Assistance Center of Collin County: Hours, Location, and Services
Are you behind on rent or worried about a utility shutoff in Collin County? That kind of stress doesn't wait for a convenient time, and figuring out where to turn can feel just as overwhelming as the bill itself.
The Assistance Center of Collin County (ACCC) is the county's main nonprofit hub for short-term rent, utility, and crisis support. This guide walks through exactly who ACCC helps, how its application process actually works in 2026, and what to check before you count on it.
Quick Answer: ACCC provides rent assistance, utility assistance, and referral services to Collin County residents in a financial crisis. Reach the assistance line at 972-422-1850. As of 2026, applications for rent and utility help are submitted online only — walk-ins are not accepted for financial assistance. The office is at 900 18th St., Plano, TX 75074.
Services at a Glance
ACCC bundles several programs under one roof. Here's a quick recap of what's currently active, so you can figure out which one matches your situation before reading further.
| Service | What It Covers | How to Access It (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent Assistance (CMTX) | Short-term help preventing eviction for Collin County renters | Online CMTX application only — no walk-ins |
| Plano Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) | Rent-related help specifically for City of Plano residents at risk of homelessness | Online HPP assessment — currently closed until October 1, 2026 |
| Utility Assistance | Help with an overdue utility bill for eligible households | Online application only — no walk-ins |
| Information & Referral | Connects callers to other local, county, or state resources | Call 972-422-1850 |
| Tools for School | Free backpacks and school supplies, Pre-K through Grade 12 | Register online for an appointment; pickup event held each August |
| Hope for the Holidays | Seasonal support for eligible low-income families during the holidays | Details announced each fall |
| Help Thy Neighbor | A pay-it-forward program for households previously approved for rent or utility help | Offered automatically after approval, not a stand-alone application |
| Computer & Resources Center | Computers, internet, and printing for job or benefit applications | Available during regular office hours |
What the Assistance Center of Collin County Actually Does
ACCC is a Plano-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, not a government office. It was founded in 1977 as the Information and Referral Center of Collin County, established by Senator Florence Shapiro and other local community leaders. Its mission today is to prevent homelessness and poverty by combining short-term financial assistance with referrals and financial-stability education.
This distinction matters more than it might seem. ACCC is not a place where anyone can walk in and receive same-day cash. Every financial-assistance program runs through a documented online application, funding is limited, and eligibility is reviewed case by case rather than guaranteed.
๐ Insider Tip for Collin County Residents: Because ACCC's rental and utility funds run on a limited monthly budget, applying as soon as you know you're at risk — rather than waiting until a shutoff or eviction notice arrives — gives you a better chance of being reviewed before that month's funding is committed.
Contact Numbers, Hours, and Location
ACCC uses two separate phone lines, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes first-time callers make.
| Contact / Location Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Assistance Hotline (for new requests) | 972-422-1850 |
| Administrative Office | 972-422-1125 |
| Street Address | 900 18th St., Plano, TX 75074 |
| Call Center Hours | Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (Fridays: scheduled appointments only) |
| Lobby Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Service Area | Collin County, TX residents (HPP is Plano-only) |
Eligibility at a Glance
To be considered for rent or utility assistance, you generally need to: live in Collin County, be experiencing a documented financial hardship, and be able to provide ID, proof of residency, proof of income, and hardship documentation for every adult in the household. There's no published income chart — ACCC reviews each application individually against current funding and program guidelines.
Why You Can't Just Walk In Anymore
This is the detail that trips up the most Collin County residents right now. In earlier years, some ACCC programs allowed in-person visits to start an application.
Under the center's current 2026 process, that has changed: both the rent-assistance and utility-assistance pages state plainly that walk-in appointments are not accepted for financial assistance. Every application starts online, through a dedicated form, before any appointment is scheduled.
⚠️ Important Note: Visiting the Plano lobby during open hours does not mean you can submit a rent or utility application in person. Complete the online form first — a case manager will follow up if you're eligible or if anything is missing.
Step 1: Understand the Rental Assistance (CMTX) Process
ACCC's main rent-assistance program is run through a portal called CMTX. The steps are the same every cycle, but the portal doesn't stay open year-round.
- Complete the online CMTX application through ACCC's JotForm portal
- Upload every required document, including current bank statements
- Submit the application for review
- Wait for a case manager to follow up if you're eligible or if more information is needed
⚠️ Timely Update (August 2026): As of this writing, the CMTX rental-assistance portal is temporarily closed for the month of August. Residents seeking help for September rent are asked to confirm their landlord will accept ACH direct deposit through ACCC's third-party vendor, then call 972-422-1850 during the week of August 18th to schedule a September appointment. Portal status can change, so confirm current availability before assuming the portal is open.
Incomplete applications are automatically declined, so it's worth double-checking every upload before submitting rather than rushing to beat a deadline. A missing bank statement or an ID for one household member is enough to send the whole application back to the start of the line.
Step 2: Know the Difference Between Countywide Rent Help and the Plano HPP
Collin County residents sometimes confuse ACCC's general rental assistance with the City of Plano's Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP). They are not the same program.
| Program | Who Qualifies | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| CMTX Rental Assistance | Eligible Collin County residents, countywide | Portal temporarily closed for August 2026; reopening for September applications |
| Plano Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) | Eligible City of Plano residents at risk of homelessness only | Closed until October 1, 2026 |
If you live in Collin County but outside Plano city limits, the HPP was never an option for you in the first place — CMTX is the program to watch instead. If you do live in Plano, it's worth checking both, since HPP has its own online assessment and its own review timeline of roughly three to five business days.
Step 3: Apply for Utility Assistance the Right Way
Utility assistance follows a similar online-only process, separate from the rent-assistance portal.
- Confirm you live in Collin County and are facing a documented financial crisis
- Gather photo ID for all adult household members, proof of income, proof of residency, and a current utility bill
- Complete ACCC's utility-assistance application online
- Be ready to participate in a financial-stability plan, such as a budgeting workshop, if asked
๐ก EasySmart Tip for Collin County Residents: Keep a digital photo or scan of your most recent utility bill on your phone. Since the entire application happens online, having documents ready to upload immediately — rather than searching for a paper copy — can shave real time off the process.
Step 4: Gather Your Documents Before You Start
Because every program now runs through an online form rather than an in-person intake, having documents ready before you start typing saves you from losing your progress halfway through.
| Document | Why It's Needed |
|---|---|
| Photo ID (all adult household members) | Verifies identity and household size |
| Proof of residency | Confirms you live in Collin County |
| Proof of household income | Used to evaluate financial circumstances |
| Current lease agreement (rent applications) | Confirms your housing situation and rent amount |
| Current utility bill (utility applications) | Confirms the account and amount owed |
| Bank statements | Required upload for CMTX rental applications |
| Hardship documentation | Explains the specific crisis (shutoff notice, eviction notice, job-loss letter, etc.) |
Other Programs Worth Knowing About
Beyond emergency rent and utility support, ACCC runs several community programs on a seasonal or ongoing basis.
Tools for School
Run in partnership with Resurrection Lutheran Church and sponsored by ATMOS Energy, Tools for School provides free backpacks and school supplies to students from Pre-K through Grade 12. Families must live in Collin County, have a child entering Pre-K through Grade 12, and register online for an appointment in advance — this isn't a walk-up giveaway.
Applicants may need documents. Bring photo ID for adults, birth certificates for the children, a current utility bill for proof of residency, and either a SNAP award letter, proof of free or reduced-price school meals, or your last three paycheck stubs if you have neither.
Hope for the Holidays
This seasonal program supports eligible low-income Collin County families during the holidays, using similar documentation requirements to Tools for School. As of this writing, ACCC has not released full 2026 details — those are typically announced each fall, so check back closer to the season rather than relying on last year's dates.
Help Thy Neighbor
This is a detail many residents don't discover until after they've already been approved for help. Once a household is approved for rent or utility assistance, ACCC invites them to "pay it forward" by donating ten items from a quarterly wish list — homeless essentials in Q1, school supplies in Q2, food-drive items in Q3, and holiday gifts for teens in Q4. It's optional, not a condition of receiving assistance, but it's part of how ACCC keeps its other seasonal programs stocked.
Computer & Resources Center
ACCC also offers computer access, internet, and printing/copying for clients working on job searches or online benefit applications, available during regular office hours. Since this runs on staff availability, calling ahead to confirm current access is worth the extra step.
What Do Reviews Say About the Assistance Center?
Across aggregated public reviews, ACCC holds roughly a 3.9-out-of-5 rating from over 100 reviewers — solidly in "mostly positive, with real frustration at the edges" territory rather than either extreme. Positive reviews consistently describe staff as caring and easy to work with, and several reviewers say the help they received made a genuine difference during a hard month. Negative reviews cluster around a smaller, recurring complaint: callers who expect guaranteed funding and are told the current month's budget is already committed, or who are surprised that a program they expected to handle in person is online-only.
๐ก EasySmart Tip for Collin County Residents: Most of the frustration in negative reviews traces back to funding limits and the online-only process, not the quality of help once someone gets through. Confirming current portal status and funding availability by phone before you start an application can save you a wasted trip or a denied submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I walk in to apply for rent or utility assistance?
A: No. As of 2026, ACCC does not accept walk-in appointments for financial assistance. Both rent and utility applications must be started online before any appointment is scheduled.
Q: Is the CMTX rental assistance portal open right now?
A: Portal availability changes month to month based on funding. As of this writing, it's temporarily closed for August 2026, with September applications scheduled by phone starting the week of August 18th — call 972-422-1850 to confirm current status before assuming it's open.
Q: What's the difference between ACCC's rent assistance and Plano's HPP?
A: ACCC's CMTX program serves eligible Collin County residents countywide, while the Plano Homelessness Prevention Program is limited to City of Plano residents at risk of homelessness and is currently closed until October 1, 2026.
Q: Is the Assistance Center of Collin County a government agency?
A: No. It's an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that works alongside government programs and other local agencies rather than being run by the county or state.
Q: What documents do I need for Tools for School?
A: Bring photo ID for adults, birth certificates for the children, a current utility bill, and either a SNAP award letter, proof of free/reduced-price school meals, or your last three paycheck stubs if you don't have either of the first two.
Q: Can I get help if I live outside Collin County?
A: ACCC's financial-assistance programs are limited to Collin County residents, but its Information & Referral line will still take your call and try to point you toward a closer resource.
Final Thoughts
The Assistance Center of Collin County can be a genuine bridge during a short-term financial crisis, but reaching the right program in 2026 starts with the online application, not a lobby visit.
Confirm current portal status by phone, gather your documents ahead of time, and apply as early in the funding cycle as you can. If a specific program isn't available right now, ACCC's referral line can often still point you toward another local or state resource that fits your situation.
Sources
Easy Smart Hub is an independent public-information resource, not affiliated with the Assistance Center of Collin County or any government agency. Program availability, eligibility rules, funding, and hours can change — always verify current requirements directly with the organization before applying or traveling to the office.
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