Housing ReliefConsidering today’s astronomical gas prices, that’s great news, so keep reading to see where to find them.
Has filling up your car gotten so expensive that you’re considering other modes of cheaper transportation? If so, you’re not alone, as most of us are feeling the extra pinch in our pockets at the pump.
How could you lessen the negative impact high gas prices have on your bank account? You could drive less, get rides from friends and family, take public transportation, or even ride a bike or walk more often. Ideally, however, you could get free gas vouchers, so you don’t have to pay a single penny at the pump. Let’s look at some organizations that offer these money-savers from time to time.
Catholic Charities
What do most people contact Catholic Charities for? Assistance with things like affordable housing, healthcare, free food, disaster relief, and so on. And while all of those services could certainly help, you could also ask your local Catholic Charities if they have any free gas vouchers. If they do, you can bet on them being distributed according to need, with the lowest-income applicants being first in line.
Salvation Army
Just as with Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army is known for offering help with food, shelter, and other necessities for those who need it most. Some report having luck with getting free gas vouchers from the Salvation Army as well, so it’s worth contacting your local chapter to see if you have any luck.
If available, don’t expect the Salvation Army to give out gas vouchers to anyone that asks. Since they aim to help the needy, they will probably ask you for proof of income and expenses to show that you genuinely need a voucher. And if they do reward you with one, you will probably have to limit your trips using that gas to necessities, like going to work, the doctor, etc.
The Society Of St. Vincent de Paul
Here’s another charitable organization that sometimes offers free gas cards to those who desperately need reliable transportation to get to work and medical appointments. When contacting St. Vincent de Paul, be sure to ask what other forms of assistance they offer. If they’re out of gas vouchers, they could help you with food or housing, which can offset those high fuel costs.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
NEMT is a service offered to Medicaid recipients. With it, you can get reimbursed for fuel used to get to doctor’s appointments. If you aren’t on Medicaid, you may still qualify for NEMT if you receive benefits from another government assistance program.
211
If you don’t have any luck finding free fuel vouchers from the resources listed above, a call to 211 may help you strike gold. Ask the local operator if they know of any organization in your area that gives out free gas vouchers. And if you’re short on food, are having trouble paying the rent or paying other bills, ask for help with that too.
