Need help right now?911 Emergency988 Crisis line2-1-1 Local help800-799-7233 Domestic violence
HelpByState

Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Free help in Council Bluffs, Iowa

16 places in Council Bluffs, plus 9 that serve more than one town. Each listing shows the day we checked it, and anything we could not confirm says call first.

Food pantries and meals in Council Bluffs12

Council Bluffs

Care & Share Pantry Main St

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

Hours
Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Address
600 S Main St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Care & Share Pantry, 5th Ave

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

Hours
Monday and Thursday, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Address
1808 - 5th Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Community of Christ Food Pantry

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Photo ID / schedule individual appointment in 10min increments, TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Address
17 N 2nd St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

First Baptist Food Pantry

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Proof of residency, photo id, TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

Hours
Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Address
540 - 1st Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51502

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Kreft School Mobile

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Our Mobile Pantry Dates (4:30 pm, While Supplies Last ) 10/20/2026 11/17/2026 12/15/2026 1/19/2027 2/16/2027 3/16/2027 4/20/2027 5/18/2027 6/15/2027.

Hours
Tuesday, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM (last week of the month only)
Address
3206 Renner Dr, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Midwest Family Worship Center Pantry

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

Hours
Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Address
2540 6th Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Our Saviors Lutheran Pantry

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

Hours
Thursday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Friday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Address
313 Story St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Southside Helping Hands Pantry

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. TEFAP form if applicable (no ID required to receive USDA/TEFAP food).

Hours
Wednesday and Friday, 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Address
1919 S 10th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Together Iowa

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Some products may only be available to Iowa residents.

Hours
Monday and Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Address
830 N 14th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Trailblazers Mobile

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Our Mobile Pantry Dates (10:00 AM, while supplies last) 10/27/26 11/17/26 12/29/26 1/26/27 2/23/27 3/23/27 4/27/27 5/25/27 6/22/27.

Hours
Tuesday, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (last week of the month only)
Address
815 N 16th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs Public Schools Mobile

Food pantry, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner. Our Mobile Pantry Dates (4:00 pm, While Supplies Last) 10/13/2026 11/10/2026 12/8/2026 1/12/2027 2/9/2027 3/9/2027 4/13/2027 5/11/2027.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
3200 Avenue C, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Council Bluffs

Mohm's Place

Free meals, a Food Bank for the Heartland partner.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
1435 N 15th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the Food Bank for the Heartland at 402-331-1213.

Housing in Council Bluffs1

Council Bluffs

Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs

Public housing apartments and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
505 S 6th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. Office hours are not published. Call to ask about openings and the waiting list.

Health and dental in Council Bluffs3

Council Bluffs

All Care Health Center

Community health center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
902 S 6th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

Council Bluffs

Florence M. Lakin Health Center

Community health center run by All Care Health Center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
1415 Avenue J, Suite 2, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

Council Bluffs

New Visions Homeless Services

Community health center run by All Care Health Center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
1435 N 15th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

Also helps people in Council Bluffs9

These serve more than one town. Check each listing for who they serve.

Countywide

West Central Community Action

Community action agency for this county. Apply here for LIHEAP, the federal help with heating and electric bills, and ask about weatherization and other family programs. If you cannot reach them, call the Iowa HHS Community Action Agencies Unit at 515-776-8871.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
1408 "A" Hwy 44, Harlan, IA 51537

Call first. Hours are not listed. Call first to ask what help is open now and what to bring.

Checked October 9, 2026. Source: Iowa HHS Find a Community Action Agency page.Suggest an update
Statewide

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Free, confidential help for anyone hurt or threatened by a partner or family member: safety planning, shelter referrals and someone to talk to. Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at TheHotline.org. In an emergency, call 911.

Hours
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Statewide

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor any time, for a mental health crisis, thoughts of suicide or a substance use crisis. It is free and confidential. Veterans can press 1.

Hours
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Statewide

Veterans Crisis Line

Dial 988, then press 1. Or text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net. Free and confidential. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care.

Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day
Statewide

VA national phone lines

VA benefits: 800-827-1000. VA health benefits: 877-222-8387. Homeless veterans, open 24 hours: 877-424-3838. MyVA411, the main VA line, open 24 hours: 800-698-2411.

Hours
Benefits line, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern

Questions people ask in Council Bluffs

Where can I get free food in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

We have confirmed 12 places that can help in Council Bluffs: Care & Share Pantry Main St (Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM), call first; Care & Share Pantry, 5th Ave (Monday and Thursday, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM), call first; Community of Christ Food Pantry (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM), call first. 9 more are listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Where can I get help paying rent or a utility bill in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Council Bluffs: West Central Community Action, (712) 755-5135. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Where can I get housing help in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Council Bluffs: Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs, (712) 322-1491. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Where can I find a free or low-cost clinic in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Council Bluffs: All Care Health Center, (712) 325-1990, call first; Florence M. Lakin Health Center, (712) 388-4660, call first; New Visions Homeless Services, (712) 325-1990, call first. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Where can I get help with addiction or mental health in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Council Bluffs: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), 988; SAMHSA National Helpline (Open 24 hours a day, every day), (800) 662-4357. If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Where can I get help with veterans benefits in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Council Bluffs: Veterans Crisis Line (Open 24 hours a day, every day), 988; VA national phone lines (Benefits line, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern), (800) 827-1000. A veteran in crisis can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.

Where can I get free legal help in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Council Bluffs: Iowa Legal Aid, (800) 532-1275. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Something missing, or out of date?

If you run a pantry or program, or saw a listing that is wrong, tell us. We check every message against the organization's own page before anything changes.