Community Resources

To download a list of La Porte County resources, click here.
To download a list of Resources to Help You from People Who Care, click here.

Where to get help.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-medical emergency help, call 2-1-1.

The easiest way to find resources in LaPorte County is to dial 2-1-1.
2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that connects you to a community resource specialist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dial 2-1-1 toll-free from any phone or go online to in211.communityos.org.

Other Resources

La Porte County Township Trustee List

Resources to Help You From People Who Care

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Indiana COVID-19 Precaution Plan Announcements

Internal Revenue Services Tax Season 2020 Information

LaPorte County Government Services

Lake County Government Services

Porter County Government Services 

HealthCare Foundation Laporte COVID-19 Resources HUB

First Steps La Porte (assistance from La Porte churches) – call 219-200-3009

Goodwill Programs

Veterans Assistance: from American Legion or La Porte Veterans Committee; call Lesa Rosenbaum at 574-315-8362 or email Lesarose707@gmail.com

La Porte Department of Child Services

Healthcare Foundation La Porte Community Resource Hub

Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA) and Child Care resources

• ChildCareFinder.in.gov or call 800-299-1627

• Go to HealthCare Foundation LaPorte website and click on “Community Resources for Parents, Educators & Community Members” or call 2-1-1

• Imagination Station at https://paladin.care/early-childhood-programs/

• YMCA at https://www.indianaymcas.org/locations/la-porte-county-family-ymca-childcare-and-learning-center

Counseling & Mental Health Services
Mental Health Awareness Month is in May!

• Mental Health America of Indiana

• Mental Health America of Indiana Key Messages

• Text Crisis Hotline - text 741741

• The Trevor Lifeline 866-488-7386

• Suicide Hotline 800-273-8255

• Quit Tobacco Hotline 1-800-QUIT-NOW

• Call Indiana Be Well at 2-1-1 (Select 3) – Available 24/7

Suicide and Substance Abuse

• Addiction Help Resource

• Inpatient Treatment Information

• 988 – Dial 988 for Suicide and Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration's resources or click here

Indiana Division of Mental Health & Addiction, Youth & Prevention Mental health matters, now more than ever.
Change the Frequency weekly text campaign offers mental wellness advice, education, challenges, and more—all for the betterment of our health. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to opt-in by texting MENTALHEALTH to 317.676.6730. Make a difference in someone else’s life by sharing the campaign with them, too! For more information see here.

Be Well Indiana

Call 211 to get an assessment and see if your child qualifies:
The Children’s Mental Health Wraparound program provides youth with serious emotional disturbances with intensive, home- and community-based wraparound services that will be provided within a System of Care philosophy and be consistent with wraparound principles. Services are intended to augment the youth’s existing or recommended behavioral health treatment plan (Medicaid Rehabilitation Option, managed care, etc.) and address the unique needs of the CMHW participant, a treatment plan built upon the participant and family strengths, and services and strategies that assist the participant and family in achieving more positive outcomes in their lives.

Employment, Housing & Financial Assistance Services

• Salvation Army Northwest Indiana locations

• Lake County Trustees List

• LaPorte County Trustees List

• Porter County Trustees & other local government contacts

• For Rental Assistance Click Here or call 1--844-463-7638

• For Mortgage Assistance Click Here or call 1-877-281-1488

• For issues regarding homelessness, contact the Home Team at 219-707-0873

• Sign Up For Health Insurance For You and Your Kids
  or call Healthy Communities of La Porte County at: 219-210-3499

• How To Get Your Stimulus Checks & Guidelines
  or IRS Non Filers

• For Utilities Assistance, call North Central Community Action Agencies at 219-872-0351

   Call Catholic Charities of La Porte County, IN at 219-879-9312

• Catholic Charities: If you are emailing for financial/rent assistance, please direct it to outreach@catholic-charities.org or call 219-886-3549, option 2.

• Comcast Xfinity free WiFi for Everyone

• NIPSCO suspends shutoffs for non-payment-during pandemic

• NITCO offers remote conference services for workers at home. No charge for 90 days. Call 219-996-0230 for more information.

• Internal Revenue Service Tax Season 2020 Information

• FREE do-it-yourself online tax service at myfreetaxes.com

• Indiana Workforce Development coronavirus/COVID-19 Unemployment Filing Services

  • Food & Beverage Industry Workers coronavirus induced layoffs

• Indeed.com: What to do if your job is affected by coronavirus

• The Caring Place, domestic violence recovery center

• 13 Helpful Steps To Take After Losing A Job Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic

• Easy-To-Read Guides for Financial Literacy

• Easy-To-Read Guides for Income Annuity

• Social Security Guide for Seniors

• Saint Vincent DePaul food and financial assistance call 219-369-3347

Job Information

WorkOne La Porte to find other Work One locations go to: https://www.in.gov/dwd/WorkOne/regions/region1.html

Food Services
Food pantries are still in service and have implemented a drive-thru process.

Northwest Indiana Food Bank - check Facebook page for up-to-date info 

La Porte County Food Banks

Michigan City Soup Kitchens

• First United Methodist Church - Saturday-Thursday 12-1pm

• Macedonia Baptist Church, 3007 Ohio St - Fridays 11:30am-1pm 

LaPorte County Meals on Wheels

SNAP/Health Coverage Apply Here

Catholic Charities: If you are emailing for food assistance, please direct it to pantry@catholic-charities.org or call 219-397-5803 ext. 205.

Learning & Family Activities at Home

• Indiana Kids Count Data Book 2023

• Ninja Nerd Medicine COVID-19 explained (YouTube video)

• Free YMCA fitness video access 

• American Heart Association 25 ways to get moving at home

• Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

• Audible offers free audiobooks for kids

• Museum Virtual Tours by Google

• Scholastic Learn at Home Free Lessons

• Take a museum field trip without leaving the house

• 125 Things to do with kids during coronavirus quarantine

• 10 Strategies Online Learning During Coronavirus Outbreak

• CDC - How to talk with your children about coronavirus

• Want To Raise A Future Leader? 16 Parenting Strategies That Work

• Teaching Financial Literacy To Children and Teens

• Families Tackling Tough Times Together

• Make Parenting More Rewarding & Less Stressful: Helpful Tips & Parent Advice

• 18 Ideas For A Perfect Night In!

• Mental Health Association Offers Free-To-Download Activity Book To Help Kids And Adults Talk About Mental Health

• Travel From Home: 13 Virtual Museums and Galleries to Tour

• Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book 2022

• Math & Accounting Activities for Kids

 STRENGTHENING Youth MENTAL HEALTH

United Way of La Porte County is proud to partner with local organizations to bring life saving mental health services to our community’s youth and the people who love them. If a child or teen in your life needs help, please

• Dial 9-8-8 or 800-273-TALK to reach The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• Dial 2-1-1 to access local La Porte County System of Care resources

• Text “helpline” to 62640 to chat via text message, or

• Chat online at www.nami.org

YOUR COMMUNITY IS HERE FOR YOU!

Please click to download and share our free youth mental health brochures:

My 2-1-1

United Way of LaPorte County supports 2-1-1, a free and confidential service that connects you to a community resource specialist in your area who can put you in touch with local organizations that provide critical services that can improve—and save—lives. 2-1-1 helps people all across North America find the local resources they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In LaPorte County, you can:

• Dial 2-1-1 toll-free from any phone

• Go online to https://in211.communityos.org/

You’ll find information about: 

• supplemental food and nutrition programs

• shelter and housing options and utilities assistance

• emergency information and disaster relief

• employment and education opportunities

• services for veterans

• health care, vaccination and health epidemic information

• addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs

• reentry help for ex-offenders

• support groups for individuals with mental illnesses or special needs

• a safe, confidential path out of physical and/or emotional domestic abuse

Whether in times of natural disaster or personal crisis, 2-1-1 is committed to being the first, most essential resource to anyone who needs help. This is how we LIVE UNITED.

alice: national coivd-19 report

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical shortcomings in our economy and intensified hardship for many households who were already struggling. Before the pandemic, 42% of U.S. households were already unable to make ends meet. This includes households with income below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and households who are ALICE (Asset, Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed). With income above the FPL, ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households earn too much to qualify as “poor” but are still unable to cover basic household expenses in the counties where they live.

Our new Report, The Pandemic Divide: An ALICE Analysis of National COVID Surveys, provides the first look at the impact of the pandemic on ALICE households. The Report reveals that experiences and realities diverged during the pandemic: ALICE families fared significantly worse than higher-income households — financially, physically, and emotionally.

This research — along with the ALICE & COVID-19 Tracker and other resources on this page — aims to shed light on the experiences of ALICE households, fill gaps left by traditional economic measures, and help policymakers and community stakeholders make data-informed decisions to address the root causes of financial hardship.

To view the ALICE: National COVID-19 Report and more information please visit here.

singlecare Prescription Discount Card

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program

The VITA program offers free tax help to individuals, families, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. 

VITA appointments are available in January through April.

IRS CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS WILL PREPARE YOUR TAXES FOR YOU AT NO COST

OR

VISIT MYFREETAXES.COM TO PREPARE YOUR TAXES YOURSELF FOR FREE!

• IRS-certified tax preparers will prepare and e-file your income taxes for free if you:1) Have an adjusted gross income of $66,000 or less (per household) and 2) Your return does NOT include rental income, farm income, adoption credits or income from other states.
• If you worked in 2020, you may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit — even if you don't owe income tax! Filing electronically guarantees a quick refund (typically 7-14 days).
• Free Tax Sites are by appointment (see phone numbers below).

2023 TAX SITES INCLUDE:
LaPorte Salvation Army: 219-326-5342
The Michigan City Public Library: 219-873-3049
South Bend Area: 574-800-1361

Want to prepare your own taxes?