This section offers a collection of services available to youth and families. From food access and housing assistance to mental health support and legal aid, these resources are here to help meet basic needs and promote overall well-being. We update this list regularly to ensure it reflects current offerings from trusted local providers.
Embedded Files
Resources
The Erie County Department of Mental Health provides administrative leadership and ensures the coordination of a community based behavioral health system that is accessible, comprehensive, cost effective, person centered and recovery focused for and accountable to its citizens. Our goal is to foster hope and recovery for recipients.
Erie Path helps youth and families connect to mental health support, counseling, and case management as they transition into adulthood. YEL is proud to help connect eligible youth to this free Erie County resource.
Live Well Erie is a broad-based, data-driven initiative involving numerous partners in the public, private, and non-profit sectors collaborating to achieve greater health outcomes and improving the overall quality of life for its residents.
The Erie County SMART Collaborative is a professional learning community established to prioritize P-12 student mental health and social emotional learning. Comprised of Erie County School Districts, educators, community agencies and representatives from Erie County, SMART serves as a vital link between available mental health resources and students.
Arts for Learning WNY'S mission is to inspire, expand learning, and strengthen our community through engagement with the arts. AFL offers assembly, workshop and long term residency programs with professional artists, committed to their craft, and using it as a tool for creative learning. Art forms include music, multi-media arts, theater, dance, and visual and literary arts. Services are provided in the eight counties of Western New York, including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.
FeedMore WNY is a nonprofit organization working to fight hunger and nourish lives across Western New York. They provide a wide range of food assistance programs, including meal delivery, mobile food pantries, nutrition education, and partnerships with local schools and community organizations. Their mission is to ensure that no one in our region goes hungry — and they offer resources for individuals of all ages and situations.
If you’re looking for food assistance, FeedMore WNY offers an easy-to-use Pantry Locator tool. Just enter your address or zip code, and you’ll get a list of local food pantries near you — including contact information and hours of operation.
This tool is free, confidential, and updated regularly.
🔗 Click here to search for food pantries in your area
Family Help Center is proud to be a community partner of the Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative (WNYICC) — a regional network of nonprofit agencies dedicated to improving health and wellness through community-based services.
Through this partnership, eligible youth and families can access Medicaid 1115 Waiver services, which provide enhanced support for individuals who face barriers to health and social care. These services can include care coordination, connection to community resources, chronic disease management, and more — all designed to help individuals live healthier, more supported lives.
Referrals to WNYICC services can be made directly through the Family Help Center:
Internal referrals: If you or your child are already a client of one of our programs, you may be eligible to access these services through an internal referral.
External referrals: Families and youth not currently enrolled in our programs can still access WNYICC services by being referred to us by a school, healthcare provider, or another community partner.
Additional Resources
This section features a comprehensive directory of free and low-cost services available to individuals and families across Buffalo and Erie County. From emergency support and housing assistance to behavioral health, legal aid, and food access. Our goal is to connect community members to the resources they need with dignity, ease, and accessibility.
Whether you’re in crisis, seeking long-term support, or looking for culturally responsive services, this directory organizes trusted, local organizations by category to help you navigate available assistance.
All listings are Erie County-based and carefully vetted for accuracy. We are continually updating this page. If you know of a resource we should include, please email us at yel@familyhelpcenter.net
Emergency Resources
Emergency Resources
Crisis Services Hotline (Erie): 716-834-3131 | Kids: 716-834-1144
Family Help Center: 24 Hour Family Helpline: 716-892-2172
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255
NYS Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-800-942-6906 | Text: 1-844-997-2121
Spectrum Health C.A.R.E.S. Line: 716-882-4357
Spectrum Health Crisis Hotline: 716-710-5172
United Way of WNY / 211: Dial 211 or visit https://www.211wny.org/
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1
Addiction & Recovery
Addiction & Recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous WNY: 716-853-0388 | https://www.aa.org
American Addiction Centers: 1-866-643-9530 | https://www.americanaddictioncenters.org
Kids Escaping Drugs: 716-827-9462 | https://www.ked.org
Narcotics Anonymous: https://www.na.org
Save the Michaels: 716-984-8375 | https://www.savethemichaels.org
Buffalo and Erie County Services
Buffalo 311 Service Requests: https://www.buffalony.gov/463/Contact-311
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System: https://www.buffalolib.org/
Erie County Dept. of Emergency Services: https://www3.erie.gov/emergencyservices/
Erie County Dept. of Health: https://www3.erie.gov/health/health/
Erie County Dept. of Homeless Services: https://www3.erie.gov/socialservices/homeless-services
Erie County Dept. of Mental Health: https://www3.erie.gov/mentalhealth/
Erie County Dept. of Social Services: https://www3.erie.gov/socialservices/
Erie County Dept. of Workforce Development & Labor Relations: https://www3.erie.gov/dwe/
Erie County Office for People with Disabilities: https://www3.erie.gov/ecopd/
Erie County Office of the Public Defender: https://www3.erie.gov/publicdefender/
Erie County Senior Services: https://www3.erie.gov/seniorservices/
NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD): https://opwdd.ny.gov/
Domestic Violence Support
Domestic Violence Support
Catholic Charities: 716-218-1400 | https://www.ccwny.org/services
Child & Family Services: 716-842-2750 | https://www.cfsbny.org
Family Justice Center: 716-558-7233 | https://www.fjcsafe.org
Haven House: 716-884-6000
NYS Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-800-942-6906 | Text: 1-844-997-2121
Family Services:
Family Services:
Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo: https://www.bgcbuffalo.org
Catholic Charities: 716-218-1400 | https://www.ccwny.org/services
Child & Family Services: 716-842-2750 | https://www.cfsbny.org
Childcare Resource Network: 716-877-6666
Parent Network of WNY: 716-332-4175 | https://parentnetworkwny.org
WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center: 716-677-7000 | https://omh.ny.gov
Youth Empowerment and Leadership at FHC: https://sites.google.com/familyhelpcenter.net/welcome-to-yel/home
Food Access
Food Access
Community Fridges Buffalo: https://www.instagram.com/buffalocommunityfridge/
Family Help Center: https://familyhelpcenter.net/
Feedmore WNY: https://www.feedmorewny.org/
Friends of the Night People: https://www.friendsofnightpeople.com
SNAP Enrollment: 716-858-7239
Healthcare:
Healthcare:
Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network: 716-884-6711 | https://www.bppn.org
Community Health Center of Buffalo: 716-986-9199 | https://chcb.net
Erie County Department of Health: https://www3.erie.gov/health/
Jericho Road: 716-881-6191 | https://www.jrchc.org
Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/new-york/buffalo/14214/buffalo-health-center-3334-91040
Housing & Homelessness
Housing & Homelessness
Belmont Housing: 716-884-7791 | https://www.belmonthousingwny.org
BMHA (Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority): 716-855-6711 | https://www.bmhahousing.com
Buffalo City Mission: 716-854-8181 | https://www.buffalocitymission.org
Compass House: 716-886-0935 | https://www.compasshouse.org
PUSH Buffalo: https://www.pushbuffalo.org/
Rental Assistance Corporation: 716-882-0063
WNY Coalition for the Homeless: https://wnyhomeless.org/get-help/
Immigrant & Refugee Services
Immigrant & Refugee Services
International Institute of Buffalo: 716-883-1900 | https://iibuffalo.org
Journey’s End: https://www.jersbuffalo.org
Justice for Migrant Families: https://www.justiceformigrantfamilies.org
Refugee & Immigrant Center for Healing: https://jfswny.org/refugee-immigrant-center-for-healing/
UB IRRI Resource Guide: https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/immigrant-and-refugee-research-institute/resource-guide.html
Legal Aid
Legal Aid
Legal Aid Bureau: 716-853-9555 | https://legalaidbuffalo.org
Neighborhood Legal Services: 716-847-0650 | https://www.nls.org
Volunteer Lawyers Project: 716-847-0662 | https://ecbavlp.com
Mental Health & Behavioral Services
Mental Health & Behavioral Services
BestSelf Behavioral Health: 716-884-0888 | https://www.bestselfwny.org
Catholic Charities: 716-856-4494 | https://www.ccwny.org
Cazenovia Recovery: 716-852-4331 | https://www.cazenoviarecovery.org
ECMC Behavioral Health: 716-898-1594 | https://www.ecmc.edu
Endeavor Health Services: 716-895-6701 | https://www.ehsny.org
Erie PATH (Mental Health Resource Navigation): https://www3.erie.gov/mentalhealth/erie-path
Harmonia Collaborative Care: 716-947-5025 | https://www.harmonia-care.org
Horizon Health Services: 716-831-1800 | https://www.horizon-health.org
Jewish Family Service: 716-883-1914 | https://www.jfsbuffalo.org
Live Well Erie (Mental Health Initiatives & Equity Programs): https://www4.erie.gov/livewellerie/
Mental Health Advocates of WNY: 716-886-1242 | https://www.mhawny.org
Peaceprints WNY: https://www.peaceprintswny.org/
SMART Collaborative (Community Services Resource Guide): https://www.canva.com/design/DAFicWAj_xc/vb_dFgBAJ9mGeWNcztfTqg/edit
Spectrum Health & Human Services: 716-539-5500 | https://shswny.org/
WNY Children’s Psychiatric Center: 716-677-7000 | https://omh.ny.gov
Veterans Services
Veterans Services
VA Western NY Healthcare: 716-834-9200 | https://www.buffalo.va.gov
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1
Veterans One-stop Center of WNY: 716-898-0110 | https://www.vocwny.org
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