HELP Ministries, sometimes referred to as "The HELP Office," is a social service hub in Dauphin County, providing a comprehensive approach to homelessness and poverty alleviation through crisis resolution, emergency aid, and housing assistance.
We offer a continuum of crisis management and homeless solutions: from homelessness prevention to short-term aid to long-term solutions, as well as other crisis assistance.
Program Manager:
Leah Payne
Office Location:
413 S. 19th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104 (GPS)
phone: (717) 238-2851 | fax: (717) 238-1916 | e-mail: help@ccuhbg.org
For the foreseeable future, during the COVID-19 pandemic, most HELP Ministries assistance is being coordinated by phone or e-mail. Please do not come in person to the HELP Ministries office unless requested to do so by a staff member or to drop off application paperwork. If you need help, call HELP Ministries at (717) 238-2851 weekdays between 8:30am and 3pm to communicate your request for help. If there is no answer, please leave a message or e-mail help@ccuhbg.org. A HELP Ministries staff member will contact you within 1 business day.
In the case of a crisis need off hours, please call 911 if a medical emergency, otherwise call Dauphin County Crisis Intervention at (717) 232-7511. For information and referral off hours, dial 211 for Contact HELPline.
Homelessness Prevention
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Case Management and Rental Assistance
We help households under threat of eviction resolve situations and stay in their housing, thereby reducing stress and trauma for all involved. (The Rental Assistance Program of HELP Ministries is currently closed for processing of new applications, so we cannot provide applications for rental assistance at this time. If you are currently in Dauphin County and facing a situation where you will be without shelter within the next 10 days, you may contact us at 717-238-2851 in order to see if there are any emergency shelter openings. This website will be updated at the point when we can again process new applications.)
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Heating Fuel
HELP may provide one-time assistance to people needing heating fuel during the winter heating season. Clients must exhaust any and all other energy assistance programs before they receive assistance.
Short-Term Aid
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Emergency Shelter
HELP is the first point of contact for intake into the following emergency shelters: the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg Emergency Shelter, Shalom House, and Interfaith Family Shelter. Emergency shelter is available on a first-come first-serve basis and is subject to availability.
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Case Management
HELP works with emergency shelter staff to assist clients in area emergency shelters to identify follow-up housing resources.
Long-Term Solutions
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Rapid Rehousing and Rental Assistance
HELP may assist households who are currently homeless (in emergency shelters or on the streets) to obtain an apartment through security deposit and initial rental assistance, along with case management and budget counseling.
Other Crisis Assistance
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Medication Assistance
HELP can provide financial assistance to people needing life-sustaining medication on an emergency, one-time basis. This service is often used to bridge gaps in medical insurance.
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Transportation Assistance
HELP reserves this service for specific situations, such as 1) stranded travelers; 2) homeless individuals that have verified housing available out of the area; or 3) individuals starting a job who need a limited-time bus pass.
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Food Referrals
HELP provides referrals to area food pantries listed in the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s referral guide.
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Information and Referral
HELP is a resource for information and referrals for other community resources.
HELP Ministries is supported financially by area churches, businesses, local government agencies, concerned individuals, PPL Electric Utilities, Community Aid and the United Way of the Capital Region.
