Skip to content

Community Support Resources

These local resources are here to help you move forward.

We’ve gathered trusted, local programs to help you and your family meet everyday needs—food, housing, energy, employment, and more. These resources are here to support your stability, well-being, and future. Please note: this list isn’t exhaustive, and program details may change. Be sure to reach out directly to each organization for the most up-to-date information. We’ll do our best to update this list as frequently as possible.

What are you looking for?

Adult Education

Offers adult learning, GED programs, and training in various trades and certifications. Poughkeepsie campus includes an alternative high school and adult learning institute. Learn more here.

Provides education and training support for adults looking to earn credentials, build skills, or change careers. Learn more here.

Located at the Family Partnership Center in Poughkeepsie, this center offers free, confidential financial counseling, goal setting, and support connecting to safe financial products. Learn more here.

Ulster BOCES provides educational leadership and support, along with more than 200 innovative and cost-effective programs and services, to help the eight public school districts in Ulster County meet their academic, administrative, and operational goals. Our programs benefit students, educators, employers, and taxpayers throughout Ulster County. Learn more here.

Employment Assistance

Your go-to for local job listings, career counseling, and job training programs. They also help with certificates and work experience for in-demand careers. Learn more here.

Offers job readiness support like interview clothing, career coaching, and employment empowerment programs, alongside other wraparound services such as tax help, weatherization, and emergency assistance. Learn more here.

This Kingston-based paid program places trainees with local employers for four weeks of hands-on work experience and mentoring, rotating among different worksites, where trainees will receive training in home air-sealing and weatherization, solar panel installation, heat pumps, and geothermal energy systems, indoor air quality, and energy auditing. Learn more here.

HELPS Program: For households facing urgent financial crises, the United Way of Ulster County stewards an emergency assistance fund (HELPS) that provides one-time grants to help achieve stabilization and a pathway toward long-term well-being. For more information, contact Family of Woodstock’s Adult Case Management at (845) 331-7080 or visit www.ulsterunitedway.org/get-help.

Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster is a nonprofit with programs including substance use treatment and prevention services, immigration services for those navigating the path to citizenship, and broader social and human services covering emergency food and shelter assistance for individuals and families struggling with poverty. They also run an Employee Assistance Program and a Parish Counseling Network, with most services available in Spanish. Learn more here.

Energy Assistance

If you’ve received a shut-off notice, this fund may help. Central Hudson customers can contribute to a pool that supports neighbors in crisis. Learn more here.

Community solar gives renters and homeowners access to clean energy without putting solar panels on their roofs—and the cost savings that come with it. Learn more here.

Clean Energy Hub: If you need more information about clean energy solutions, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCEUC) offers state-authorized community energy advisors who can help. They provide guidance on available programs and, if you qualify, they can refer you to our HUG program. With their expertise, they’ll ensure you have the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions about energy efficiency in your home. Contact them at 845-340-3990 x 201.

This program offers financial support with home heating and electricity costs. Apply through DSS. Award amounts vary by fuel type and household need. Learn more here.

Organizations like Dutchess Outreach occasionally offer one-time grants to help cover overdue utility bills. Availability may vary by season and funding. Learn more here.

Utility Assistance: For low- or fixed-income households struggling with energy costs or utility disputes, the Public Utility Law Project (PULP) provides free legal assistance and advocacy. If you are seeking help or resources regarding your utilities, visit their website or call 877-669-2572.

Food Assistance

Fareground operates community food pantries across Dutchess County, fighting food insecurity with dignity and care. They also offer on-site support in Beacon. Learn more here.

Many local farmers markets match SNAP benefits up to $20 per day for fruits and vegetables—doubling your food dollars and increasing access to healthy food. Visit their website to find participating markets. Learn more here.

KEFC partners with organizations and individuals working in solidarity with community members to ensure that folks have food, focusing on meeting immediate needs while working to eliminate the underlying factors that contribute to food insecurity. In practice, this includes delivering packed groceries twice a month via the Clinton Avenue United Methodist Church, and a 24-hour hotline (888-316-0879) people can call to request food assistance. Learn more here.

This seasonal program offers sliding-scale farm shares, making fresh, local produce accessible. Applications open at the start of the growing season. Learn more here.

SNAP helps income-eligible households buy groceries using an EBT card loaded monthly with benefits. Apply through your local Department of Social Services (DSS). Learn more here.

Tilda’s Kitchen & Market is a community-oriented restaurant and small grocery in Kingston, NY, run as a project of the Hudson Valley Current, sourcing about 90% of its products locally and offering breakfast, lunch, and Friday dinner service alongside a market selling neighbor- and local business-made groceries and goods. Learn more here.

Food Pantries and Meal Programs: If you are seeking food assistance in Ulster County, UlsterCorps maintains a list of food pantry locations and hours, meal programs, and bus routes. Learn more here.

To see other food pantries and meal programs available in Ulster county, visit this map.

Housing

Build your credit by reporting on-time rent payments and access up to $3,000 in interest-free back rent assistance. Funds are paid directly to your landlord. Learn more here.

Housing Assistance: If you are facing housing instability, Family of Woodstock offers housing placement, emergency shelter, and homeless prevention services for low-income families. They provide critical support to help you secure safe housing. Contact them at (845) 331-7080 or info@familyofwoodstockinc.org for more information.

Tenants Rights Resources: For the Many offers support and guidance for renters facing challenges in housing. They offer information on tenant rights, resources for dealing with eviction, and ways to access legal assistance. If you are a renter seeking help and information about your rights and resources, visit www.housingforthemany.org

Homeownership Program: If you are a low-income renter interested in purchasing a home, the Ulster County Habitat for Humanity offers assistance in accessing funds for homebuying costs, educational support through their Homebuyer Education classes, and hands-on participation in building your home, setting you up for success as a new homeowner. Visit www.ulsterhabitat.org/housing/ or call (845) 340-0907 x105 to learn more.

Provides a wide range of housing support, including emergency shelter, affordable housing, homeownership help, and workforce development programs. Learn more here.

TapRoot Community Land Trust is a nonprofit housing organization serving Ulster County and surrounding areas. Each home placed into the trust is permanently designated for affordable home ownership, serving household after household, generation after generation, thereby protecting and stabilizing the community as a whole. Learn more here.

Home Repairs

See if you’re eligible for free home energy improvements that can help make your home more efficient, safe, healthy, and comfortable. Learn more here.

  • Rebuilding Day Program: If you are a low-income homeowner in Dutchess or Ulster county in need of critical repairs, Rebuilding Together can provide free large-scale home repairs including major accessibility modifications, roof and structural repairs, and system upgrades. Visit www.rthudsonvalley.org/programs or call 845-454-7310 for more information on applying.
  • Handyman Repair Program: For low-income homeowners in Dutchess or Ulster Counties in need of small-scale repairs or safety and accessibility modifications, Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley’s Handyman Program offers year-round services. Visit www.rthudsonvalley.org/programs or call (845) 454-7310 for more information on applying.
  • RUPCO Home Repair Program: Low-to-moderate-income homeowners in Ulster County can benefit from RUPCO’s Home Repair Program, which provides grants for essential repairs to maintain safe and affordable housing. Visit www.rupco.org/homeowner-repair-program or call (845) 331-2140 to learn more.
  • RUPCO Restore Program: If you’re a senior homeowner in need of critical home repairs, RUPCO’s Restore Program offers grants to cover the costs, helping you maintain a safe home. This program is aimed at ensuring senior homeowners can age in place comfortably. To be placed on the mailing list, call (845) 331-2140 or visit www.rupco.org/restore
  • Ulster County ‘Plus one ADU’ Program: For homeowners interested in building or rehabbing an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), the Ulster County ‘Plus One ADU’ program offers grants of up to $125,000. This can help create affordable housing on your property while also providing an income stream. For more information, visit them online at www.rupco.org/plusone or contact RUPCO at (845) 331-2140.
  • Ulster County Septic System Replacement Program: If you are a property owner in Ulster County with an outdated or failing septic system, the Ulster County Septic System Replacement Program provides funds covering up to 50% of replacement costs for eligible homeowners and small businesses. To apply, visit www.rupco.org/septic or call (845) 331-2140 ext 303.
  • Leading in Lead Prevention Program: If you are a multi-family rental property owner in Kingston, Middletown, or Newburgh with a building built before 1980, you may be eligible for grant funding of up to $40,000 per unit to remove lead hazards. To learn more, visit www.rupco.org/lead or call (845) 331-2140 ext 303.
  • Newburgh Targeted Home Improvement Program: Low-to-moderate income homeowners in 12550 can benefit from the Targeted Home Improvement Program (T-HIP), which offers grants up to $40,000 to cover essential repairs. For more information, visit www.rupco.org/thip3 or call (845) 713-4568 ext. 110.
  • First-Time Homebuyer Grant: If you’re considering buying a home in Ulster County, the First-Time Homebuyer Grant can provide up to $75,000 in grant funding for down payments, closing costs, and post-closing repairs. For more information, visit www.rupco.org/ahc-hb-ulster-county-grant or contact a counselor at (845) 331 -9860.
  • Foreclosure Prevention Counseling: If you are having difficulty making your current mortgage payment, RUPCO and RDAC can assist by providing free, individualized Foreclosure Prevention Counseling. For more information, call (845) 713-4568 ext. 115 or email andrewgrodence@ocrdac.org.
  • RUPCO Rental Properties: If you are seeking affordable apartment rentals in Ulster, Orange, and Greene Counties, RUPCO owns and/or manages a mix of artist, senior, family, and special needs rental housing. Visit www.rupco.org/our-properties to apply and learn more.
  • Non-RUPCO Rental Housing: If you are seeking additional rental home opportunities in Greene and Ulster Counties, RUPCO maintains lists of properties for rent that are not owned or managed by them. To view these, visit www.rupco.org/rental-listings-ulster-greene-counties
  • RUPCO’s Additional Resources: If you need more information about rental housing, social services, homeownership, community development, and transportation, RUPCO maintains a list of resources that can help. Visit www.rupco.org/additional-resources/ for more information.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): For homeowners needing weatherization services, the Ulster County Community Action Committee (UCCAC) provides energy advising and weatherization services. These services can help you reduce your energy bills by making your home more efficient. They offer weatherization services and are an authorized provider of Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for income eligible homeowners. To learn more about weatherization and other support services, call UCCAC at 845-338-8750.

Physical Goods

Families with children ages 3–16 in need of a bed can apply to receive a full set—bed frame, mattress, and bedding. Ashley delivers and sets up the bed at no cost. Learn more here.

Free to Thrift is a Kingston, NY thrift store built around a “sharecycling” model rather than a typical resale operation. They aim for half of all donations to flow back to community members for free, using a pricing system where items are progressively discounted every 6-8 days until they become free — with new merchandise color-tagged weekly and always three free colors, three discount colors, and one full-price color in rotation. Learn more here.

People’s Place is a nonprofit in Kingston, NY that has been feeding, clothing, and responding to the needs of Ulster County residents since 1972. They run four main services: a Thrift Store, a Food Pantry, a Wellness Empowerment Center offering wellness classes, health screenings, nutritional guidance, alternative health modalities, and financial education, and a Community Cafe where patrons pay what they can afford for healthy meals. Learn more here.

Support for Older Adults

A one-stop resource for seniors, offering meals, transportation, home care, legal assistance, wellness programs, caregiver support, and more to help older adults live safely and independently. Learn more here.

The Ulster County Office for the Aging assists and empowers older adults and their families to live as independently as possible, with dignity and purpose. Learn more here or call (845) 340-3456.

Youth Programs

Safe, supportive after-school and summer programming in Poughkeepsie and Newburgh. Kids build confidence, skills, and community. Learn more about Poughkeepsie here. Learn more about Newburgh here. 

The Center for Creative Education (CCE) is a Kingston, NY-based nonprofit offering arts and human services programming for youth and families. Their offerings include a Universal PreK program (“Lil’ Learners”), arts enrichment classes, an afterschool program called “Find The Fun,” a dance/fitness program called DXF (Dance Xross Fitness), and performance teams (Energy Dance Company & POOK). They offer sliding-scale tuition and scholarships to keep programs accessible, and also run outreach programs that bring their services directly to community centers and partner nonprofits, plus room rentals and a pop-up shop space. Learn more here.

Poughkeepsie-based nonprofit offering youth development programs year-round, including summer camps and after-school activities. Learn more here.

Kingston Parks and Recreation offers a variety of programs, memberships, facility rentals, and leagues. Visit the calendar page to learn more.

Questions? We're here to help!

Have questions and need help getting them answered? Send us a question, schedule a meeting, or contact us at the information below:

  • Call us at 845-383-1050
  • Visit the office at 190 Fair Street, Kingston, New York 12401 USA
Get in touch!

Check out our other programs

We’re dedicated to supporting those most affected by rising energy costs and the impacts of climate change, especially communities that have faced the greatest harm from our current energy system. Through continuous innovation, community involvement in program design, and advocacy for sustainable change, we’re building a cleaner, fairer future. Explore our other programs to see how we’re making a difference.

Community Council

Energy
Innovation

HELP
Fund

Home Energy Loan Program