Appendix B: Resource Directory

Every phone number and website in this book, in one place. Save the crisis numbers in your phone now, not when you need them.

Resources marked ★ are free. Nearly all of them are.

Programs change. If a number or site has moved, search the organization's name — the institutions listed here are durable even when their URLs aren't.

🆘 Crisis — save these now

Need Contact
Suicide & mental health crisis ★ 988 (call or text) · 988lifeline.org
Crisis Text Line ★ Text HOME to 741741
Domestic violence ★ 1-800-799-7233 · text START to 88788 · thehotline.org
Sexual assault (RAINN) ★ 1-800-656-4673 · rainn.org
Substance use / mental health treatment (SAMHSA) ★ 1-800-662-4357
Disaster distress ★ 1-800-985-5990 (call or text)
Veterans crisis line ★ 988, then press 1 · text 838255
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth) ★ 1-866-488-7386 · text START to 678-678
Trans Lifeline ★ 877-565-8860
Poison control (people) ★ 1-800-222-1222
Poison control (pets) 1-888-426-4435 (ASPCA) · 1-855-764-7661 (Pet Poison Helpline)
Child abuse hotline ★ 1-800-422-4453
Elder abuse (Eldercare Locator) ★ 1-800-677-1116
Missing/exploited children (NCMEC) ★ 1-800-843-5678 · takeitdown.ncmec.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline ★ 1-888-373-7888 · text 233733
Emergency 911

🏠 Housing, food, and basic needs

Need Contact
Everything — housing, food, utilities, prescriptions ★ Dial 211 · 211.org
Food banks ★ feedingamerica.org
SNAP eligibility screening ★ snapscreener.com · apply through your state
WIC ★ fns.usda.gov/wic
Utility bill assistance (LIHEAP) ★ Apply through your state; acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap
HUD housing assistance ★ hud.gov
Fair housing complaints ★ 1-800-669-9777 · hud.gov/fairhousing
Tenant rights by state ★ Search "[your state] landlord tenant handbook"
Legal aid (housing, benefits, family, consumer) ★ lawhelp.org
Homelessness — coordinated entry ★ Dial 211, or search "[county] coordinated entry"

💰 Money and credit

Need Contact
Free credit reports ★ annualcreditreport.com (the only federally authorized source)
Credit freeze — Equifax ★ equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services · 1-800-685-1111
Credit freeze — Experian ★ experian.com/freeze · 1-888-397-3742
Credit freeze — TransUnion ★ transunion.com/credit-freeze · 1-888-909-8872
Opt out of pre-approved credit offers ★ optoutprescreen.com
Bank account denial (ChexSystems) ★ chexsystems.com
Nonprofit credit counseling (NFCC) ★ nfcc.org · 1-800-388-2227
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaints ★ consumerfinance.gov/complaint
Unclaimed property ★ missingmoney.com + your state treasurer
Unclaimed retirement accounts ★ unclaimedretirementbenefits.com; DOL abandoned plan database
Find a credit union ★ mycreditunion.gov
Compare savings rates bankrate.com · nerdwallet.com
Federal Trade Commission — fraud ★ reportfraud.ftc.gov
FBI internet crime ★ ic3.gov
Do Not Call registry ★ donotcall.gov

🎓 Student loans

Need Contact
Federal loan account, all programs ★ studentaid.gov (everything is free here)
Loan simulator — compare repayment plans ★ studentaid.gov/loan-simulator
PSLF Help Tool ★ studentaid.gov/pslf
Default Resolution Group ★ 1-800-621-3115
Federal Student Aid Information Center ★ 1-800-433-3243
Student loan complaints ★ consumerfinance.gov/complaint

Never pay anyone for federal student loan help. Consolidation, IDR, PSLF, and rehabilitation are all free at studentaid.gov.

🧾 Taxes

Need Contact
IRS main site ★ irs.gov
IRS Direct File ★ Check irs.gov for current availability
IRS Free File ★ irs.gov/freefile (enter through the IRS, not the company)
VITA — free tax prep ★ irs.gov/vita · 1-800-906-9887
AARP Tax-Aide (60+) ★ aarpfoundation.org/taxaide
MilTax (military) ★ militaryonesource.mil
Withholding estimator ★ irs.gov/W4app
IRS online account ★ irs.gov/account
Transcripts ★ irs.gov/transcripts
Payment plans ★ irs.gov/paymentplan
Offer in Compromise pre-qualifier ★ irs.gov/oic
Taxpayer Advocate Service ★ 1-877-777-4778
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics ★ taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/litc
Identity Protection PIN ★ irs.gov/ippin
IRS main phone 1-800-829-1040

🏥 Healthcare

Need Contact
Health insurance marketplace ★ healthcare.gov · 1-800-318-2596
Medicaid / CHIP ★ Apply through healthcare.gov or your state agency
Sliding-scale health centers (FQHCs) ★ findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
No Surprises Act help desk ★ 1-800-985-3059
Medicare ★ medicare.gov · 1-800-633-4227
Prescription discounts goodrx.com · singlecare.com · costplusdrugs.com
Patient assistance programs ★ needymeds.org · rxassist.org
Patient Advocate Foundation ★ patientadvocate.org
Hospital price comparison fairhealthconsumer.org · healthcarebluebook.com
Medicare rate lookup ★ cms.gov
Advance directives — free forms ★ prepareforyourcare.org
State insurance commissioner ★ naic.org (directory)
Vaccines for uninsured children ★ Vaccines for Children — ask any provider

🧠 Mental health

Need Contact
Crisis ★ 988 · text 741741
SAMHSA treatment locator ★ 1-800-662-4357 · findtreatment.gov
Affordable therapy openpathcollective.org ($40–70/session)
Therapist directory psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
NAMI — free support groups and education ★ nami.org · 1-800-950-6264
Free mental health screenings ★ mhanational.org/mental-health-screening-tools
Inclusive Therapists inclusivetherapists.com
Therapy for Black Girls therapyforblackgirls.com
Latinx Therapy latinxtherapy.com
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network nqttcn.com
Eating disorders (NEDA) ★ 1-800-931-2237
Community mental health centers ★ Contact your county behavioral health department
Naloxone (Narcan) ★ Over the counter; free from many health departments
SMART Recovery (secular) ★ smartrecovery.org
AA / NA ★ aa.org · na.org

💼 Work

Need Contact
Wage and Hour Division (unpaid wages) ★ 1-866-487-9243 · dol.gov/agencies/whd
EEOC (discrimination) ★ 1-800-669-4000 · eeoc.gov (180/300-day deadline)
OSHA (safety) ★ 1-800-321-6742 · osha.gov
NLRB (organizing, wage discussion) ★ nlrb.gov
Job Accommodation Network (disability) ★ 1-800-526-7234 · askjan.org
Unemployment benefits ★ Your state's agency — search "[state] unemployment"
Department of Labor (ERISA/benefits) ★ 1-866-444-3272
Salary data ★ levels.fyi · glassdoor.com · payscale.com · bls.gov/oes
Employment authorization (E-Verify, I-9) ★ uscis.gov
Vocational rehabilitation (disability job support) ★ Search "[state] vocational rehabilitation"
Professional clothing ★ dressforsuccess.org · careergear.org
Federal Bonding Program (criminal record) ★ bonds4jobs.com
USAJOBS (federal employment) ★ usajobs.gov
Need Contact
Legal aid — find yours ★ lawhelp.org · or dial 211
State bar referral service Search "[your state] bar association lawyer referral"
CFPB complaints (banks, debt, credit) ★ consumerfinance.gov/complaint
FTC fraud reports ★ reportfraud.ftc.gov
State attorney general ★ naag.org (directory)
Identity theft recovery ★ IdentityTheft.gov
Small claims court ★ Search "[your state] small claims court"
Court self-help centers ★ Search "[your county] court self help"
ACLU affiliate ★ aclu.org/affiliates
Immigration legal help ★ immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory
Disability rights (P&A agencies) ★ ndrn.org
Eviction record sealing ★ Search "[your state] eviction expungement"
Voting rights restoration ★ restoreyourvote.org

🗳️ Civic

Need Contact
Check registration / register ★ vote.org
Election Protection Hotline ★ 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)
See your actual ballot ★ ballotpedia.org · vote411.org
DOJ Voting Section ★ 1-800-253-3931
Voter ID assistance ★ voteriders.org · 1-866-432-8683
Find your representatives ★ congress.gov · openstates.org · usa.gov
Campaign finance (federal) ★ fec.gov · opensecrets.org
Federal regulations & comments ★ regulations.gov
Americans abroad voting ★ fvap.gov
Public records requests ★ muckrock.com

🚗 Transportation

Need Contact
Vehicle recalls ★ nhtsa.gov/recalls (free, by VIN)
NHTSA complaints / safety ★ nhtsa.gov · 1-888-327-4236
Car values kbb.com · edmunds.com · nadaguides.com
Repair cost estimates repairpal.com
Vehicle history carfax.com · autocheck.com
Lemon law ★ Search "[your state] lemon law"
Moving fraud (FMCSA) ★ 1-888-368-7238 · fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move
DMV ★ Search "[your state] DMV"

🔒 Digital safety

Need Contact
Check if you've been breached ★ haveibeenpwned.com
Password manager ★ bitwarden.com (free) · 1password.com
Identity theft recovery ★ IdentityTheft.gov
FBI internet crime ★ ic3.gov
FTC fraud ★ reportfraud.ftc.gov
Delete accounts ★ justdelete.me
Google — remove your info from search ★ Search "Google results about you"
Non-consensual intimate images ★ stopncii.org (adults) · takeitdown.ncmec.org (minors)
Data broker removal deleteme.com · incogni.com · optery.com (or opt out manually, free)
Address confidentiality (safety) ★ Search "[your state] address confidentiality program"

🐾 Pets

Need Contact
Poison control 1-888-426-4435 (ASPCA) · 1-855-764-7661
Adoption ★ petfinder.com · adoptapet.com
Low-cost spay/neuter ★ Search "low cost spay neuter [your city]"
Emergency vet financial help ★ redrover.org/relief · thepetfund.com
Rehoming ★ rehome.adoptapet.com
Product recalls ★ fda.gov/animal-veterinary

🚨 Emergency preparedness

Need Contact
Local hazard risk ★ hazards.fema.gov/nri
Flood maps by address ★ msc.fema.gov/portal
Disaster assistance ★ disasterassistance.gov · 1-800-621-3362
SBA disaster loans ★ sba.gov/disaster
Flood insurance ★ floodsmart.gov
Local emergency alerts ★ Search "[your county] emergency alerts"
CPR / first aid training redcross.org · heart.org
Americans abroad — enroll with the embassy ★ step.state.gov
Product recalls ★ cpsc.gov · recalls.gov

📄 Documents

Need Contact
Birth certificate — find your state's office ★ cdc.gov/nchs/w2w
Social Security card ★ ssa.gov · 1-800-772-1213 (free — never pay)
Social Security account ★ ssa.gov/myaccount
Passport ★ travel.state.gov · emergencies: 1-877-487-2778
Military records (DD-214) ★ vetrecords.archives.gov
Immigration documents ★ uscis.gov · 1-800-375-5283
Property records ★ Your county recorder or assessor
Veterans benefits ★ va.gov · 1-800-827-1000

🌍 Outside the United States

Country Key resources
UK Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) · Shelter (housing) · StepChange (debt) · ACAS (employment) · Samaritans 116 123 · NHS 111 · Emergency 999
Canada Provincial tenancy boards · Credit Counselling Canada · Talk Suicide 988 · Emergency 911
Australia Scamwatch · National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 · Lifeline 13 11 14 · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 · Emergency 000
New Zealand Citizens Advice Bureau · Emergency 111
EU Your national consumer protection body · European Consumer Centre · Emergency 112
Global Crisis lines: iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres

How to find local help for anything

Dial 211. Free, confidential, nationwide, 24/7. Housing, food, utilities, healthcare, childcare, legal aid, mental health, disaster relief. It is the single most useful phone number in this book and most people have never heard of it.

Search formulas that work: - "[your state] [topic] assistance" - "[your city] free [service]" - "[your county] [agency name]" - site:.gov [your question] — restricts results to government sources

Your public library is a general-purpose help desk staffed by people whose job is finding information. Free, no eligibility requirements, and dramatically under-used by adults.

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