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Food Help After Eviction
~3.6M annual evictions in US (Eviction Lab). Eviction causes sudden housing loss, typically leading to immediate food insecurity. This page is a 7-day post-eviction action plan: SNAP without address, pantries, shelters, emergency rental aid.
DAY 1: Apply for SNAP — use USPS "general delivery" or shelter address. 7-day expedited processing if income <$150 + assets <$100.
1. SNAP without fixed address
Under 7 CFR 273.7(c), SNAP does NOT require fixed address. Use:
- USPS General Delivery — free. Pick up mail at designated post office.
- Shelter address — most shelters accept mail for residents
- "Care of" address — friend / family / church
- Post office box — $30-150/year, permanent address
- Social services — some orgs maintain address banks for unhoused clients
- Expedited SNAP 7-day →
2. Emergency Rental Assistance — get re-housed
ERA (Emergency Rental Assistance) under PL 116-260 + ARP. While original federal funds depleted, many states continue program with state funds:
- Covers back rent, forward rent, utilities, security deposit, moving expenses
- Apply through state human services or housing agency
- Documents: eviction notice, income, ID
- Decisions: 1-3 weeks in many states
- NLIHC ERA Tracker — nlihc.org/era-rapid-rehousing — check your state
3. ESG — Emergency Solutions Grant
- HUD ESG — federal grant to communities for emergency services for homeless / at-risk-of-homelessness people
- Covers: emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, street outreach services
- Often includes shelter meals or food vouchers
- Locator: hud.gov/grants-and-data/esg
4. FEMA — if eviction due to disaster
- If evicted due to natural disaster (fire, flood, storm structural damage), qualify for FEMA Individual Assistance
- Covers: temporary housing, food, medical expenses, limited repairs
- Apply at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362
- D-SNAP →
5. Shelters — food + housing
- Emergency shelters — include at least one daily meal. Locate via 211, HUD HMIS, or local agency.
- Transitional housing — 30-180 day stays with supports for permanent housing
- Family shelters — keep families together; family meals
- DV shelters — if eviction is due to domestic violence
- For homeless →
6. Legal defense against eviction
If still in process (not yet evicted), legal defense can help. If already evicted, legal aid can help with re-establishment.
- Right To Counsel (NYC, KCMO, Cleveland, otros) — some states/cities now offer free lawyer for eviction cases
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) — lsc.gov. 132 state programs. Aid for households <125% FPL.
- Eviction Lab — evictionlab.org. Research + resources. Case map.
- Local Tenant Rights — most large cities have "Tenant Rights" hotline. 211 can direct.
7. If disabled / 60+ — SSI + LIHEAP + Medicaid
- SSI — Supplemental Security Income. ~$943/mo (FY26) if disabled or 65+ with low income. Apply immediately.
- LIHEAP — rent + utility aid. Apply immediately.
- Medicaid expandido — free medical if below 138% FPL in expansion states
- HUD Section 8 / Voucher — apply for waitlist. Often long (years) but homeless-prioritized.
Need food today?
- Dial 211 (24/7 multilingual). Mention "evicted" for priority routing.
- Local pantries — no address verification
- Soup kitchens — hot food without ID, without address
- Churches / synagogues / mosques — most have emergency distribution
- Free food today →
Related resources
Last updated 2026-04-30. Feed America Inc. (EIN 92-1761881).