My Help Compass maps the non-government side of assistance: local charities, faith-based aid funds, community action agencies, 211-style referral networks and nonprofit emergency grants. When someone needs help with a bill, with food or with getting through a hard stretch, the options are often spread over dozens of organizations, each with its own rules and its own front door. We try to bring that picture together so a search takes minutes, not days.
Some readers have never asked for help before and do not know where to begin; others know the system well and want a quicker route. For both, we point to the kinds of organizations that exist and how they usually operate, so you arrive knowing what to ask for.
Our content is general information, not advice. We are not a charity, a government agency or a crisis line, and we do not decide who qualifies for aid. Each organization sets its own eligibility, availability and application steps, and these can change, so check with the organization directly before relying on them.