Community Assistance
Hard times can happen to anyone. If you need financial help or emotional support, these organizations and resources may be able to help.
Food Pantries and Groceries
- All Community Outreach (ACO): Food pantry and holiday meal program
- Allen Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry: Food pantry
- First Baptist Allen Food Pantry: Food pantry serving residents during COVID-19 crisis
- Meals on Wheels of Collin County: Serves elderly residents of Collin County with meals delivered to homes and senior centers
- North Texas Food Bank: Food assistance and mobile food pantry
Shelter and Housing
- All Community Outreach (ACO): Housing, rent and utility assistance for qualifying individuals
- COVID-19 Relief Grants: Each grant fund source may vary in specific guidelines, but most require the same base information and income qualifications.
- Emergency Rental Assistance Program: Applications became available in March. We'll share updates on this page.
- Home Repair Assistance Program: Run by the City of Allen to help keep homeowners in safe and stable housing
- Hope's Door: Shelter and counseling center for domestic abuse victims
- State and local housing stability policies: Provided by The University of Texas at Austin
- Collin CARES Economic Recovery and Assistance Program: This program is closed. If you're an Allen resident in need of rent, mortgage and/or utility assistance and you meet income guidelines, please contact All Community Outreach (ACO) to apply for assistance. Food pantry services available through ACO regardless of income
- Atmos Energy: If you need assistance paying your natural gas bill, call the Atmos Energy Customer Contact Center at 888.286.6700 (M-F, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to discuss your account and explore financial assistance. Installment plans are available with no charges or fees. No need to wait for a disconnect notice. Call 888.286.6700 or visit www.atmosenergy.com/accountcenter to set up a plan that meets your needs.
Transportation
- Collin County Rides: A partner program between the City of Allen and DART to provide transportation options for seniors and residents with disabilities through a taxi voucher system
Employment Resources
- Job search toolbox: Provided by Allen Public Library
- Employment resources: Provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Career preparation and networking resources: St. Jude Career Alliance
Mental Health Resources
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741741
- LifePath Systems: A community-based, non-profit organization created specifically to help individuals and their families dealing with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities and developmental delays
- Harold Murphy Counseling Center: The counseling center is partnering with Texas A&M University-Commerce and McKinney ISD to offer low-cost quality mental health services to Collin County and surrounding areas.
Legal Resources
- Collin County Children's Advocacy Center: Investigates, treats and prosecutes child abuse cases. It also provides a safe place for children to tell their stories and begin to heal
- Legal, health and financial resources: Helpful links compiled by Allen Public Library
Other Support
- 2-1-1 Texas: Connects Texas citizens with needed services such as food, housing, childcare and crisis counseling. Dial 211, 877.541.7905 or visit 211Texas.org.
- Assistance Center of Collin County: Helps people in need connect with programs to help them. It also administers funds from grants and community donations and works with reduced-cost prescription programs.
- LifePath Systems: A community-based, non-profit organization created specifically to help individuals and their families dealing with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities and developmental delays
- Wellness Center for Older Adults: Serves adults 55 years of age and older and their caregivers in Collin County and surrounding areas. Their work and passion is to assist older adults in healthy and independent living, allowing seniors to age in place gracefully.
- Winter Storm Damage Assistance (Source: Collin County): Storm damage resources from FEMA, Small Business Administration and DisasterAssistance.gov
Business Support
- #ShopAllenTX: A campaign created to help boost the reopening efforts of our business community in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Residents and visitors are encouraged to shop local retailers, dine in local restaurants, and get out and play in Allen’s backyard. Register your business.
- Allen Economic Development Corporation: Resources for businesses
- Allen Fairview Chamber of Commerce: A non-profit association that strives to be an indispensable resource for Allen and Collin County businesses.