINNATI

The City of Cincinnati Health Department offers primary health care and dental care clinics for low-income, unemployed, uninsured and/or underinsured individuals, including immunizations, chronic disease management, and dental cleanings. They also provide free or discounted medications to those who qualify.

Health clinics are below:

Dental clinics are below:

LUCAS COUNTY – TOLEDO

Neighborhood Health Association

The NHA offers a full range of primary care and specialty medical services on a sliding scale basis. There are 13 locations throughout Toledo, including a women’s center, pediatrics clinics, and senior care centers,

The main office is located at:

313 Jefferson Avenue

Toledo, OH

Call 419.720.7883, ext. 200 for more information or to find a location near you.

SUMMIT COUNTY – AKRON

AxessPointe Community Health Centers

This organization has several locations in and around Akron and offers a complete range of medical and dental care services and behavioral health. Fees are based on income:

Source: AxessPointe website

To contact any of their sites or for after-hours service, please call 888-975-9188.

Cash Assistance in OH

Ohio families and individuals with low incomes or who are in a financial crisis due to unemployment or other event may qualify for Ohio Works First (OWF), the cash assistance benefits under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). There are several requirements for eligibility:

You must have a dependent child living in the home (if you are a woman at least six months pregnant, you may also qualify).
You must be a US citizen and all members of the family must have a Social Security number.
You must meet income and asset requirements (as of July 2016, the gross monthly income limit for a family of three was $840).
You must comply with work requirements and sign a self-sufficiency contract.
There is a 36-month lifetime limit on OWF benefits.

You can apply online through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services self-service portal or in person at your local ODJFS office.

In this online brochure, you can learn more about the OWF program and other ODJFS benefits. There is also a document checklist and application for benefits you can download and use to apply for assistance.

MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE

Save the Dream Ohio is a multi-agency foreclosure prevention program that helps families who are struggling to make their mortgage payment or facing foreclosure due to unemployment or underemployment.

Ohio is one of 16 states that received funding under the Hardest Hit Fund; since the program’s inception in 2008, Save the Dream Ohio has received over $760 million to help homeowners in the state.

While each person’s situation is different, you may be able to receive a maximum of $35,000 to either help bring your mortgage current or make your mortgage payments for up to 9 months.

You must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply:

Annual income must be below $112,435.
Mortgage must be below $432,000.
The homeowner or spouse must have been laid off and eligible for unemployment on or after January 1, 2014.

You can read more about the eligibility guidelines and program options here.

To apply, complete this pre-screening questionnaire. If you qualify, you will automatically be directed to the application. Call 888-404-4674 for more information.

You can also contact the Ohio Housing Finance Authority (OHFA) for information on other foreclosure prevention programs and counseling options.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency

57 E. Main St.

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Office Hours: 8am – 5pm, Monday – Friday

Toll Free: 888.362.6432

Phone: 614.466.7970

If you do not qualify, be sure to check the additional resources in this section and at the bottom of the page to see if there are other nonprofit organizations in your area that can help you with your mortgage payment if you become unemployed.

ASSISTANCE WITH RENT/EVICTION

Below is a list of organizations by city and county that may be able to help you with your rent or mortgage payments if you get behind.