How to Get Help from Lutheran Social Services

Lutheran Social Services (LSS) operates as a network of regional, faith-based non-profit organizations providing essential health, housing, and social services across the United States. Because assistance is managed by independent regional branches, specific programs, the availability of financial aid, and eligibility requirements vary significantly by location.

Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Lutheran Social Services (LSS) housing programs offer emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, transitional housing, and affordable apartments for seniors. Since these programs are independently managed by regional offices, availability and access requirements depend entirely on your geographic location. In most areas, accessing these programs requires going through the county’s Coordinated Entry System rather than applying directly.

Emergency Shelters & Crisis Housing

LSS operates physical shelters for individuals experiencing immediate homelessness.

General and veteran shelters: Facilities such as the Faith Mission network, through LSS of Central Ohio, offer housing, hot meals, medical care, and case management services for single adults and veterans. Shelters for domestic violence victims: Safe, confidential shelters—such as Choices—provide security, legal counseling, and psychological support to help victims and their children overcome trauma.

Shelters for youth and runaways: Specialized crisis shelters offer short-term housing, family mediation, and comprehensive support services for adolescents and young adults.

Permanent supportive housing and affordable housing

Long-term housing solutions are available for eligible low-income individuals, older adults, and adults with disabilities.

HUD-subsidized housing for older adults: LSS manages multi-family apartment complexes where rent is capped at 30% of the household’s adjusted gross income for individuals aged 62 and older.

Permanent supportive housing: These programs combine affordable housing with ongoing case management for individuals with chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, or mental health issues.

Rapid Re-Housing: Short- to medium-term rental assistance, combined with stabilization services, helps families quickly transition from emergency shelters to private housing.

Homelessness prevention and financial assistance

Some regional branches offer direct financial assistance to help individuals retain their current homes.

Eviction prevention: Small grants or direct payments to landlords cover past-due rent or court costs for families facing active eviction orders.

Utility assistance: Branches help households catch up on overdue electricity, gas, or water bills, often in coordination with the federal LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).

Move-in security deposits: Limited funds may be available to help low-income tenants cover the first month’s rent or the security deposit required to sign a new lease.

Most LSS branches cannot directly refer clients to shelters or rapid re-housing programs. You must complete a standardized assessment through your county’s designated access point to be placed on the housing waiting list.

Food security and basic needs

Lutheran Social Services (LSS) food security and basic needs programs provide immediate hunger relief, emergency clothing vouchers, and structural nutritional assistance. Since these centers are independently operated by regional affiliates, specific services—such as online food ordering or home meal delivery—depend on the infrastructure of your local branch.

Emergency food pantries and grocery distribution

LSS branches operate physical, mobile, and “choice-style” pantries to supply households with nutritious food.

Choice-style and store-like pantries: Instead of receiving pre-packed boxes, many locations allow clients to choose their own food items. For example, the LSS Champion Food Pantry in Ohio offers a full monthly grocery shop alongside weekly pickups of fresh bread, milk, and eggs.

Online and scheduled pickups: Some regional centers use digital scheduling tools. At sites like LSS of Northeast Florida, families submit an online form to schedule an appointment to pick up pre-packed bags of groceries containing non-perishables, fresh fruits and vegetables, and meat.

Mobile food pantries: To serve areas with limited access to fresh food (“food deserts”) and isolated communities, specialized LSS trucks deliver fresh produce, dairy products, and frozen meat directly to neighborhoods, following a weekly or monthly rotating schedule.

Pet food banks: Recognizing that pets are family members, several regional offices incorporate pet food distribution networks into their standard hunger-relief services.

Specialized nutrition for seniors and youth

Affiliates offer meal plans tailored to the needs of individuals who are unable to cook for themselves or access traditional food pantries.

Home-delivered meals and community dining sites: Branches such as LSS of Minnesota operate extensive senior dining centers and home-delivery networks. These meals are overseen by registered dietitians to meet strict dietary requirements, such as diabetic, low-sodium, or vegetarian diets.

Federal nutrition programs: LSS serves as an authorized partner for federal child nutrition programs, facilitating organized school lunches and summer meal distribution for youth facing food insecurity.

Support for clothing, identification, and basic needs

Beyond food security, LSS locations help individuals regain their dignity and overcome everyday barriers to stability.

Basic needs and emergency vouchers: Low-income families and individuals experiencing homelessness can obtain vouchers for emergency clothing, winter coats, blankets, and footwear.

Assistance obtaining identification documents: Some locations offer financial aid or direct vouchers to help clients pay for official state IDs, birth certificates, and driver’s licenses—documents that are essential for securing housing or employment.

Hygiene and wellness kits: Day centers provide packages of essential items, including soap, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, and laundry detergent.

How to access food and basic needs assistance

Check referral requirements: Some local LSS food pantries require an official referral from a social worker or case manager prior to the first visit, while others only require a photo ID and proof of address.

Review intake guidelines: When visiting a pantry, always bring an official photo ID and a recent utility bill or lease agreement to verify residency in the county served by that location.

Contact SNAP counselors: If you are seeking long-term food security, ask to speak with a benefits specialist at your local LSS office. They can guide you through the enrollment process for federal programs such as SNAP (food stamps) or WIC.

Financial wellness and employment support

Lutheran Social Services (LSS) financial wellness and employment support programs offer accredited credit counseling, debt management, and personalized job placement initiatives. While many financial services are available nationwide—either virtually or by phone—local employment services focus on helping veterans, immigrants, and individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities secure stable, meaningful employment.

Financial Wellness and Credit Counseling

LSS operates some of the nation’s largest HUD-approved, non-profit consumer credit counseling agencies, such as LSS Financial Counseling.

Debt Management Plans (DMPs): Certified financial counselors work directly with creditors to lower interest rates and halt collection actions. These plans consolidate multiple credit card debts or unsecured loans into a single, affordable monthly payment that is managed and distributed by the agency.

Student Loan Repayment Guidance: Experts assist borrowers in navigating federal repayment options, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) requirements, and consolidation alternatives.

HUD-certified housing counseling: Counselors provide mandatory pre-purchase education for first-time homebuyers, reverse mortgage counseling for seniors, and active interventions to prevent foreclosure.

Credit report and budget review: Free, non-judgmental sessions help individuals obtain their credit reports, identify errors, create monthly savings plans, and establish healthy financial habits.

Employment support and professional development

Employment programs are designed to eliminate systemic barriers to work by connecting job seekers with local employers willing to offer fair working conditions.

Specialized placement for people with disabilities: Tailored initiatives, such as Employment First, support individuals with physical, mental, or cognitive disabilities. Employment specialists analyze benefits, assist with workplace accommodation requests, and provide ongoing on-the-job guidance.

Workforce integration for refugees and immigrants: For newly arrived families, LSS offers English for Speakers of Other Languages ​​(ESOL) training, international credential translation, and immediate job placement to foster rapid economic self-sufficiency.

Professional services for veterans: Specialized counselors help military veterans and transitioning personnel adapt their tactical skills for civilian resumes, obtain professional certifications, and secure stable employment.

Basic job readiness training: Clients receive personalized assistance with drafting resumes and cover letters, completing online applications, and practicing interview skills.

How to access financial and employment services

Schedule a financial counseling session: No referral is needed to receive financial guidance. You can contact LSS Financial Counseling directly at 888-577-2227 to arrange a free appointment—by phone or virtually—from anywhere in the country.

Contact your state affiliate for employment programs: Job placement relies heavily on state grants. Consult the Lutheran Services in America network directory to see if your local branch has an employment services department.

Request an employment specialist: If you meet the eligibility requirements for vocational rehabilitation programs (due to a disability or refugee status), ask your state caseworker to specifically refer your case to LSS for job placement services.

Crisis, Family, & Immigrant Services

The Crisis, Family, and Immigrant divisions of Lutheran Social Services (LSS) offer trauma-informed mental health interventions, foster care program management, and legal services for refugee resettlement. As these divisions operate as local non-profit organizations, their programs are closely tailored to the specific demographics and available state funding in their respective areas.

Refugee and immigrant support services

LSS is one of the largest refugee resettlement networks in the United States and collaborates nationally with partners such as Global Refuge.

Reception and placement: Local teams secure affordable housing, purchase initial groceries, arrange for utilities, and personally welcome newly arrived families at the airport.

Immigration legal services: Department of Justice (DOJ)-accredited representatives provide low-cost or pro bono legal counsel to assist with family-based petitions, permanent residency (Green Card) applications, work permits, and naturalization processes.

Cultural and linguistic literacy: Local branches organize free, multi-level English (ESOL) classes, civics courses, and practical cultural orientation sessions covering public transportation, banking services, and local laws.

Transitional financial assistance: In certain regions, LSS administers state-funded programs—such as Transitional Cash Assistance for Refugees—to help families meet their needs during their first few months in the country.

Foster care, adoption, and extended family support

LSS focuses on child welfare, helping children find loving, permanent homes when they can no longer remain with their biological parents.

Foster care licensing and placement: Specialists recruit, train, conduct background checks on, and license foster parents, while also providing ongoing 24-hour crisis support and social worker visits.

Public and international adoption: Social workers manage the legal adoption of minors in state care, coordinate international adoptions, and conduct mandatory family environment assessments (home studies).

Kinship care programs: Additional logistical and financial assistance is provided to relatives (such as grandparents or aunts and uncles) who take on the care of children to prevent them from entering the formal foster care system.

Post-adoption search and reunion: Specialized staff help adult adoptees safely access their original records, understand their medical history, and facilitate reunions with their biological relatives.

Crisis Intervention & Mental Health Support

Accredited clinical professionals and field support specialists provide rapid response services to stabilize individuals experiencing severe mental health crises or crisis situations.

Mobile crisis response teams: In select regions, mental health professionals travel directly to the scene—whether homes, schools, or community spaces—to contain and mitigate acute psychiatric emergencies.

Shelter and mediation for runaway youth: These temporary residential centers house adolescents who have run away from home or are experiencing homelessness, while staff provide immediate family mediation to repair emotional bonds.

Income-adjusted behavioral health services: LSS outpatient clinics offer community counseling for families, children, and couples, using an income-based sliding fee scale so that uninsured individuals can access care.

Steps to access these programs

Locate your regional resettlement office: If you are seeking resources for immigrants, look up local offices via the Global Refuge resettlement partner directory.

Attend a foster care information session: If you wish to become a foster parent, visit your local branch’s website to sign up for the mandatory state-required pre-training courses.

Use 988 for immediate mental health crises: If you are experiencing a mental health emergency and your local LSS mobile crisis team is unavailable, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.