Utility Assistance Programs
We want to help you avoid any utility disconnection. We're happy to set up a payment plan with you (call 515-239-5120), and we work with many different assistance programs listed below. Many of these programs also have volunteer and donation opportunities if you have the time, resources, and desire to help.
Utility Assistance Programs
If you are looking for assistance with your utility bill, the following are fantastic options:
Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) has several programs to help our community. They offer help with utilities (mostly electric and natural gas), housing, disaster assistance, and more. One of their programs, LIHEAP (Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program), helps keep the heat on during winter. For more information or to apply, you can visit their website, https://micaonline.org/, or call 515-956-3333.
Project Share
Project Share is a program that is established though the City of Ames to assist low-income customers with their wintertime electric bills. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program approved customers (through Mid-Iowa Community Action) may ask to be considered for help from the fund. The utility automatically applies funds to those in need. You may also, if you would like, choose to make a charitable donation towards Project Share. There are multiple ways to do so, including one-time or recurring donations alongside your utility bill. To do so, you may fill out an online form here.
Story County General Assistance serves as a centralized application process for different assistance groups, including Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance and The Salvation Army. They are able to process applications for both utility and housing assistance. For more information or to submit an application, you may visit their website, https://www.storycountyiowa.gov/94/General-Assistance, or call 515-663-2930.
Other Assistance
Mid-Iowa Community Action and Story County General Assistance have fantastic programs to assist with other needs beyond utilities, such as housing or rent assistance. A few more resources include:
Food at First is a local non-profit that offers free meals daily with no questions asked. They are located at 611 Clark Ave in Ames, right across from City Hall. To learn more, you may visit their website, https://foodatfirst.com/, or call 515-344-4357.
The Bridge Home helps people experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness, connecting housing and shelter options to those in need. The Bridge Home is located at 225 South Kellogg Ave in Ames. You may visit their website at https://www.thebridgehome.org/ or call 515-232-8075.
United Way of Story County partners with a multitude of different agencies, providing everything from childcare assistance, to immigration and refugee assistance, to transportation assistance, and much more. You may visit their website at https://uwstory.org/ or call 515-268-5142. Their physical location is 315 Clark Ave in Ames.
CyRide provides discounted fares for persons with a disability, Medicaid/Medicare cardholders, persons over 65 years of age, and K-12 students. Additionally, persons with disabilities may utilize CyRide's Dial-A-Ride ADA Paratransit service. You may learn more about CyRide's fares here, ADA Dial-A-Ride here, and may purchase CyRide tickets and passes at a multitude of locations, including in the Utility Customer Service office at City Hall (515 Clark Ave) and at CyRide (601 N University Blvd). A more limited option of tickets and passes may be purchased at the University Book Store at the ISU Memorial Union (2229 Lincoln Way) and at both HyVee locations (3800 Lincoln Way and 640 Lincoln Way).
The Ames Public Library offers many free or discounted services beyond checking out books and media. This includes free use of internet-connected computers, free wi-fi, free document scanning, printing for a small fee, free notary services, tax help, and more. For more information on the library's services, please contact 515-239-5646 or visit https://www.amespubliclibrary.org/.
If you don't know where to start, dial 211 for resource referrals, courtesy of United Way of Story County. Assistance is available in multiple languages.
If you are in active distress or crisis, please dial 988 for the Crisis Lifeline.
If you have an an emergency, dial 911.
Cortesía de United Way of Story County: "Marque 211 para referencsias de recursos. La asistencia está disponible en varios idiomas. En una emergencia, marque 911 para obtener ayuda."