Guides
How to actually get help in New Hampshire
No jargon, no runaround. These are step-by-step guides for real situations — getting your first therapist, applying for Medicaid or disability, finding housing or food, and gathering the paperwork you need. If you've never done this before, start here.
You don't have to figure this out alone. Each guide walks you through it one step at a time, tells you what to have ready, and gives you the exact phone number or website to use. You can also call 211 any time to talk to a real person who can point you to help.
Start here — what do you need right now?
Pick what fits. Each one tells you what to do today and how a case manager can help.
“I need food”
Get food today from a pantry, and set up ongoing help with SNAP and WIC — plus what a case manager can do to help.
See what to do“I need housing”
What to do tonight if you have nowhere to stay, and how to get on housing and voucher waitlists — with case manager advocacy steps.
See what to do“I need help with my bills”
Fuel and electric assistance, shut-off help, and Community Action agencies — what you can do now and how a case manager helps.
See what to do“I need a doctor but can't afford it”
Apply for Medicaid, find a community health center with sliding-scale fees, and get care even with no insurance — plus case manager steps.
See what to do“I need mental health help”
Crisis vs. non-crisis paths, how to reach your community mental health center, and what to expect — with how a case manager can help.
See what to do“I need help with addiction”
The Doorway, medication treatment (MAT), peer recovery support, and Narcan — how to start today and how a case manager helps.
See what to do“I need dental care”
NH Medicaid dental (NH Smiles), sliding-scale clinics, low-cost cleanings, and help for kids, seniors, and people with disabilities — plus a plain-language guide to how dental insurance works.
See what to do“I need a ride to my appointment”
How to get a free Medicaid ride (NEMT) to appointments, which number to call for your health plan, mileage reimbursement when a friend drives, what to do when a ride fails, and options for people with disabilities.
See what to doDetailed step-by-step guides
Longer walkthroughs for when you're ready to apply or want the full picture.
Getting care
Starting mental health care when you've never done it before.
How to get a therapist for the first time
Never seen a therapist before? Here's exactly what to do, what to expect at the first visit, and the questions to ask.
Read guideHow to find a psychiatrist (and how that's different from a therapist)
Who prescribes medication, who does talk therapy, why psychiatry wait times are long, and how to get seen sooner in NH.
Read guideWhen someone you love refuses mental health help
What families can actually do — keeping the relationship alive, NH's involuntary emergency admission (IEA) process step by step, the ER wait, the hearing, and guardianship.
Read guideComing home after a psychiatric hospitalization
The first 24 hours, first week, and first month after leaving a psychiatric hospital — a two-track guide for you and for the family member helping you come home, plus a printable fridge card.
Read guideMoney & benefits
Health coverage and income support you may qualify for.
How to apply for Medicaid in New Hampshire
Step-by-step: who qualifies for Granite Advantage, what you need, and exactly how to fill out the NH EASY application.
Read guideHow to apply for disability benefits (SSDI & SSI)
The difference between SSDI and SSI, how to apply through Social Security, what medical records you need, and how long it takes.
Read guideHousing, food & utilities
The basics — a roof, food on the table, and the lights on.
How to find affordable housing in New Hampshire
Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and where to start when rent is too high — plus what to do if you're facing homelessness right now.
Read guideHow to get food today (and every week)
Food pantries, SNAP (food stamps), WIC, and free meals — how to find food near you now and set up ongoing help.
Read guideHow to get help paying your heat and electric bills
Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP), the Electric Assistance Program, and what to do if your power is about to be shut off.
Read guidePaperwork
The applications and documents that unlock everything else.
Common NH benefit & social service applications
A plain-language directory of the applications community mental health clients need most — what each is, who it's for, and how to apply.
Read guideHow to get the documents and proofs you need
Birth certificate, Social Security card, photo ID, proof of income, proof of address — how to get each one, what it costs, and how long it takes.
Read guideHelping someone who doesn't have email or internet?
Many people we serve don't have reliable email, a smartphone, or internet at home. Our guide for case managers covers how to receive and share documents by fax, mail, and phone, how to use authorized representatives, and template language for releasing information.
Read: Helping clients without emailIf you need help right now
Paperwork can wait. Call or text 988(Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or reach NH Rapid Response 24/7 at 833-710-6477. For any emergency, call 911.