A free directory of 1434 places to get help in and around Grant County, New Mexico: shelter, food, recovery, health care, benefits, legal help and more. Kept up to date by the Silver City Gospel Mission.
15 organizations, 18 services for Money and banking
Step-by-step help for your situation
Was scammed or had their identity stolenUse when someone lost money to a scam, someone used their name or card, or they are getting threatening calls about money.
Wants help making a budgetUse when someone wants to plan their money, keeps running out before the end of the month, or wants to save for rent, a deposit, a car or an emergency.
Volunteer: free tax preparer (AARP Tax-Aide)confirmed October 2026
Money and banking · Volunteering
Become an IRS-certified volunteer and prepare free tax returns for low- and moderate-income people, or help as a greeter (client facilitator) or computer helper.
Hours: Tax season, about February to April
Who it's for: No tax experience needed; free training and IRS certification each year (usually December-January). AARP membership not required.
Free in-person tax preparation (AARP Tax-Aide)confirmed October 2026
Money and banking · 1 miles from Silver City
Volunteers prepare federal and NM returns for free during tax season, including the NM low-income rebates and Working Families credit. Separate from the WNMU VITA site.
Free online tax filing with IRS-certified volunteer helpconfirmed October 2026
Money and banking
Free online tax filing with IRS backing. File with Help: a certified volunteer prepares your current and past-year returns (2023-2025) remotely. File Myself: free software with support. Helps people claim refunds and credits without an in-person site.
Who it's for: File with Help: household income up to $69,000. File Myself: income up to $89,000 (2026 season). Available in every state, including New Mexico.
Bring: Photo ID, Social Security cards or ITINs for everyone on the return, W-2s/1099s and other income forms; a phone and email.
Housing New Mexico (NM Mortgage Finance Authority)
First-time homebuyer loans and down payment helpconfirmed October 2026
Housing and rent help · Money and banking
FirstHome mortgage plus FirstDown (up to 4% of price) and FirstDown Plus ($10,000) down payment help through participating lenders; homebuyer education.
U.S. Small Business Administration - Office of Disaster Recovery
Low-interest disaster loans for homeowners and rentersconfirmed October 2026
Housing and rent help · Money and banking · Weather and disaster
After a declared disaster (fire, flood), homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair a primary home and renters/owners up to $100,000 for belongings. No payments or interest for the first 12 months.
Who it's for: Homeowners and renters whose primary home or belongings were damaged in a federally declared disaster area, for losses insurance did not cover. Not for second homes.
Bring: Insurance information, damage photos, income and ID information
Free credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnionnot yet confirmed: call first
Money and banking
The only official free credit report site. Anyone can check each of the 3 credit reports for free every week, online, by phone (mailed within 15 days) or by mail.
Free tax preparation (claim Earned Income and Working Families credits)confirmed October 2026
Benefits · Money and banking · 1 miles from Silver City
IRS-certified volunteers and WNMU business students prepare and e-file tax returns for free during tax season, helping people claim refunds and credits such as the EITC and NM Working Families Tax Credit, even with low income.
Benefits · Money and banking · 1 miles from Silver City
WNMU business students, IRS-certified through Tax Help New Mexico, prepare and e-file federal and NM returns for free, including credits like EITC and NM rebates that can bring cash to people with little income.
Fresh Start second-chance checking account (Bank On certified)confirmed October 2026
Money and banking · 1 miles from Silver City
Checking account for people turned down elsewhere because of a ChexSystems record. No overdraft or NSF fees, no minimum balance, debit card plus online/mobile banking. After 12 months in good standing the customer can move to regular products. Bank On cer
Free small business coaching and low-cost classesconfirmed October 2026
Jobs and training · Money and banking · 1 miles from Silver City
Free, confidential one-on-one business advising (in person, phone or Zoom) for new and existing small businesses, plus training and help finding loans. Serves Catron, Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties; offices in Silver City and Deming.
Small-dollar loans (payday-loan alternative)confirmed October 2026
Money and banking · 2 miles from Silver City
Member-owned credit union with a Silver City branch, listed by the New Mexicans for Fair Lending Coalition as making small loans under $1,000 at under 30% APR without requiring a credit score. A far cheaper option than storefront payday or title loans. Al
Clear Access Banking low-cost checkless account (Bank On certified)confirmed October 2026
Money and banking · 2 miles from Silver City
Checkless debit-card account with no overdraft fees (purchases that would overdraw are declined). Listed on the Bank On certified-account list. Good first account for cashing benefit or paychecks without check-cashing fees.
Grant County Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Board (claims administrator at Gila Regional Medical Center)
County indigent fund: pays hospital, ambulance and some doctor bills for low-incnot yet confirmed: call first
Medical care · Money and banking · 2 miles from Silver City
County fund that can pay hospital, ambulance (including air ambulance) and some doctor bills for low-income Grant County patients. Doctor bills are covered for life-threatening care at a sole community provider hospital.
Who it's for: Low-income Grant County residents with eligible hospital, ambulance or doctor bills. The patient or spouse applies; for a minor, the parent, guardian or bill guarantor; if the patient died, the executor or a relative. Income and other rules are in County Resolution 03-16.
Bring: Photo ID, Social Security number, proof of Grant County residence for the 90 days before care, most recent tax return/W-2 or other proof of income for the past 12 months, the hospital or ambulance bill.
Head of Family and Veteran property tax exemptionsconfirmed October 2026
Housing and rent help · Veterans · Money and banking · 4 miles from Silver City
Lowers your home's taxable value. Head of Family: up to $2,000 off for NM resident homeowners (apply once). Veterans: get a Certificate of Eligibility from NM Veterans Services, bring the ORIGINAL here. Disabled veterans may be fully exempt.
Where: 1400 Highway 180 East, Silver City, NM (map)
Who it's for: New Mexico resident who owns their home in Grant County (one Head of Family exemption per household, on primary residence). Veteran exemption: NM resident veterans or unmarried surviving spouses. Disabled veteran exemption: home occupied by the disabled veteran (up to 5 acres).
Bring: Photo ID, property account number; veterans bring original NMDVS Certificate of Eligibility (copies not accepted).
Property value freeze for low-income seniors (65+) and disabled homeownersconfirmed October 2026
Housing and rent help · Seniors and disability · Money and banking · 4 miles from Silver City
Freezes the assessed value of your home so property taxes do not climb from rising values. Apply within 30 days of the Notice of Value (usually mailed around May 1). Must be approved 3 years in a row to become permanent.
Where: 1400 Highway 180 East, Silver City, NM (map)
Who it's for: New Mexico resident homeowner age 65 or older, OR permanently disabled (Social Security or Workers' Comp determination), living in the home as primary residence (owner-occupied single-family home). For tax year 2026, prior-year household modified gross income must be under $44,200 (adjusted yearly).
Bring: Photo ID with birth date; property address/account number; prior-year NM PIT-1, PIT-RC and federal 1040 (or SS/SSI/VA benefit letters); proof of disability if under 65.
Some help people need still isn't available in Grant County, like inpatient detox, a local public defender office, and help applying for disability. See the list, and tell us if your organization can help fill one, or if you know of help we've missed.
📞 We need volunteers to keep this guide up to date
Phone numbers, hours and services change all the time. Volunteers call each place to make sure its listing is still right, so no one makes a trip for nothing. You can do it from home, on your own schedule. An hour a week makes a real difference.
For other organizations: this directory is free to use and share. Download the whole directory (spreadsheet, updated live).
Please credit the Silver City Gospel Mission, and remember that hours and services change: call ahead before sending someone.
Kept by the Silver City Gospel Mission · 111 S. Texas St., Silver City, NM 88061 · 575-388-5071 · Updated October 28, 2026.
Information comes from the providers themselves, public sources and our staff. It is offered as a help, not a guarantee; please call ahead.