Help in Missouri
For people starting over after prison, foster care, treatment, homelessness, abuse, or trafficking
We've verified 24 places in Missouri, most of them in Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield, plus 8 that serve the whole state. The most help we've found here is for people leaving homelessness (14) and after prison or jail (10).
United Way 211 Missouri
Free information and referral line covering all of Missouri and Illinois. A specialist looks up shelter beds, food pantries, utility help, and treatment openings in a database of thousands of nonprofits and connects you by phone, text, or chat.
Older Youth Program (Chafee)
Aftercare for young adults who left Missouri foster care after 18 and are under 23: a personal advisor, emergency funds for rent, utilities, car repairs, and food, short-term housing help of about 90 days, job training referrals, and the Education and Training Voucher of up to $5,000 per year. MO HealthNet coverage continues automatically to age 26.
Bureau of Vital Records
Issues certified Missouri birth and death certificates. You can order by mail or online, visit the Jefferson City lobby by appointment, or walk into one of 115 local public health offices around the state. Identification is required to receive a record.
Missouri Nondriver ID
A state nondriver identification card costs $24 and is good for up to six years; a nondriver ID issued for voting purposes is free. Apply at any Missouri license office with proof of identity, lawful status, Social Security number, and Missouri address.
Family Support Division Benefits (myDSS)
Apply for SNAP food benefits, MO HealthNet (Medicaid), Temporary Assistance, and child care subsidy in one place. Applications, document uploads, and status checks are online at myDSS.mo.gov; interviews are done by phone and a statewide information line answers questions.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Free civil lawyers for low-income people in 21 eastern Missouri counties, including eviction defense, protective orders through the Lasting Solutions family law unit, public benefits appeals, consumer debt, and immigration. Interpreters are arranged if you ask on the first call.
reStart
Downtown Kansas City shelter campus with emergency beds and transitional housing for single adults, families with children, veterans, and youth ages 12–24. Residents receive three meals a day, case management, employment help, and assistance replacing IDs and birth certificates.
Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Free civil legal help across 40 western Missouri counties from offices in Kansas City, Independence, St. Joseph, Joplin, and Warrensburg. Cases include protection orders, evictions, public benefits, municipal court defense, and immigration.
National lines that work in Missouri
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential treatment referral for substance use and mental health. Finds local programs that take your insurance or none.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for any mental health or substance use crisis. Available to anyone in any program.
Lifeline free phone program
Free or discounted phone and service for people on Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or low income. Apply online or through a carrier.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 confidential hotline for survivors of trafficking and people who suspect it. Connects to vetted local services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential help for anyone affected by domestic violence. Advocates connect you to local shelters and legal help.
Start right where you are
Each program has a step-by-step checklist for the first 72 hours, 30 days, and 90 days, so you always know your next step.