If a bill you can't pay this month is putting your housing, power, or transportation at risk, you are not alone — and asking for help is not a failure. Emergency grants and national programs exist specifically for veterans in exactly this situation.
Emergency aid is paused right now — but you have other options
Wounded Warriors is a small, veteran-run 501(c)(3). We've committed our entire current emergency-aid budget to the veterans already in our queue, and our next funding cycle opens in Q4 2026. We'd rather be straight with you than leave you waiting on a reply that can't come yet.
Please don't wait on us. The organizations below help with the same bills — rent, utilities, medical, transportation — and several move faster than we can. Apply to more than one; there's no penalty, and the fastest "yes" wins.
Applications reopen in Q4 2026. You're welcome to check back then.
In crisis or thinking about hurting yourself? Call 988 then Press 1 (Veterans Crisis Line) or text 838255 — free, confidential, 24/7, no VA enrollment needed.
Get help today
National emergency funds for veterans
Operation Homefront — 1-877-264-3968Emergency grants paid straight to your landlord, utility, or mechanic for rent, mortgage, utilities, and repairs. All branches, any era — veterans and active-duty.
USA Cares — 1-800-773-0387Emergency grants for rent, mortgage, and utilities, paid to your creditor. All branches and eras; veterans and active-duty.
Semper Fi & America's Fund — 760-725-3680Case-managed financial help for veterans and service members who are combat-wounded, critically ill, or seriously injured. All branches.
VFW Unmet Needs — 1-866-789-6333Grants up to $2,500 for basic needs. Note: geared to active-duty and activated Guard/Reserve — confirm eligibility if you separated long ago.
Army Emergency Relief (AER) — 1-866-878-6378For the Army community — active, retired, and Guard/Reserve on Title 10 orders, plus families. Grants and zero-interest loans for rent, utilities, and more.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society — 703-696-4904For Sailors and Marines — active, retired, families, and surviving spouses. Interest-free loans and grants for rent, utilities, car repair, and food.
211 (dial 2-1-1) →Free 24/7 referral line run by United Way — connects you to local emergency rent, utility, food, and transportation funds in your area. Often the fastest first call.
Benefits.gov benefit finder →Official US government screener — answer a few questions and see every federal assistance program you may qualify for.
Find local help by ZIP
Our open directory holds 144,800+ verified veteran resources nationwide. Search everything near you by ZIP code, or jump straight to the most relevant finders:
Your state likely runs its own veteran assistance programs on top of the federal ones — see our state guides (for example, Texas) for all 50 states + DC + 5 territories.
Common questions
Who is eligible for emergency financial assistance from Wounded Warriors?
US military veterans of any era and any branch, with a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. Active-duty servicemembers in their last 6 months of transition, National Guard and Reserve members who served, and surviving spouses with DIC eligibility also qualify. We do not require a VA disability rating.
What documents do I need to apply?
The bill or notice itself — vendor name, dollar amount, and due date. If approved, we may ask for your DD-214 to verify service. We never ask for your personal bank account; aid goes directly to the vendor.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No. Applying is free, and approved aid is a grant — not a loan — so you never repay it. No legitimate veteran charity charges an application fee.
