Translate

202-724-8052

Translate automatically via Google:

Para recibir asistencia en Español, llame a nuestra oficina al 202-531-8320 በአማርኛ እርዳታ ከፈለጉ በዚህ ቁጥር ይደውሉ 202-531-8320

Community Resources

Connecting you to helpful resources related to COVID, food, housing, worker rights, small businesses, and more from DC government and the community.

Table of Contents

Community Resources 

Find ways to address neighborhood issues and build community.

Here are some local resources that may be helpful:

Food Insecurity and Mental Health

Many DC residents struggle with food insecurity and their mental health.

Here are some additional resources for you and your family:

  • Apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
  • Food Resource Map for free meals and free groceries across DC
  • Food Assistance Programs for students, seniors, pregnant women, and mothers with young children
  • Slow Food DC helps grow, educate, and provide healthy and fair food
  • Ward 4 Mutual Aid is helping provide food, water, and supplies to neighbors across Ward 4.
  • Department of Behavior Health Community Response Team to support adults who are experiencing emotional, psychiatric or substance use vulnerabilities: 202-673-6495
  • DC’s Mental Health 24-hour hotline staffed by behavioral health professionals: 1-888-793-4357
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline available to anyone in distress: 988

Housing and Utilities

DC has a wide range of housing resources available for residents.

Here are some key places to seek housing assistance:

Worker Rights and Unemployment

Valuable resources for unemployment benefits and worker rights in the District:

Legal Assistance

A number of organizations provide free or low-cost legal advice and representation to DC residents.

  • Pro Bono Center Legal Helpline: Contact the DC Bar Pro Bono Helpline at 202-626-3499 anytime for an automated system in Amharic, English, French, or Spanish to find information on legal resources in DC
  • Legal Aid Society: Free legal advice for low-income DC residents with little or no income on housing, family law, domestic violence, public benefits, debt, and consumer issues.
  • Bread for the City: No cost legal advice and representation for low-income DC residents on housing issues, family law, immigration, and public benefits.
  • Worker Rights: Contact the Washington Lawyers Committee Workers’ Rights Clinic at 202-319-1000 ext. 118 (or 202-319-1000 ext. 123 for Spanish) to schedule a telephonic intake appointment.
  • Debt and Consumer Issues: Tzedek DC can support you with debt and other consumer issues like fraud, scams, and predatory loans. Contact them online or by calling 202-274-7386 
  • Landlord-Tenant Legal Assistance Network: Free legal support for tenants and unrepresented small housing providers on residential housing disputes in DC
  • Landlord-Tenant Court: Information and resources for in-person hearings at Landlord-Tenant Court.
  • Immigration: Some of the DC-based organizations providing immigration legal services include Ayuda, Catholic Charities, CARECEN-DC, CAIR Coalition, DC Affordable Law Firm, and DC Bar Pro Bono Center.
  • Seniors: DC seniors can call the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly Legal Hotline at 202-434-2120 in English or Spanish for advice, assistance or referrals
  • Unhoused Residents: the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless offers legal assistance to unhoused DC residents or residents at risk of losing their home. Call them at 202-328-5500 or email them at info@legalclinic.org.
  • Children: Children’s Law Center provides legal services on civil matters to children, low-income parents, and caregivers.  Call them at 202-467-4900 or fill out their online form
  • DC Attorney General: Find out more about your consumer rights, tenant rights, and worker rights — or file a complaint with the Office of the DC Attorney General

Small Businesses

Resources, information, and programs to help our incredible local businesses:

DC Department of Motor Vehicles 

Useful information on accessing DMV services during the pandemic:

Office of Unified Communications

The Office of Unified Communications (OUC) manages both 311 and 911 calls in the District:

  • 311 Requests: You can make a direct request for DC government non-emergency services by visiting the 311 website, calling 311, texting 32311, or downloading the DC311 app for iPhone or Android.
  • 911 Emergencies: calling or texting 911 helps you connect to police, fire, and emergency services. Learn about the different ways to connect to 911.

DC Office of Tax and Revenue

  • MyTax.DC.gov is the Office of Tax and Revenue’s (OTR) online tax system. The system houses individual income, business, and real property taxes and fees administered by OTR.
  • Online property tax portal to research whether properties in your neighborhood are being assessed by DCRA and taxed by OTR as vacant or blighted 
  • Free Tax Preparation Assistance for DC residents. Assistance is available from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm on Monday through Friday with no appointment needed.
  • Points of Contact and Useful Information in the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, including how to sign up for MyTax.DC.gov, responding to a verification letter, and following up on a missing return

Are we missing a valuable resource on this list? Email us at janeese@dccouncil.us to let us know.