Tri-County Assistance Clarion, Armstrong, Jefferson Counties
A local starting point
Find help for everyday needs
Explore local assistance resources serving Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson counties. Search by service, organization, location or need, then contact the provider about your situation.
This directory is a courtesy, not a guarantee of funding, eligibility or placement. Programs, deadlines and waiting lists change. Confirm current details directly with the provider; do not send private application information to this website.
- Choose your county and the type of help you need.
- Search a word such as heating, rent or emergency, or leave search blank to browse.
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Armstrong County Assistance Office
Local DHS office for public-benefit applications, renewals and case questions, including cash, food, medical and heating assistance.
Location: 1280 North Water Street, Kittanning, PA 16201-0898
Who may qualify
Each benefit has separate income, household and other requirements. The office determines eligibility.
Availability & next step
Contact the office for current application options. Approval or immediate payment is not guaranteed.
Armstrong County Community Action Partnership — Housing Assistance
Housing assessment and programs for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including eviction-prevention assistance, help entering a rental unit and limited emergency shelter. The agency also identifies utility-assistance options.
Location: 326 S. Water Street, Suite 1, Kittanning, PA 16201
Who may qualify
Program-specific income and housing-crisis criteria apply. Some shelter and housing programs require an agency referral. Funding is limited; call for an assessment rather than assuming emergency placement is available.
Availability & next step
Call the Housing Department and ask for the Resource Triage Specialist. Assistance depends on assessment and available funds.
Charitable Deeds & Services
Appointment-based financial help for individuals and families who cannot meet essential bills.
Location: 260 High Point Road, Knox, PA 16232
Who may qualify
The official page names Clarion, Venango and Forest areas. Staff assess each request; Armstrong or Jefferson coverage is not confirmed.
Availability & next step
Leave a voicemail to request an assessment. Funding and the ability to meet a particular need are not guaranteed.
Clarion County Assistance Office
Local office for applications, renewals and questions about public benefits, including cash, food, medical and heating assistance.
Location: 71 Lincoln Drive, Clarion, PA, 16214-3861
Who may qualify
Each benefit has separate household, income and other requirements; contact the office or use COMPASS to apply. Program-specific residence and eligibility rules apply.
Availability & next step
Do not assume approval or immediate payment. The LIHEAP seasonal status is listed separately.
Clarion County Housing Authority — Rental Assistance
Affordable housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher information, applications and waiting-list assistance.
Location: 8 West Main Street, Clarion, PA, 16214
Who may qualify
Eligibility screening and waiting lists apply. An open list does not mean a voucher or apartment is immediately available. Applicants living or working in Clarion or Forest County receive a waiting-list preference.
Availability & next step
The official waiting-list page reported all lists, including Housing Choice Vouchers, open on the verification date. Confirm before applying.
Clarion County SAFE — Housing and Emergency Support
Emergency shelter for people and children fleeing domestic violence, plus the Bridge House transitional housing program for people experiencing homelessness.
Who may qualify
Bridge House has its own homelessness, age, independence and program requirements; rent is income-based. Emergency domestic-violence shelter has a separate intake. Contact SAFE for intake and safe access instructions.
Availability & next step
Housing capacity and acceptance must be confirmed with SAFE. This is not an unrestricted cash grant.
Community Action, Inc. — Housing and Utilities
Help with rent, deposits, shut-off notices, housing searches and case management for households facing homelessness.
Location: Clarion: 22868 Route 68, Suite 1, Clarion, PA 16214. Jefferson: 105 Grace Way, Punxsutawney, PA 15767.
- Clarion office: +1-814-226-4785
- Jefferson office: 814-938-3302
- Homeless emergency after hours: +1-800-598-3998
- [email protected]
Who may qualify
County residence, homelessness risk and eviction or shut-off documentation affect eligibility. The provider explicitly lists both counties.
Availability & next step
Shelter or payment assistance depends on screening and availability.
Community Action, Inc. — Regional Veterans Services
Short-term housing assistance and case management for veterans and their families facing homelessness.
Location: 105 Grace Way, Punxsutawney, PA 15767
Who may qualify
Veteran status, homelessness risk and household income criteria apply.
Availability & next step
Staff determine eligibility and available support; help is not guaranteed.
Community Action, Inc. — Weatherization
Home energy and safety assessment with eligible efficiency improvements to reduce household energy use.
Who may qualify
Application and home assessment determine eligibility. The program page explicitly lists both counties.
Availability & next step
A waiting list may apply; not an immediate utility-bill payment.
Dollar Energy Fund — Pennsylvania Utility Assistance
Utility hardship grants and other assistance for customers of participating companies, with an online application and local agency finder.
Who may qualify
Income, utility, balance, prior-payment and service-status rules vary. Supply the utility bill and household income documentation. Delivered fuels such as oil, propane, coal and wood are not covered by Dollar Energy Fund. Conditional coverage: a resident must be a customer of an eligible participating utility. The program finder must confirm the actual utility and address.
Availability & next step
The official 2026-27 opening announcement is current, but individual program dates and funding differ. Contact the utility or program before relying on a grant.
Housing Authority of the County of Armstrong
Public housing and Section 8 rental-assistance programs for eligible households in Armstrong County.
Location: 350 South Jefferson Street, Kittanning, PA 16201
Who may qualify
Income, household and other admission rules apply. Applications are subject to waiting lists. The authority explicitly states that it does not have emergency housing.
Availability & next step
Contact the authority about current applications and waiting lists. This authority does not provide emergency housing.
Jefferson County Assistance Office
Local assistance-office staff help residents apply for and renew Pennsylvania benefit programs.
Location: 100 Prushnok Drive, P.O. Box 720, Punxsutawney, PA 15767-0720
Who may qualify
Eligibility and supporting documents depend on the program requested.
Availability & next step
Office hours listed by DHS are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; confirm holiday or service changes.
Jefferson County Housing Authority
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher applications for eligible households.
Location: 201 North Jefferson Street, Punxsutawney, PA 15767
Who may qualify
Income, household documentation and program admission requirements apply.
Availability & next step
Official application page states waiting lists reopened July 27, 2026. Applying does not guarantee prompt placement. Older income and rent tables on that page should be confirmed with staff.
LIHEAP — Heating and Crisis Assistance
Income-based grants paid to heating providers, with crisis assistance for qualifying heating emergencies.
- State LIHEAP hotline: 866-857-7095
- Armstrong LIHEAP: 724-543-6076
- Clarion LIHEAP: 814-226-1780
- Jefferson LIHEAP: 814-938-1329
Who may qualify
Income rules apply. Renters and owners may qualify; enrollment in other public assistance is not required. Crisis grants have additional requirements. Statewide program administered locally by county assistance offices.
Availability & next step
The previous LIHEAP season is closed. DHS has scheduled the 2026-27 season to open November 2, 2026. Check the official page or call your county office for current application and crisis-help information.
Love INC of Clarion County
Telephone intake connects neighbors with church ministries, volunteers and community resources for unmet needs.
Location: 515 Main Street, Clarion, PA 16214
Who may qualify
Clarion County residents or families attending a partner church; phone intake determines available help. Official about page also includes families attending a partner church. Eligibility outside Clarion County must be confirmed by intake; no blanket Armstrong or Jefferson coverage is asserted.
Availability & next step
The organization explicitly says it cannot guarantee that a particular need will be met. Call for intake rather than sending an application by email.
PA 211 — Local Assistance Referrals
Free, confidential resource navigation connecting residents with local assistance programs. Available by phone, text and online search.
Who may qualify
Anyone may seek referrals. Each referred provider determines its own eligibility. Statewide referral network; search using the actual home ZIP code.
Availability & next step
211 is a referral service, not a promise of funding, shelter or benefits. Text your ZIP code to 898211 for resource referrals.
Penelec — Customer Assistance and WARM
PCAP payment assistance, hardship referrals and WARM home-energy improvements for eligible electric customers.
- Office / program: 888-282-6816
- WARM / FirstEnergy Human Services: 888-406-8074
- Penelec customer service / CARES: 800-545-7741
Who may qualify
Program-specific income and account rules apply. WARM also has electricity-use criteria and requires landlord approval for renters. For eligible Penelec residential customers; verify the provider on the household's electric bill.
Availability & next step
PCAP and WARM are listed year-round; benefits require approval.
Pennsylvania DHS HelpLine / COMPASS Benefits Helpline
Help navigating state benefits and COMPASS, including cash, food and medical-assistance programs.
Who may qualify
Anyone may ask about benefits; each benefit program makes its own eligibility decision. Statewide Pennsylvania service.
Availability & next step
A benefits-information helpline, not an unrestricted emergency cash fund.
Pennsylvania Emergency Shelter Allowance (ESA)
A limited emergency benefit that may help an eligible household prevent eviction or foreclosure, obtain housing, or find temporary shelter.
Who may qualify
Income, resources, household and non-financial rules apply. DHS requires evidence of the emergency and that the allowance will resolve it. It is not a general rental subsidy; frequency and payment limits apply.
Availability & next step
Contact your county assistance office for an interview and eligibility review. An application for benefits may be required.
Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Rebates for qualifying Pennsylvania older adults and people with disabilities who paid eligible rent or property taxes.
Who may qualify
Age/disability, income and proof-of-payment rules apply. This reimburses qualifying prior-year expenses; it is not immediate emergency rental assistance.
Availability & next step
Applications for eligible 2025 expenses have a published December 31, 2026 deadline. Use the official page for online, paper and free in-person assistance options, and confirm the current deadline.
Pennsylvania Utility Assistance — CAP, CARES and Hardship Programs
The PUC explains utility customer-assistance programs, hardship funds, usage-reduction services and payment arrangements. Contact the utility named on your bill for programs it offers.
Who may qualify
Programs differ by utility, household income and circumstances. The PUC information page is not an application or a guarantee of shutoff protection.
Availability & next step
Begin with your utility's assistance department. Programs and available funding vary. The PUC can help with unresolved utility issues.
Pennsylvania Utility Law Project — Utility Hotline
Potential free legal help with utility disconnection and related utility problems.
Who may qualify
Contact the local legal-services program first. PULP's hotline is for people who still need assistance after that step; eligibility screening applies. Statewide Pennsylvania service.
Availability & next step
Legal assistance, not a utility-bill grant. Representation and outcomes are not guaranteed.
Pennsylvania Weatherization Assistance Program
Home energy assessments and eligible energy-saving improvements for qualifying low-income households, delivered through local agencies in all Pennsylvania counties.
Who may qualify
Income rules and priority categories apply. Work depends on the energy assessment and local program capacity; it is not cash for unrestricted repairs.
Availability & next step
Contact the weatherization agency serving your county through the official provider directory. Armstrong residents may also ask ACCAP. A waiting list may apply.
PHFA — Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program
Repayable mortgage-assistance loans for eligible Pennsylvania homeowners in hardship, applied for through designated housing counselors.
Who may qualify
This is a loan, not a grant. Hardship, repayment prospects, residence, mortgage type and other rules apply. An Act 91 notice is generally required, with limited exceptions. Statewide program for eligible Pennsylvania primary residences.
Availability & next step
Foreclosure notices have strict deadlines; contact an approved counselor promptly. A directory listing does not stop foreclosure or establish eligibility.
Salvation Army — Punxsutawney Worship & Service Center
Local social-services intake and community support through the Punxsutawney center.
Who may qualify
Ask local staff about the applicable program, location and household requirements. The official local page describes Jefferson County and surrounding communities; call to confirm service for a specific address.
Availability & next step
Call for a social-services appointment and ask which programs are currently available. Specific cash, rent or utility payments are not guaranteed.
Summit Legal Aid — Clarion Office
Civil legal advice and representation for qualifying residents, including housing issues and public-benefits denials or reductions.
Location: 231 West Main Street, Clarion, PA, 16214
Who may qualify
Income and case screening apply. Free representation is not guaranteed for every matter. Clarion County is explicitly in the service area.
Availability & next step
Email may take a day to receive a response; use the intake phone promptly for an urgent legal deadline. This is legal assistance, not a cash grant.
United Way of Clarion County
Local community-support organization directing people seeking services to its office or PA 211.
Location: P.O. Box 207, Clarion, PA 16214-0207
Who may qualify
Call the office or 211 to identify help and applicable provider requirements.
Availability & next step
The official contact page instructs service seekers to call, and warns that requests through its general-purpose contact form may not be answered promptly. No direct emergency fund is currently verified.
USDA Section 504 — Rural Home Repair Loans and Grants
Repair loans for eligible low-income homeowners and health-and-safety repair grants for qualifying older homeowners in eligible rural locations.
Who may qualify
The applicant must own and occupy the home, meet applicable income rules and be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere. Grants have additional age and income requirements. Not every address in these counties is eligible.
Availability & next step
Applications are accepted year-round, subject to funding. Check rural property eligibility and contact a USDA Rural Development home-loan specialist.
Not every program is listed. County coverage does not establish eligibility, and a working website does not mean funds are available.
