Gas and Heating Bill Help in Jefferson County, AL

LIHEAP Crisis

Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama

Federal energy help paid straight to the power or gas company. Crisis help is for households facing a shutoff. Book the appointment first; the application is done at the appointment.

Who

Income at or under 150% of the federal poverty level. Heating season: Oct 1 – Apr 30.

Amount

Winter crisis was up to $1,100 last season

Email

communityactionagency@caaneal.org

Good to know

JCCEO no longer runs LIHEAP in Jefferson County. Send people here.

Bring

• Photo ID of the applicant
• Social Security cards for everyone in the home
• Last month's income proof for every adult over 18
• Utility bill in the applicant's name

AIDS Alabama

Emergency utility assistance.

Who

Household with an HIV+ member, within 300% of the federal poverty level, with an open AIDS Alabama case file

Urban Ministry

Help with past-due utility bills, rent and prescriptions, plus the WE Cafe pay-as-you-can hot lunch weekdays 11:30-1:30. The largest Project SHARE intake site in Birmingham.

Who

Low-income Jefferson County residents. Project SHARE help is for 60+ or disabled.

Where

1229 Cotton Ave SW, Birmingham 35211 (West End)

Good to know

Does not cover disconnect fees or phone bills.

American Red Cross

Birmingham chapter

Emergency help with utilities and rent for low-income residents, plus food and clothing.

Who

Low-income Birmingham-area residents

Where

114 22nd St S, Birmingham

Bridge Ministries

One-time emergency help with utilities, eviction prevention and deposits for people leaving shelters.

Who

Homeless or low-income City of Birmingham residents

Where

1016 19th St S, Birmingham 35205 (Southside Baptist Church)

Good to know

By appointment; bridgereferral@gmail.com. Confirm it is still running in 2026.

Catholic Center of Concern - Birmingham

Food, clothing, furniture and financial help; Mon-Thu from 8:30am, first come first served.

Who

Low-income individuals and families regardless of religion; call for intake.

Where

712 4th Ct W, Birmingham 35204

Good to know

Hours per UAB EEAP community resources page.

Eastern Area Christian Ministries

Food, clothing, diapers and utility assistance.

Who

Eastern Birmingham-area residents

Where

8000 2nd Ave S, Birmingham 35206

Good to know

Utility help is limited in how often a household can receive it.

Greater Birmingham Ministries

Help with utilities, medications and housing costs, a clothes closet, and a drive-up food day.

Who

Household income up to $37,010 a year; once per year

Where

2304 12th Ave N, Birmingham 35234

Email

info@gbm.org

Good to know

Financial help: call (205) 419-1817 at 9 AM on the first Wednesday of the month (not Jul, Dec or Jan); about 16 households a month. Photo ID for food.

Independent Presbyterian Church

outreach

Help with utility bills and prescriptions.

Who

Birmingham-area residents in need

Where

3100 Highland Ave, Birmingham 35205

Metro West Ministries

Financial help for western Birmingham metro residents, plus a food pantry Wednesdays 9 AM-12 PM.

Who

West Jefferson County residents

Where

4912 Lloyd Noland Pkwy, Fairfield 35064

Renew Birmingham

Utility and rent help, home and vehicle repair, lawn care.

Who

Residents of Ensley, Ensley Highlands, Tuxedo and Wylam only

Where

1801 Avenue H, Birmingham 35218

Email

info@renewbham.org

Salvation Army Bessemer

Utility and food assistance to qualified applicants, by appointment.

Who

Western Jefferson County residents

Where

525 13th St, Bessemer 35020

Good to know

Number is the Birmingham command line; ask for a Bessemer appointment.

Salvation Army emergency assistance

Greater Birmingham Area Command

Emergency help with utility bills and, when funds allow, rent or mortgage. Also runs the H2O and Project SHARE programs.

Who

Jefferson County residents who can show financial need

Where

2015 26th Ave N, Birmingham 35234

Serving You Ministries utility help

Utility bill help by appointment, Tue-Thu 9-1 and 1st Saturday.

Who

No utility help in past 6 months; proof of job or job loss; service must still be on

Where

6523 1st Ave N, Birmingham 35206

Good to know

Social Security income alone doesn't qualify.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Greater Birmingham Council

SVdP

Council of parish conferences in Jefferson County offering rent/mortgage, utility, deposit, medicine and food help when funds allow; usually a home visit.

Who

Low-income people living in the conference's parish ZIP area; usually a phone intake then home visit; limited funds.

Where

3633 Gray Ave, Adamsville 35005

Good to know

Phone is a referral number from needhelppayingbills.com, not confirmed by SVdP; address from GoFundMe charity record. Conferences named elsewhere: St. Mark the Evangelist (Birmingham), Holy Infant of Prague (Trussville).

SVdP - St. Mark the Evangelist Conference (Birmingham)

SVdP

Eviction prevention: rent/mortgage, utility, food and medicine help after a home visit; veterans special projects.

Who

Low-income people living in the conference's parish ZIP area; usually a phone intake then home visit; limited funds.

Good to know

Mailing: P.O. Box 380396, Birmingham 35238.

The Salvation Army Bessemer Corps / Service Center

Emergency assistance and Project SHARE power-bill help for western Jefferson County; call for hours.

Who

Low-income households in crisis in the service area; ID, proof of address/income and the past-due bill or lease usually required; aid depends on available funds.

Where

525 13th St N, Bessemer 35020

Good to know

Listed by Project SHARE as a Jefferson County servicing agency. Directory gives no county list; Bessemer/west Jefferson assumed.

The Salvation Army Birmingham Area Command (Social Services)

Salvation Army Birmingham

Emergency rent, mortgage and utility help plus Project SHARE power-bill help; social services Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:00pm.

Who

Low-income households in crisis in the service area; ID, proof of address/income and the past-due bill or lease usually required; aid depends on available funds.

Where

2015 26th Ave N, Birmingham 35234

Good to know

Counties from Salvation Army ALM division location directory (salvationarmyusa.org/usa-southern-territory/alabama-louisiana-and-mississippi/location-directory/). Birmingham 614 Corps at same address: (205) 252-6616.

Alabama Public Service Commission - utility complaints & disconnect rules

Takes complaints about PSC-regulated utilities (Alabama Power, Spire); PSC General Rule 12(E) requires termination rules giving special consideration when life/health is threatened or for age/handicap.

Who

Customers of investor-owned utilities (not co-ops, municipal or most water boards).

Good to know

Rule 12(E) summary from LIHEAP Clearinghouse vulnerable-population disconnect page (liheapch.ncat.org/node/2812). PSC phone not verified here - see website.

Weatherization

Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama

Free home energy upgrades like insulation and air sealing that lower bills going forward.

Who

Income at or under 200% of the federal poverty level

Email

communityactionagency@caaneal.org

ABC Trust energy help

Alabama Business Charitable Trust (Alabama Power)

Emergency help with energy bills, given out through the county LIHEAP agency.

Who

Low-income households or those in temporary hardship

Public Service Commission consumer complaints

Alabama Public Service Commission

Takes complaints about regulated power, gas, water and phone utilities after the customer has tried the utility.

Who

Customers of PSC-regulated utilities

Spire Alabama assistance

Spire Alabama (natural gas)

Waives the monthly charge for SSI households, DollarHelp toward gas bills, payment plans and budget billing.

Who

Spire customers; SSI households for the waiver; up to 300% of poverty for DollarHelp

United Way 2-1-1

Free, 24/7 referral line. Finds the smaller church and community funds near their address that open up week to week. Also 1-888-421-1266, or text a ZIP code to 898-211.

Who

Anyone