Help in Montana
For people starting over after prison, foster care, treatment, homelessness, abuse, or trafficking
We've verified 21 places in Montana, most of them in Billings, Missoula and Great Falls, plus 8 that serve the whole state. The most help we've found here is for people leaving homelessness (12) and after prison or jail (11).
YWCA Billings
Emergency shelter (Gateway Horizons), case management, legal advocacy, hospital accompaniment, and rapid re-housing for people leaving domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking in the Billings area. Also home to the Northern Lights Family Justice Center.
Montana 2-1-1
Free information and referral line covering all of Montana. Dial 2-1-1 any time to reach a resource specialist who can locate food, shelter, utility help, health care, and other local services.
Tumbleweed Program
Billings youth agency serving runaway, homeless, and vulnerable young people, including a drop-in Youth Resource Center, a Chafee independence program for Yellowstone County foster youth ages 14–21, and a program for domestic victims of human trafficking. Crisis counseling is available around the clock.
International Rescue Committee in Montana
Missoula-based resettlement agency that helps refugees, asylees, and other immigrants statewide with housing, jobs, health navigation, school enrollment, digital skills, and low- or no-cost immigration legal help. Also works with victims of human trafficking and survivors of torture.
Montana Legal Services Association
Free civil legal help for low-income Montanans on housing, family, benefits, and consumer matters, plus self-help forms at MontanaLawHelp.org. Apply online any time or by phone on the HelpLine's limited hours.
Montana Office of Vital Records
Issues certified Montana birth and death certificates and handles corrections and name changes. The office is closed to walk-ins; orders go through the mail, VitalChek, or VitalRecordsOnline, and name-change or correction appointments are made by phone.
Montana Public Assistance Helpline
Single statewide number to apply for or manage SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and other public assistance in Montana. Field Offices of Public Assistance in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, and other cities handle in-person needs.
National lines that work in Montana
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.