Community Resources and Programs for Families in Need
We put together some resources for those who might need shelter, clothing, baby items, and food. Please also keep these organizations in mind for charitable gifts and volunteer opportunities, as they are doing wonderful things to help members of our community.
The Community Alliance for the Homeless has many great resources here.
Hospitality Hub works closely with other organizations to help with temporary housing, job placement assistance, school transportation for Shelby County School students, bus passes, feminine products, computer access, storage lockers, and access to phones and clean restrooms during business hours. In 2022, The Hub Hotel opened, the region’s first barrier-free emergency shelter for women. It is a thoughtfully created and trauma-informed space to promote healing and provide the stability guests need to move out of homelessness. Call (901) 730-1736 for more information.
Tennessee Community Services Help Line: call 2-1-1 or (901) 415-2790. You can also text your zip code to 898-211. This group can access 10,000 health/human services programs. A real person will help you sort your needs then give you phone numbers/addresses where you can get help.
SHELTERS AND RENT/MORTGAGE/UTILITY ASSISTANCE
Agape Child & Family Services offers a myriad of supports in Memphis.
- Families in Transition (FIT) transitional housing program empowers individuals to break the cycle of violence by providing safety, emergency shelter, crisis intervention, transitional housing, support services, public education, social and legal advocacy. (870) 732-4077
- Rapid Rehousing helps eligible homeless individual/families ages 18-24 quickly obtain permanent stable housing. This program assists tenants in acquiring the skills needed to maintain permanent housing when they exit the program. To apply for A4A Rapid Rehousing, contact Agape at (901) 323 – 3600. Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact their partner in service, the Family Safety Center, at (901) 222 – 4400.
- Family Stability is critical to individuals and the community. Families come to Agape on the edge of homelessness and in a crisis. The primary goal of this program is to increase stability and reduce student mobility through outreach and case management services. For more information, contact (901) 323 – 3600.
Catholic Charities of West TN provides a variety of services in the Memphis community, including housing services, soup kitchens and food pantries, baby items, refugee services, and more. If you are currently experiencing homelessness or are at risk of eviction while residing in Memphis and Shelby County, Catholic Charities may be able to assist. Please visit Midtown Outreach location (85 N Cleveland, 38104) between 8:00am and 2:00 to speak to a professional or call 901-722-4762.
Clare’s House is a Refuge for women located in the North Memphis 38108 area who want help out of homelessness by providing assistance with life skills, resume writing, employment search, financial planning, and Bible study. Call (901) 207-4652 Monday-Thursday 9 am-3 pm
Community Services Agency (CSA) provides rent/mortgage/utility assistance, counseling, case management, and prescription assistance. To apply for Comprehensive Emergency Assistance Program otherwise known as the Rent/Mortgage Program, complete an online application here.
Dorothy Day House keeps families experiencing houselessness together, creating a safe haven and a community for entire families. (901) 726-6760.
Hospitality Hub works to end homeless in Memphis by connecting individuals with the resources they need to achieve stable housing and better outcomes. 590 Washington Ave. (901)-730-1736
Memphis Union Mission’s Intact Homeless Family Program, located near Shelby Forest provides short-term transitional housing for homeless families. The program can accommodate families with or without children, but couples must be legally married. The program cannot accommodate single-parent families. Families must have their own means of transportation, as the homes are not located near a MATA bus line. Contact Reg Fowler at (901) 357-9641, ext. 3001.
MIFA offers shelter assistance to Shelby County families with minor children who meet HUD’s definition of literal homelessness and have no other resources to prevent homelessness.
- For immediate needs, call the 24-hour Homeless Hotline at (901) 529-4545.
- Family Shelter Placement helps homeless families secure temporary shelter if homelessness cannot be avoided through mediation. Eligible families are literally homeless Shelby County residents, according to HUD’s definition, which means they are living in a place not meant for human habitation, like outdoors or in a car.
- Rapid Rehousing assists literally homeless families with children with short-term assistance to quickly obtain permanent stable housing. Families must already be in emergency shelter to be eligible for this program.
MIFA Emergency Services provides utility, rent, and mortgage assistance for Shelby County households who have lost income or experienced a recent crisis. To apply for assistance, see the list of eligibility requirements and complete this form online.
Missionaries of Charity is a free women’s and children’s shelter for them to stay from 3PM-8AM and receive breakfast for up to three weeks. They are located at 700 N. 7th St. 38107, (901) 527 – 4947.
Moriah House is a Memphis Union Mission’s long-term recovery program for women and their children. This ministry accepts up to 15 women and their children and accommodates them in individual suites with private baths. You can complete an intake form here. (901) 526-8403.
Neighborhood Christian Center offers rent/mortgage/utility assistance, food, clothing, and a youth program. You can visit this link to see if assistance is available.
Room in the Inn has a Family Inn shelters up to 14 families who are in the rapid-rehousing process. Visit the website to submit an application or call (901) 467-0122.
- Renewal Place Family Residence is an up to two-year program for women facing addiction issues and their children. This program allows families to remain together while they work toward sobriety, employment, positive parenting, and financial literacy. 901-543-8586.
- New Directions Family Residence offers emergency services for up to 90 days, providing mothers and children suffering from poverty and homelessness the opportunity to regroup and focus on stabilizing and creating sustainable living as a family unit. 901-260-9104.
Society of St. Vincent DePaul is the only food mission in the area open 7 days a week. Provides 300 hot meals a day. Clothing and other assistance provided when available. (901) 552-7038.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS
House of Grace Domestic Violence Shelter (located in Southaven, MS) – provides emergency temporary shelter, Domestic Violence counseling, community food pantry, Court Advocate services and housing resources. (662)253-0252.
TC Dream Center For women caught in the grips of human trafficking, addiction, homelessness, and abuse with a focus of bringing hope healing, and restoration to their spirit soul, and body.
Women’s Advocacy Center They assist women and children who are victims of domestic violence. They ducate women in four key areas: 1) how to gain economic independence, 2) form healthy relationships, 3) stabilize their families, and 4) strengthen their faith.
BABY ITEMS
Operation: Swaddling Clothes (St. John’s UMC) diapers for families in need. Contact lthibado@stjohnsmidtown.org for more information or call (901)726-4104.
Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry helps meet the basic needs of families by providing diapers, wipes, formula, and other necessities for their babies and improving their quality of life. Clients may pick up supplies once per month while supplies last. Please fill out this online form completely and accurately. A representative will contact you with information on pick up.
Tiny Blessings is a ministry through Catholic Charities and provides diapers, wipes, formula, food, clothes, baby supplies, and more. Please call ahead for assistance at (901)722-4706. Mondays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon.
FOOD PANTRIES/ MEALS/SOUP KITCHENS
901 Community Fridges is committed to fighting food insecurity in Memphis by partnering with neighborhoods to place fridges stocked with food and sundries in areas where it’s needed most. Current locations are:
- 1000 S Cooper St (First Congregational Church)
- 685 S Highland St (Trinity Church)
- 360 Tillman St (Binghampton Community Church)
- 7400 Cordova Club Dr E
- 472 Marianna Street
- 1122 College Street
- 999 Pearce Street
Boulevard Church of Christ 1102 Hale Road, Open to 38116 residents only. But they also have a Manna Outreach ministry that provides monthly food boxes to seniors and disabled people throughout the city and emergency food services to anyone. Click the link to fill out the form.
Calvary Baptist Church 3812 Kirby Parkway, Must call Wednesday 12:30 PM–3:00 PM for an appointment for distribution on Wednesday 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
Calvary Episcopal Church 102 N. 2nd St. 38103, provides breakfast Sundays at 7:15 a.m., adult clothes, and toiletries. (901) 525-6602
Catholic Charities of West Tennessee Drive-Thru Food Pantries One way to receive food assistance is by visiting one of four convenient drive-thru mobile pantries, where food boxes are placed into cars, and drivers can stay in the comfort of their vehicles. Fresh produce, meats, breads, and dairy products are also distributed when available. Please bring a copy of your ID and proof of residence (i.e., a mail with your name/address) for this service. Please bring a copy of your ID and proof of residence. Pantry locations include:
- Catholic Charities of West TN midtown center, 1325 Jefferson Ave. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or by appointment
- Catholic Charities downtown outreach center (St. Patrick Catholic Church), 297 S 4th Street, Memphis, TN 38126. Tuesday-Thursday, 12:30-3 p.m. or by appointment.
- St. Alphonsus Catholic Church (Tipton and Lauderdale County), 1225 US-51, Covington, TN 38019. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m.
- St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1169 Kerr Avenue, Memphis, TN 38106. Tuesday through Thursday 1:00-2:30 PM.
CCWTN also offers daily meal bags five days a week. Each bag contains one day’s worth of nutritious meals. Offered at the Catholic Charities Midtown Outreach Center, 85 N Cleveland Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104. Monday-Friday, 8-10 a.m. and Catholic Charities Downtown Outreach Center (St. Patrick Catholic Church), 297 S 4th Street, Memphis, TN 38126, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 1:00 – 2:30 PM.
Collierville Food Pantry located at 609 E. South Street (near the Collierville Animal Shelter), is open each Thursday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. They serve residents of Collierville, Cordova, Eads and Germantown. To register, a photo ID and proof of residence are required as well as proof of other family members in your household. (901) 853-3235
Colonial Park UMC located at 5530 Park Ave. They have several offerings throughout the week:
1. Mobile food pantry on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 9am-12pm. Line up early on Park Ave.
2. Tuesday Perishables at The Fireplace (by the soccer field). Every Tuesday, food is donated from places like Fresh Market, Whole Foods, etc. Pick up is first come first serve starting around 10am-10:30, depending on drop off.
3. UCan Ministry. They provide bags of food to anyone looking for assistance. The food bags are all nonperishable items and can be picked up from the church office Monday-Thursday from 9am-3pm
Faith Life Outreach 1435 Wells Station Road, food pantry and clothes closet on Tuesdays and Thursday from 11:30 am- 1 pm
First Congo offers a meal Monday-Thursday and a Pantry day on Wednesdays to those in need. Check out their Facebook page for updated menus and pantry dates. 1000 S Cooper St, Memphis, TN 38104. (901)278-6786
Memphis Moms has partnered with MOJO Pelvic Health is hosting a food drive for them:
First Presbyterian Church Provides needed items such as food staples, pants, shirts, socks, hygiene kits and blankets in addition to a hot meal served every Sunday afternoon. 166 Poplar Ave. 38103.
First United Methodist Church 204 N Second Street, Free hot meals to go from their alley every Thursday at 5:00 pm
Grace-Saint Luke’s More Than A Meal invites people experiencing homelessness and hunger to enjoy a nourishing meal, music, and conversation with them and other members of the community in Trezevant Hall, Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s parish hall. Enter the church through the wooden door in the circle parking lot off of 1720 Peabody Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Grace and Bread is a nonprofit serving hot meals to anyone in need on Wednesday nights. They have three stops:
- Sam Cooper exit onto Hightand at 6 pm
- Carpet Spectrum (3702 Jackson Ave. in Nutbush) at 7 pm
- Valero Gas Station (3541 Jackson Ave. at National Street) at 8 pm
Iona Community of Faith In addition to their Iona burrito ministry, they also offer sleeping bags and backpacks for those experiencing a housing crisis.
Manna House provides clothing, hygiene items, showers, and coffee or other beverages.
- They are open every Monday and Thursday from 8:00-10:30 a.m. On Monday and Thursday mornings they offer showers for men and women, “Socks and Hygiene,” along with coffee and water.
- More on Monday is a meal served at Manna House every Monday at 5 p.m. Guests arrive beginning around 4 p.m. 1268 Jefferson Avenue, 38104
Mt Vernon Baptist Church 620 Parkrose Rod, Manna Marketplace food pantry, drive-through on Mondays and Wednesdays 10 am- 1 pm
St John’s United Methodist Church – 1207 Peabody Ave.
- Meals provided on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Food pantry: 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 10:00-12:00 PM. The amount of food given is based on the size of the household served and is enough to feed the family (or an individual) for five days. Fellowship Hall (Peabody entrance).
St. Luke’s UMC – 480 S. Highland St. 38111
- “Manna Bag” – water, Vienna sausages, and a fruit cup (or a fruit bar) and crackers – available to the public during office hours at the front desk to carry in your vehicle to assist those that may pull “your heart strings” as you pass them by
- Saturday Supper – snack is served at 4:00 p.m. The main meal follows at 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday Community Breakfast is a free meal, open to the community, at 8:00 a.m.
- University Cluster Food Pantry provides a four-day supply of food to each person in a family. The food pantry is open the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 9:30 until 12:00 noon. They serve mainly the residents of the nearby zip codes of 38111, 38114, and 38117, but accept all in need who come.
St. Luke Lutheran Church is located at 2000 N. Germantown Pkwy. They have a drive-up free food pantry on Tuesdays from 10 am-noon. No identification needed.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church 155 Market St. 38105. Soup Kitchen. Each day for six days a week, they serve beverages, pastries, a meat sandwich, a peanut butter sandwich, a 16-ounce cup of soup, and fruit, candy or chips.
St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral 700 Poplar Ave. Saturday Morning Worship and Breakfast at 9:00 am. Guests will be able to fill a shopping bag with items of their own selection, choosing from a variety that may include various pop top items such as Vienna sausage, sardines, fruit cups, water bottle, single-serve chips, cookies, and more.
St. Paul Baptist Church 2124 East Holmes Road, every Tuesday from 12-3 pm (except on the 5th Tuesday of the month if the month has 5 Tuesdays)
St. Vincent de Paul Food Mission located in the Ozanam Center at 1306 Monroe, open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am- 11 am
HEALTHCARE NEEDS
Church Health Center is a patient-centered medical home for the working uninsured and their children. Fees are charged on a sliding scale. Medical care includes dental, vision care, physical therapy, and behavioral health services. Free child care provided during appointments. 1350 Concourse Ave. (901) 272-0003
Christ Community Health Services offers adult primary care, pediatric care, prenatal care, behavioral health, counseling, dentistry, Down Syndrome clinic, HIV care, women’s healthcare, telehealth and telephonic visits, and social work (food insecurity, housing needs, clothing, transportation, medication assistance). Refugee services to provide health screenings and immunizations for newly settled refugees. Call or text (901) 842-3160 for appointments.
Forrest Spence Fund helps families with critically or chronically ill children by providing grants to assist with non-medical needs. They also help families with counseling and grief support systems. (901) 421-6909
