Essex County
Ask about Essex County
Ask in your own words. We look up programs and offices for Essex County and tell you where to go next.
Local offices in Essex County
We found these on official websites. Call before you go, since hours and places can change.
Human services · County office
Essex County Division of Family Assistance and Benefits
320 University Avenue, 2nd Floor, Newark, NJ 07102
Help here
- Cash and food assistanceApply for or get help with county cash and food assistance programs.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on nj.gov
Community action · County office
Essex County Division of Community Action
Help here
- Community action servicesContact the county agency for community action assistance and referrals.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on nj.gov
Child support · County office
Essex County Child Support Office
212 Washington Street, 11th Floor, Newark, NJ
Help here
- Child support servicesGet help with child support services through the county office.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on njchildsupport.org
State office · City office
City of Newark WIC Program
110 William Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Help here
- WIC nutrition benefitsEligible families can apply for food benefits, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on nj.gov
Local office · Regional office
NJ 211
Help here
- Community service referralsCall NJ 211 to find local help with housing, food, health care, and other needs.Read more
Last checked October 9, 2026 · Found on nj211.org
Public health · County office
Essex County Office of Public Health Management
900 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044
Help here
- Public health helpContact the county office for public health information and help.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on essexcountynjhealth.org
Older adults · County office
Essex County Division of Senior Services
465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Room 102, Newark, NJ 07102
Help here
- Aging and caregiver supportOlder adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers can get connected to local services and support.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on wecare.essexcountynj.org
Emergency help · County office
Essex County Office of Emergency Management
50 West Market Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Help here
- Emergency preparedness and responseGet county information about preparing for and responding to emergencies.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on essexsheriff.com
Jobs and training · State office
East Orange One-Stop Career Center
50 South Clinton Street, 2nd Floor, East Orange, NJ 07018-3120
Help here
- Job search and training helpGet help finding work, improving job skills, preparing a resume, and exploring training.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on nj.gov
Jobs and training · State office
Newark One-Stop Career Center
990 Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102
Help here
- Job search and training helpGet help finding work, improving job skills, preparing a resume, and exploring training.
Last checked October 8, 2026 · Found on nj.gov
Essex County Government website
Checked on October 8, 2026
Food near you
Food pantries and free meals in Essex County, closest to the center of Newark first. Hours change, so call first when you can.
Food pantry
Food Ministry
Grace Church in Newark
0.5 miles from the center of Newark950 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Hours
Hours not listed. Call first.
Food Distribution at 11:00 a.m. until bags are distributed. Food Pantry: Every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. First Sunday of the Month at 1:00 p.m. Bags available Tuesday-Friday upon request.
Listed on gracechurchinnewark.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Food pantry
Pierre Toussaint Food Pantry
Saint Mary's Church
0.9 miles from the center of Newark520 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102
Hours
- Sat9 AM to 11 AM
Who can come: Newark residents
What to bring: Current ID
Listed on smcnewark.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Free meals
St. John’s Soup Kitchen
1.1 miles from the center of Newark22 Mulberry Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Hours
Hours not listed. Call first.
Our soup kitchen serves an average of 500 meals each day.
Who can come: Anyone who is hungry
Listed on njsk.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Food pantry
pantry+ at RU-N
Rutgers University-Newark
1.2 miles from the center of Newark350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Paul Robeson Campus Center, Room 226, Newark, NJ 07102
Hours
- Mon11 AM to 3 PM
- Tue11 AM to 3 PM
- Wed1 PM to 6 PM
- Thu11 AM to 3 PM
Who can come: Rutgers-Newark students, staff, and faculty
What to bring: Available to Rutgers-Newark community members. There is no eligibility process.
Listed on studentaffairs.newark.rutgers.edu, checked on October 9, 2026
Food pantry
Bessie Green Community, Inc. Food Pantry
Bessie Green Community, Inc.
1.4 miles from the center of Newark510 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Hours
- Mon10 AM to 1 PM
- Tue10 AM to 1 PM
- Wed10 AM to 1 PM
- Thu10 AM to 1 PM
- Fri10 AM to 1 PM
Listed on bessiegreen.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Free meals
Bessie Green Community, Inc. Soup Kitchen
Bessie Green Community, Inc.
1.4 miles from the center of Newark510 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Hours
- Mon10 AM to 1 PM
- Tue10 AM to 1 PM
- Wed10 AM to 1 PM
- Thu10 AM to 1 PM
- Fri10 AM to 1 PM
Listed on bessiegreen.org, checked on October 9, 2026
Nonprofits that serve Essex County
Each one serves this area. Call before you go, since services and hours change.
Food bank
Food banks supply the food pantries and meal sites near you. Call or check the website to find one close by.
Nonprofit
Community Foodbank of New Jersey
31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, NJ 07205
Listed on feedingamerica.org, checked on October 10, 2026
Free legal help
Free help with civil legal problems, like eviction, benefits and family law, for people with low incomes. Funded by the Legal Services Corporation.
Nonprofit
Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, Inc.
Listed on lsc.gov, checked on October 10, 2026
Community action
Local nonprofits that help people with low incomes. Many help with energy bills, rent, jobs and taxes. Call to ask what they offer now.
Nonprofit
Essex County
Serves all of Essex County except Newark
50 S. Clinton Street, Suite 3201, East Orange, NJ 07018
Listed on nj.gov, checked on October 9, 2026
Nonprofit
United Community Corporation
Serves the City of Newark only
332 S. 8th Street, Newark, NJ 07103
Listed on nj.gov, checked on October 9, 2026
Cities and towns in Essex County
New Jersey programs by kind of help
These are run by New Jersey and work the same everywhere in the state. Each page lists the programs and how to apply.
- FoodFood benefits, WIC, school meals and food banks.
- HousingRent help, shelter, and help with heat and power bills.
- HealthHealth coverage, Medicare, mental health care and help with drug costs.
- MoneyCash help, disability, retirement and veterans payments, and tax help.
- CareChild care, help for older adults and disability support.
- EducationHelp paying for college and training, and free preschool.
- WorkJobs, unemployment, and the IDs and papers you need for work.
- Legal helpFree legal help with eviction, family law, benefits and more.
- SafetyHelp with abuse at home, a safe place to stay, and crisis lines.
Checked on October 8, 2026
Federal help anyone can use
These come from the federal government, so they work the same in every state.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Social Security Administration. Monthly payments for people with little income and few resources who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, including children.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Social Security Administration. Monthly payments for people who worked and paid Social Security taxes and now cannot work because of a disability that will last a long time.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - Social Security retirement benefits
Social Security Administration. Monthly payments for people who worked and paid Social Security taxes, starting as early as 62. Spouses and widows may also get benefits.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - Medicare
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Health insurance for people 65 or older and for some younger people with a disability or kidney failure.
Call 1-800-633-4227 - Extra Help with Medicare drug costs
Social Security Administration. Help paying for Medicare prescription drug plans for people with limited income and resources.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - VA health care
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Health care at VA clinics and hospitals for veterans who served in the active military and did not get a dishonorable discharge.
Call 1-877-222-8387 - VA disability compensation and benefits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Monthly payments for veterans with an illness or injury caused or made worse by military service, plus education, home loan and other benefits.
Call 1-800-827-1000 - FAFSA, the federal student aid form
U.S. Department of Education. One free form that opens federal grants, work-study and loans for college or trade school. Many states and schools use it for their own aid too.
Call 1-800-433-3243 - Federal Pell Grant
U.S. Department of Education. Money for college or trade school that usually does not have to be paid back, for students with financial need.
Call 1-800-433-3243 - Lifeline phone and internet discount
Federal Communications Commission. A monthly discount on phone or internet service for households with low income or who get benefits like SNAP, Medicaid or SSI.
Call 1-800-234-9473 - Head Start and Early Head Start
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Free preschool, child care and family support for young children from birth to age 5 in families with low income, run by local programs.
Call 1-866-763-6481 - IRS Free File
Internal Revenue Service. File your federal tax return online for free with tax software offered through the IRS, if your income is under the year's limit.
- VITA and TCE free tax help
Internal Revenue Service. IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file your taxes for free, in person, for people with low or moderate income, older adults and people with disabilities.
Call 1-800-906-9887 - Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Internal Revenue Service. A federal tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate income. It can mean a bigger refund, even if you owe no tax.
Call 1-800-829-1040 - Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Help paying rent in a home you choose, for families with very low income, older adults and people with disabilities. Local housing authorities run it, and many have waiting lists.
- Replace a Social Security card
Social Security Administration. Get a free replacement Social Security card if yours was lost, stolen or damaged. Many people can ask online.
Call 1-800-772-1213 - FEMA disaster assistance
Federal Emergency Management Agency. Help with a place to stay, repairs and other needs after a disaster the President has declared in your area.
Call 1-800-621-3362
Checked on October 9, 2026
Talk to a person
- NJ 211
Free help finding food, housing, bills and more near you.
Call 211 - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 if you are in crisis or worried about someone. Any time.
Call 988Text 988