Job and resume help
Find local American Job Centers, resume guidance, career tools, and training options.
Open CareerOneStopFree U.S. starting points
Easy help for hard times.
The Little Lift helps people find free places to start for jobs, food, housing, benefits, healthcare, school, legal aid, utility help, scam warnings, and more.
Use it free. Share it forward. Support only if you can.
Start with your ZIP code.
Enter a ZIP code to open ZIP-based help where available, then use the category links to reach the correct national, state, local, or county starting point.
No eligibility promises. No judgment. Just a cleaner place to begin.
Free help by situation.
Choose the need that fits. These are starting points that route people toward official, trusted, or widely used resources.
Local help by ZIP code
Search for food pantries, rent help, shelters, transportation, and local support.
Search FindhelpGovernment benefits
Check possible benefit categories before assuming there is no help available.
Use Benefit FinderMedicaid, CHIP, and coverage
Reach state Medicaid and CHIP contacts or get local marketplace application help.
Find Medicaid contactsFree Medicare counseling
SHIP provides free, local Medicare counseling for people with Medicare and their families.
Find SHIP helpSocial Security offices
Find local offices and benefit information by address, city, state, or ZIP code.
Find an SSA officeFAFSA and college help
Start with federal student aid and compare colleges using public Department of Education data.
Open FAFSAHead Start locator
Search for Head Start and Early Head Start programs by ZIP code, city, or state.
Find Head StartFree legal aid
Find legal aid organizations and free civil legal help starting points by location.
Find legal aidInternet and phone help
Check Lifeline and low-cost internet options that may reduce monthly connection costs.
Check LifelineJob scam warnings
Learn the warning signs before sending money, personal information, or banking details.
Read FTC guidanceFree business mentoring
Find free mentors, local SBA assistance, and small-business learning tools.
Open SCOREOne page. Many starting points.
The Little Lift is made to be shared. A neighbor, parent, student, worker, caregiver, or friend can open it and find a place to begin.
Help keep The Little Lift free.
The guide is free for everyone. Support is optional and helps keep the resource list available, updated, and easy to share.
Use it free
$0
Open the guide whenever you need a place to start.
- No account required
- No judgment
- Share with anyone
Founding Keeper
$6 / year
A small yearly gift that helps keep the guide free.
- Monthly impact note
- Optional thank-you listing
- Suggest future guides
Chip in any amount
$1+
Send a one-time note if the guide helped and you want to support it.
- Any amount
- No pressure
- Support only if you can
Helper or Builder
$2-$5 / month
Helps fund resource updates, guides, captions, and outreach.
- Supporter updates
- Guide topic suggestions
- Optional recognition
Sponsor a Help Pack
$25+ / pack
Help fund a focused guide for job seekers, parents, students, seniors, caregivers, small business owners, or people searching for basic needs.
- Optional public thank-you
- Guide category support
- Simple impact note
Community Sponsor
$100+ / month or event
For small businesses, faith groups, community groups, and local organizations that want to help keep useful directions free.
- Optional sponsor wall listing
- Community guide support
- Clear sponsor disclosure
Get the free weekly list.
One simple email with useful resources, scripts, scam warnings, and starting points people can share.
The Little Lift shares starting points and general information. It does not decide eligibility, provide case management, or replace advice from qualified legal, medical, financial, school, or government professionals.