Get help paying rent, including programs from charities and the government
Rental assistance is financial help that can be provided by the government, nonprofit organizations and charities. Assistance may come in the form of grant money, hardship funds, legal support or mediation with landlords or even long term rent payment programs that can help income qualified households. This page explains the main types of rent assistance, how they work, who they serve, and how to apply.
The exact type of rent relief available to a household depends on the source of funding, local program as well as the organizations application rules, and an applicant’s income as well as other circumstances. Some programs provide one-time help for past-due rent to help stop or delay an eviction. Other resources provide money to pay upcoming rent payments, while others offer ongoing support, placement into affordable housing, or they help with other related housing costs such as security deposits or moving expenses.
Rent payment assistance is administered at the local, state, and federal levels. In many cases federal government funds are often distributed through state and local agencies, such as nonprofits. Those organizations then manage eligibility, some up any waiting lists, and oversee the application processes.
- In addition to government funding, nonprofit organizations, churches and charities may operate their own rent assistance programs, using their own funds. Or they partner with government agencies to provide funding, referrals, and case-management services. In the programs that help pay rent that are available and the process on how to apply for them can vary significantly from one community to another.
Before applying for specific programs, it is useful to understand the main categories of rent assistance that exist and how they may apply to your housing situation. This includes short-term emergency help, longer-term income-based housing, eviction prevention services, legal aid, and a wide variety of other housing stabilization resources. Following the explanations below, you will find links to detailed information about specific organizations and programs.
Find local programs in your area
While this page explains how rent assistance works and the types of help that may be available, many programs are administered locally. To find rent assistance programs by city, county, or state, including contact details and application information, visit the rent assistance directory at https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/rental_assistance_near_you.html.
Many people struggling to keep up with the cost of housing. You can see what others are saying about rent assistance programs in our discussion forum - where people share experiences, hardships they face and tips.
Rental payment help from charities and non-profit organizations
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Dozens of national charities also have a local community presence and help people with paying rental expenses. They will also often provide referrals and other social services. Even if they do not have funding, staff from a charity often can provide information on how to apply for other resources, such as government grants or even cash loans for paying back rent on an apartment or house.
- Salvation Army social or family services are wide ranging. The Christian, faith based charity has limited funds to help pay back rent to stop an eviction, with money focused on single parents, low-income families, and seniors among others. Learn more about the Salvation Army rental assistance and in what instances they can help.
- Catholic Charities rental assistance programs are available. Much of the money to help with housing costs is for women fleeing domestic abuse, immigrants, the elderly, and working poor. There are various local applications/requirements with more details here on how to get Catholic Charities rent assistance.
- The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul provides rental assistance as well to people facing a crisis. Though funding is limited, many of the SVDP conferences offer temporary rent relief for a financial hardship after a home visit takes place - which is part of the application process. Find places to apply at for St. Vincent de Paul rent assistance.
Grant money to help with rent is offered from community action programs. These non-profits are located in every county, city and state. The staff can help tenants fill out applications to get funds for paying housing expenses, ranging from back rent, energy or electric bills, or more. Staff can also provide information on income-based affordable housing units. Call your local community action agency to get help finding and accessing programs.
Many churches also operate their own financial assistance programs, including offering one-time rent help. However many of these churches rely heavily on donations, including tithes, from the community and therefore tend to have very limited funding available. The churches also tend to focus on people in the immediate area. Learn more about faith based and church assistance programs, with a list of locations.
Housing First is a solution that combines money for paying rent, moving costs, lease application fees, and other costs along with a access to a permanent, affordable apartment to live in. The federal government, using agencies such as HUD, partners with states, charities, and landlords to offer this solution. The rental assistance as well as placement into permanent housing helps reduce homelessness in local communities. Learn more about Housing First programs.
Rent relief from local eviction prevention programs is available. This will help low-income renters facing an eviction or that have a notice from their property owner. The federal government, many local and state housing authorities as well as nonprofit organizations offer help. They can provide loans, grant money, free landlord-tenant mediation services, direct expedited rent payments and support. Continue to find details on all the services eviction prevention can provide.
Families with an eviction on their record due to unpaid rent or even utility bills often find it difficult to lease a new home or apartment. They often need assistance is trying to work through any legal issues or credit score challenges. Free tenant lawyers, along with non-profits, can provide help to people and offer everything from free advice on dealing with courts to resources that provide help for rent, deposits, and credit counseling. It is possible to get into a home, with details on the process of renting with a past eviction.
Some rental assistance programs are for emergency situations only. They can focus on extreme financial situations or provide help to vulnerable tenants, such as single parents, the elderly or disabled that would be at risk if they are homeless. In most cases the money is expedited to a struggling tenants as part of the emergency rent assistance.
Organizations may issue a loan to help a family or individual pay their rent. While borrowing money can be an option, it should be a last resort and only if the borrower has a short term crisis and can pay back the money quickly. Rental loans can come from a charity, online lender, credit union or some other lender. As an option you can explore how to get a loan to help pay rent.
Receive free legal advice from a pro-bono lawyer to prevent an eviction. Many low-income households get some form of free legal consultation from an attorney to help them deal with eviction or content pay or quit notices. Lawyers not only provide advice, but often can refer clients to other housing. The assistance is provided from the federal government funded Legal Services Corp as well as volunteer, pro-bono lawyers. Get the ins and outs of how to access free legal advice.
Referrals to other places that help pay rent are always available if the applicant can’t find any funding to pay housing expenses. Calling the United Way for information, can sometimes get you the financial help you need. In some instances the United Way volunteers can help you apply as well and address the documentation needs. A great place for referrals and help with applications is the United Way rental assistance programs.
Non-profits as well as charity organizations will also offer help with paying first months rental / security deposits. In general, if a family is living in a now unaffordable home or expensive apartment, or if an individual was homeless and they now have a job, assistance will be provided. There will also be help in paying for moving costs, storage fees or first or last month’s rent that a landlord requires. In general the applicant needs an income to be able to sustain future rent, and learn more about all the ways to get security deposit help.
Lot rent assistance is available. Some charities, churches, and government programs focus on low-income families or people that rent a manufactured home, as that to is a form of rent that people need to pay. The money will pay the property owner for the leased land that that mobile home sits on, as there are fees for the community with a further explanation and resources here on how to get help with lot rent.
Government organizations that help with rent
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The largest federal organization that provides rent payment relief is HUD (Housing and Urban Development). The agency administers several different programs for the homeless, tenants facing eviction, unemployed and low income families. HUD is often a clearinghouse in that they provide grants to local organizations, and those places then disburse the money to people in need. HUD Housing and Urban Development helps those in need pay their rent on private apartments.
- The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, or CFPB, has resources on rental assistance programs as well as places that help pay bills, and they are also a government organization. These will also help people avoid any scams or fraud. Get details on CFPB programs that help struggling tenants, as they partner with HUD. Or look for are other options out there for renters who need assistance to pay for home or apartment, including a database of HUD programs that help pay rent https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance.
The government Housing Choice Rental Voucher Program is available (aka Section 8), though there are often waiting lists. It does this by allowing families to select privately owned rental housing, including apartments, condos or townhomes to live in. Very low income families or those living in poverty, that apply and are part of section 8, can get assistance with their rent on those income based housing units. Read more details about HUD section 8 housing choice vouchers with the agencies that process applications.
Veterans and their families can get rent help from a federal government resource known as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (VASH) as well as SSVF. Both of these are grant based programs that can provide financial help for one or more months of housing payments. This service has a goal of offer rental assistance vouchers, placement into housing locator services as well as security deposit assistance to both veterans as well as their immediate family members to prevent homelessness. It can also be used to stop evictions from happening with all the details here on rent help for veterans.
The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program combines federal, state, and local funds to reduce or eliminate homelessness. A local social service agency, county government, or charity will often process applications with some community action agencies also providing money. It often combines rent help along with case management, care counseling and more, as the goal is to help people stay in their home, with more details on here about homeless prevention.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) provides free services to struggling renters as well, with most of the information being referrals and a directory program. Families or individuals in need of short term or ongoing rent payment help can use the site to find local resources. All services are free, and get details on the programs listed on the GSA website https://www.usa.gov/emergency-pay-rent.
Rent help for vulnerable tenants including single parents, disabled, and seniors
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Single mothers in particular often struggle with rent payments and need help. Many national and local charities or churches, as well as some government benefits, will help a single mom pay housing costs in an effort to keep the families together. A safe, affordable home or apartment, as well as some immediate money for rent, will be offered to them and their kids and learn about rent assistance resources focused on single mothers.
Struggling, income qualified households with a physically or mentally disabled member can qualify for rent help. The federal government has two different voucher programs as well as income subsidized apartments, and this is in addition to any SSI payments. Government grants can help people with a disability pay for everything from rent to utility bills on an apartment, as the goal of the rental and housing assistance for people with a disability is to ensure the individual with a handicap has a home or apartment to live in
There are also apartment rental programs for people with bad credit scores or past evictions. The government, working with private landlords and nonprofits, helps facilitate these programs. They can money to help people pay first months rent or moving costs with case management and ongoing assistance. The goal is to ensure the landlord is comfortable for leasing to those renters with credit issues with more information on the best ways to get into apartments for rent without credit check.
Examples of state-administered rent assistance programs
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The state programs listed below provide links to examples of government as well as nonprofit administered rent assistance and housing support. These programs are typically managed at the state level and may fund or oversee local agencies that distribute assistance within cities and counties. Availability, eligibility rules, and application processes vary by location. For a complete list of local rent assistance programs by city, county, or state, visit the directory of rent assistance by city, county and other area.
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virgina
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Need additional information on accessing rent assistance?
Please send us an email @ [email protected] Please be sure to include your email address and state. The information is needed to send a reply. Also search for rental or housing assistance. Use this link to get to the search page to find local programs that can offer help with paying rent or other housing costs. Or visit or register in the community forum (the link is on the lower). We will reply to your message there about resources that will offer help with rent payments.
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