Additional Resources
Hart, Franklin, and Elbert Counties, Georgia
Note: Call before relying on the information below. Hours, eligibility, funding, waiting lists, and program availability can change. Rainbow Pantry provides this information as a community resource and does not administer these programs. All these programs are operated by independent organizations.
HOUSING, RENT, AND HOMELESS ASSISTANCE
NDO Housing Programs
Phone: 1-800-822-0179
Website: https://www.ndo.org/services/housing-programs/
Offers: Rental assistance, homelessness prevention/rehousing, and housing-related case management for eligible households.
Service area: Current NDO information lists Hart, Franklin, and Elbert Counties.
Note: Assistance is subject to program rules and available funding.
Elberton Housing Authority
Address: 410 Elbert Street, Elberton, GA 30635
Phone: 706-283-5801
Website: https://elbertonha.org/
Offers: Public housing and housing assistance. Contact the authority for current applications and waiting-list information.
City of Hartwell Housing Authority
Phone: 706-376-3153
Website: https://hart.gafcp.org/resources/
Offers: Public housing and housing assistance.
Note: Call to verify the current office location and application information.
Lavonia Housing Authority
Address: 13032 Jones Street, Lavonia, GA 30553
Phone: 706-356-8224
Website: https://lavoniahousing.com/
Offers: Public housing and housing assistance for the Lavonia/Franklin County area.
Georgia Housing Search
Phone: 844-249-8369
Website: https://www.georgiahousingsearch.org/
Offers: Statewide rental-housing search and housing information.
EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Hart Interdenominational Ministries (HIM) — Hart County
Address: 130 East Howell Street, Hartwell, GA 30643
Phone: 706-377-4446
Website: https://hart.gafcp.org/resources/
Offers: Emergency assistance for essential needs, including rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, and life-sustaining prescription medication, subject to eligibility and available funds.
Note: Call first to verify current funding and requirements.
Salvation Army — Elberton Service Center
Address: 262 N. McIntosh Street, Elberton, GA
Phone: 706-283-1804
Offers: Food assistance, utility assistance, limited mortgage/rental assistance, prescription medication help, clothing, and family/social services.
Note: Call first to verify current hours, eligibility, and available assistance.
VETERANS SERVICES
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Benefits phone: 800-827-1000
Health care phone: 877-222-8387
Website: https://www.va.gov/
Offers: VA health care, benefits, claims assistance, and other services for veterans.
Veterans Crisis Line
Phone: 988, then press 1
Website: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Offers: Confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, and their families.
TRANSPORTATION
Hart County Public Transit
Address: 139 Clay Street, Hartwell, GA 30643
Phone: 706-376-3975
Website: https://hartcountyga.gov/publictransit.html
Offers: Low-cost transportation for Hart County residents, including transportation for medical trips.
Note: Call for current fares, routes, eligibility, and reservation requirements.
Elbert Transpo
Service area: Elbert County, Georgia
Website: https://www.elbertpartnersforhealth.org/resources
Offers: Public transportation for Elbert County residents. Reservations are required.
Note: Call the county transportation service for current scheduling and reservation information.
Georgia Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Website: https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/all-programs/non-emergency-medical-transportation
Offers: Transportation to covered medical services for eligible Medicaid members.
Note: Transportation normally must be scheduled in advance. Contact Medicaid/NEMT for current scheduling procedures.
SENIOR SERVICES
Hart County Senior Center
Address: 139 Clay Street, Hartwell, GA 30643
Phone: 706-376-3975
Website: https://hartcountyga.gov/seniorcenter.html
Offers: Senior programs, activities, nutrition services, and Meals on Wheels for eligible homebound older adults.
Franklin County Senior Center
Address: 141 Athens Street, Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: 706-384-2483
Website: https://www.franklincountyga.gov/1399/Activities-Services-Programs
Offers: Senior activities, meals, transportation to and from the center, and home-delivered meals for eligible homebound older adults.
Elbert County Senior Center
Address: 1045 Mobley Hill Road, Elberton, GA 30635
Phone: 706-283-2033
Website: https://www.elbertpartnersforhealth.org/resources
Offers: Senior meals, activities, and related aging services.
Georgia Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC)
Phone: 866-552-4464
Website: https://aging.georgia.gov/adrc
Offers: Information and referrals for older adults and adults with disabilities, including transportation, meals, caregiver support, and other services.
HEATING, ELECTRIC, UTILITY, AND WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE
Ninth District Opportunity (NDO)
Phone: 1-800-822-0179
Website: https://www.ndo.org/
Offers: LIHEAP heating assistance, crisis utility assistance, housing assistance, community services, weatherization, employment counseling, education referrals, and other support.
Suggested use: Contact NDO first to determine which energy or housing program currently has funding and whether the household qualifies.
NDO — Hart County Community Resource Center
Address: 500 Richardson Street, Hartwell, GA 30643
Phone: 706-376-4150
Website: https://www.ndo.org/area/hart/
Offers: Heating assistance, community services, housing programs, and related resource coordination.
NDO — Franklin County Community Resource Center
Address: 6885 Highway 145, Carnesville, GA 30521
Phone: 706-384-3495
Website: https://www.ndo.org/area/franklin/
Offers: Heating assistance, community services, housing programs, weatherization, and related resource coordination.
NDO — Elbert County
Phone: 706-376-4150
Email: elbert@ndocsbg.org
Website: https://www.ndo.org/area/elbert/
Offers: Heating assistance, housing programs, weatherization, and homeless assistance.
Note: Call before traveling because appointment locations and program availability can change.
Ninth District Opportunity — Weatherization
Phone: 1-800-822-0179
Website: https://www.ndo.org/services/weatherization/
Offers: Energy audits and, for eligible households, improvements such as insulation, air-leak sealing, window repair, minor repairs, smoke/CO detectors, LED lighting, heating/cooling repairs or replacement, and refrigerator replacement.
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Georgia CAPS Childcare Assistance
Phone: 877-423-4746
Website: https://gateway.ga.gov/
Offers: Childcare assistance for eligible families.
Suggested use: Applications are handled through Georgia Gateway.
Ninth District Opportunity Head Start / Georgia Pre-K
Address: Franklin Head Start / Pre-K, 84 Hartwell Road, Lavonia, GA 30553
Phone: 706-356-3546
Website: https://www.ndo.org/area/franklin/
Offers: Early-childhood education and Head Start/Pre-K services in the region.
Community Partnership of Elbert County
Address: 373 Campbell Street, Elberton, GA 30635
Phone: 706-283-8838
Website: https://www.elbertpartnersforhealth.org/resources
Offers: Family-support and community programs, including Family Connection and children's literacy resources.
GENERAL RESOURCE NAVIGATION
United Way of Northeast Georgia 211
Phone: Dial 211
Website: https://www.unitedwaynega.org/impact/211-2/
Offers: Free, confidential help finding local resources for food, housing, utilities, health care, clothing, employment, transportation, legal help, family services, and other needs.
Suggested use: A good first call when someone needs assistance but is not sure which agency or program can help.
GOVERNMENT BENEFITS — SNAP, MEDICAID, TANF, WIC, AND CHILDCARE
Georgia Gateway / Georgia Department of Human Services
Phone: 877-423-4746
Website: https://gateway.ga.gov/
Offers: Online access to SNAP (Food Stamps), Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, TANF, WIC, CAPS childcare assistance, and other Georgia benefits.
Suggested use: Applications, renewals, document uploads, and case information can be handled through Georgia Gateway.
Hart County DFCS
Address: 267 East Johnson Street, Hartwell, GA 30643
Phone: 706-856-2740
Website: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
Offers: Local access to SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and other DFCS services.
Franklin County DFCS
Address: 187 Clear Creek Parkway, Lavonia, GA 30553
Phone: 706-356-0251
Website: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
Offers: Local access to SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and other DFCS services.
Elbert County DFCS
Address: 45 Forest Avenue, Elberton, GA 30635
Phone: 706-213-2001
Website: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
Offers: Local access to SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and other DFCS services.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Georgia Legal Services Program
Phone: 1-833-457-7529
Website: https://www.glsp.org/
Offers: Free civil legal assistance for qualifying low-income households, including housing, eviction prevention, public benefits, and family-law matters.
Elderly Legal Assistance Program
Phone: 866-552-4464
Website: https://aging.georgia.gov/tools-resources/elderly-legal-assistance-program
Offers: Free legal assistance for Georgia residents age 60 and older.
Suggested use: Ask the Aging & Disability Resource Connection about the local legal-services provider serving the caller's county.
EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, AND JOB TRAINING
WorkSource Georgia
Website: https://worksourcegaportal.com/
Offers: Employment services, job search assistance, workforce training, and other services for eligible workers and job seekers.
Suggested use: Useful for someone who needs help finding work or training for a new job.
Ninth District Opportunity — Employment & Education Services
Phone: 1-800-822-0179
Website: https://www.ndo.org/services/community-services/
Offers: Employment counseling, education counseling/referrals, and other services intended to help households overcome barriers to self-sufficiency.
OTHER RESOURCE FINDERS
Benefits.gov — Benefit Finder
Website: https://www.benefits.gov/
Offers: Federal benefit screening and information for programs involving food, housing, health care, and other needs.
Georgia 211 / United Way of Northeast Georgia
Phone: Dial 211
Website: https://www.unitedwaynega.org/impact/211-2/
Offers: Local resource navigation when a person needs help that is not covered by the specific listings on this page.