Looking for free help in San Antonio in 2027? This guide brings together the major assistance programs open to San Antonio and Bexar County residents — free food, health care, housing help, financial aid, education and job training, small business support, veteran benefits, and utility bill assistance. Applying for these programs is free, and most of the help itself costs you nothing. Pick a category below for the full program list with eligibility details and direct application links.
A note on 2027 figures: federal benefit amounts update every October. Where the government has published official 2027 figures, they’re shown below. Where 2027 figures aren’t published yet, 2026 amounts are shown and labeled — check back or call the program to confirm.
Not sure where to start? Answer a few questions in our free Apply for Me program and we’ll send you a personalized guide to every benefit you qualify for.
Browse benefits by category
The 2027 guides are now live! The buttons below open the updated 2027 category guides with current program lists, eligibility details, and direct application links.
Food Assistance
Health Care
Housing
Financial
Education & Training
Small Business
Veterans
Utilities & Energy
All programs at a glance (2027)
- Food: SNAP grocery benefits (FY2027 max: $306/mo for 1 person, $1,023/mo for a family of 4, effective Oct 1, 2026) — YourTexasBenefits.com; WIC food + nutrition help for moms and kids under 5 — 800-942-3678; San Antonio Food Bank free distributions + free benefits help — 210-431-8326.
- Health care: Texas Medicaid (free coverage for qualifying children, pregnant women, seniors, people with disabilities) — apply at YourTexasBenefits.com or 2-1-1; CHIP low-cost kids’ coverage — 2-1-1; Metro Health public clinics — 210-207-8780.
- Housing: City Housing Assistance Program (HAP) — up to 3 months of rent + utility help, applications open monthly — 210-207-5910; Opportunity Home (public housing + Section 8) — 210-477-6000, check homesa.org for waitlist openings; free eviction legal aid — 210-212-3703.
- Financial: TANF monthly cash for families with children — 2-1-1; Texas unemployment benefits — 800-939-6631; HAP emergency rent/utility help (see Housing).
- Education & training: Federal Pell Grant (2026–27 max $7,395; 2027–28 figure pending) — FAFSA at studentaid.gov; TEXAS Grant for Texas public universities (FY2027 max $5,399/semester; FY2028 pending); free WIOA job training via Workforce Solutions Alamo — 210-438-0581.
- Small business: SBA 7(a) loans up to $5M via approved lenders — 1-800-827-5722; UTSA SBDC free one-on-one business advising — (210) 458-2460.
- Veterans: VA health care, disability, GI Bill, home loans — 1-800-827-1000 or va.gov; free claims help from Texas Veterans Commission — 1-800-252-8387; HUD-VASH housing for homeless veterans — 877-424-3838.
- Utilities & energy: CPS Energy Affordability Discount (monthly bill discount) — 210-353-2222; REAP up to $400/year in bill help; Casa Verde free home weatherization; senior late-fee waiver (60+); City HAP utility assistance; federal LIHEAP via 2-1-1.
Get a free personalized benefits plan
Don’t guess which programs fit your situation. Our free Apply for Me program matches you to every benefit you qualify for — food, housing, health care, utilities, and more — with step-by-step instructions for each.
