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Plainfield Local Assistance Programs

This page lists local organizations in Plainfield, New Jersey that provide free legal help, food and social services. Statewide programs are described on the New Jersey page.

Central Jersey Legal ServicesFree civil legal assistance
Websitecentraljerseylegalservices.org
Phone908-354-4340
Address60 Prince Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07208

Central Jersey Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents of Union, Middlesex, and Mercer Counties, including help with housing, family matters, domestic violence, and public benefits. Its Union County office is in Elizabeth. Call the office or apply online.1

Community Health Law ProjectFree legal help for people with disabilities
Websitechlp.org
Phone908-355-8282
Address65 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 402, Elizabeth, NJ 07201

The Community Health Law Project provides free legal help and advocacy to low-income New Jersey residents with disabilities and to frail elderly residents, including help with health care, housing, and public benefits.2

Food

The Salvation Army, Plainfield CorpsFood pantry and soup kitchen
Websitesalvationarmyusa.org
Phone(908) 756-2595
Address615 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
HoursOffice Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM; call for pantry and soup kitchen hours

The Salvation Army Plainfield Corps runs a food pantry and a soup kitchen at its Watchung Avenue location. Pantry and kitchen hours change through the year. Call ahead to confirm the current schedule.3

Starfish Food PantryFood pantry for Plainfield families
Websitestarfishplainfield.org
Phone(908) 755-8888
Address631 East Front Street, Plainfield, NJ 07060
HoursTuesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Starfish Food Pantry gives out grocery orders to Plainfield families in need. It runs on referrals from Plainfield agencies. Call ahead to confirm hours and what to bring.4

Social services

Plainfield Action ServicesRent, utility, and food assistance
Websiteplainfieldnj.gov
Phone(908) 753-3519
Address510 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
HoursMonday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Plainfield Action Services is the city’s community action agency. It offers help with rent, utilities, and food to low-income Plainfield residents, plus referrals to other programs. Call for an appointment.5

HomeFirst Interfaith Housing and Family ServicesHousing and homeless services
Websitehomefirstinc.org
Phone(908) 753-4001
Address1009 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
HoursMonday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

HomeFirst Interfaith Housing and Family Services helps people facing homelessness in Union County. It runs transitional housing, emergency shelter through local congregations, and rent and utility help. Call to ask about current openings and eligibility.6

Sources & notes
Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:

Footnotes

  1. Central Jersey Legal Services, Home page. Elizabeth office address and phone from Central Jersey Legal Services, Unsafe housing conditions, and WomensLaw.org, Legal Assistance: New Jersey. ↩

  2. Community Health Law Project, CHLP Contact. ↩

  3. The Salvation Army, Plainfield Corps. Pantry and soup kitchen hours vary across sources. The Union County Department of Human Services, 2026 Resource Guide, lists pantry hours Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, while other county listings give Tuesday to Thursday. Call ahead to confirm. ↩

  4. Starfish Food Pantry, Home page. Phone and mission from Starfish, April 2026 newsletter. Hours from the Union County Department of Human Services, 2026 Resource Guide. ↩

  5. City of Plainfield, Plainfield Action Services. ↩

  6. HomeFirst Interfaith Housing and Family Services, Home page. Address and phone from the Union County Resource Guide, Union County Resource Guide, and RentAssistance.org, Homefirst Interfaith Housing and Family Services. Older sources list a former address at 905 Watchung Avenue. ↩

  1. Toms River Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  2. Trenton Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  3. Union City Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  4. Vineland Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  5. West New York Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  6. Woodbridge Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  7. Bayonne Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  8. Camden Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  9. Clifton Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.
  10. East Orange Local Assistance Programs, New Jersey.

About this information

SingleMotherGuide.com is an independent state-by-state reference guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Program amounts and income limits are compiled from official federal and state sources, which are cited on the page, and are reviewed periodically and updated as those sources change.

The information is provided for general guidance and is not legal or financial advice. The administering agency makes the final determination of eligibility and benefit amounts. To report an error, please contact us.

Data freshness

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may change; refer to the cited sources for the most current information.

Last updated
Updated by
Ada Hu
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