Rent and security deposit assistance for Lee County Florida tenants
In Lee County, a tenant's options for rent assistance change with the address. The islands keep their own funds for people who live or work on Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, and Matlacha, while Bonita Springs, Estero, and Lehigh Acres each support a charity that serves only their own residents.
This page will help struggling residents find where they may get help paying rental expenses or moving costs, such as a security deposit. Each listing below is verified and current, with the details a tenant needs to apply.
Countywide programs run alongside those local ones. Money for back rent, security deposits, and first month's rent moves through the county government, regional charities, and two housing authorities, and free legal aid is available for tenant problems. Tenants already holding an eviction notice should start with the Lee County eviction prevention page, as the options for rent help or other support when eviction is imminent are often different.
County or state-run programs for rent or deposit help
Lee County Human and Veteran Services — The county's own rental assistance program. When funding allows, income-qualified households facing a temporary setback — a job loss, reduced hours, or a medical crisis — may receive emergency help toward rent or utility bills, arranged through a phone screening. The department also runs the HOPWA program, which can assist qualified residents living with HIV who are in danger of losing their housing, and its veteran services staff help veterans and survivors apply for VA benefits, income that may make the rent easier to carry. 2440 Thompson St., Fort Myers, FL 33901. Rental assistance line: (239) 533-7900 | Phone screenings: (239) 533-7996. Website: https://www.leegov.com/dhs
ACCESS Florida (Department of Children and Families) — The state system for temporary cash assistance, which for approved families may free up or directly provide money that can go toward rental costs. Applications are submitted online, with a local service center in Fort Myers for those who need in-person help. 2295 Victoria Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (866) 762-2237
Charities that may help with rent across the county
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice — The Fort Myers office serves all of Lee County and tries to assist qualified households with rent or utility payments when funds are available, working through its outreach center. Applicants bring a copy of the bill, identification, proof of income, and a short statement of hardship. Staff work in English and Spanish, and all faiths are welcome. 4235 Michigan Link Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33916 | (239) 334-4007. Website: https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/.
Lee County Housing Development Corporation — A nonprofit whose emergency fund may cover part of the rent or a utility bill for approved applicants at risk of losing their housing, within limits based on funding and applicant qualifications. As a HUD-approved counseling agency it also offers rental housing counseling and money management help, which can help people reset their budget before the next month's rent comes due. 3677 Central Ave., Suite F, Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (239) 275-5105. Website: https://leecountyhdc.org/.
The Salvation Army of Lee County — Emergency assistance requests are taken at the Fort Myers social services office, and help toward rent is possible for approved applicants in some cases, though funds are limited and shift with donations. Outreach offices in Lehigh Acres and Bonita Springs serve their own areas with utility help, benefit applications, and referrals. Fort Myers: 2476 Edison Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (239) 334-3745 as well as Lehigh Acres outreach: (239) 491-6071 | Bonita Springs office: (239) 948-5200
Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Volunteer groups based at Catholic parishes take requests from residents inside their own parish boundaries, and several in south Fort Myers may help with rent, utilities, or prescriptions when their funds allow. Start with the help line, or contact an active conference directly; each sets its own rules.
- SVdP help line: (239) 940-1100.
- Church of the Resurrection conference, 8121 Cypress Lake Dr., Fort Myers | (239) 600-6749
- Our Lady of Light conference, 19680 Cypress View Dr., Fort Myers | (239) 690-6685
Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) — A referral service, not a direct funder. Staff connect callers from south Lee County with member churches and ministries that in some cases offer rent help, furniture for a new rental unit, or other support. (239) 405-8595
Town and island programs that may help local residents with rental and related housing costs
Bonita Springs Assistance Office — Serves people who live or work in Bonita Springs only. The charity may put money toward rent, utilities, or other housing expenses for applicants who qualify, and photo identification is required. 25300 Bernwood Dr., Unit 6, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 | (239) 992-3034. Website: https://www.bonitaassistance.org/
Cafe of Life — Various social services may be offered. This Bonita Springs charity also runs a client services office that may provide financial help, including toward rent, for Bonita Springs residents who qualify. 10540 Childers St., Bonita Springs, FL 34135 | (239) 495-9325
Lehigh Community Services — Lehigh Acres residents only. Alongside its other programs, the agency offers limited financial assistance that in some cases can go toward a rent or utility bill. 201 Plaza Dr., Suite 3, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 | (239) 369-5818
Interfaith Charities of South Lee — Serves San Carlos Park and Estero. The center helps residents apply for SNAP and utility assistance, which can take pressure off a household budget, and staff can point to other emergency aid; ask what is currently available for housing costs. 17592 Rockefeller Cir., Fort Myers, FL 33967 | (239) 267-3510
Beacon of Hope of Pine Island — The community hub for Pine Island and Matlacha. Residents in a crisis may receive financial assistance, with client services staff helping families find and apply for help with rent and other bills. 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St. James City, FL 33956 | (239) 283-5123
F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva — For people who live or work on Sanibel or Captiva, including island workers commuting from the mainland. Emergency financial assistance, including for rental costs, may be available to qualified applicants, alongside community referrals. 2430-B Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957 | (239) 472-0404
Help for veterans in Lee County - rent, deposit, moving assistance and more
St. Vincent de Paul CARES — Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) — The SSVF provider for Lee County. Very low-income veteran households that are homeless or close to it may qualify for temporary financial help with rent, a deposit, or moving costs, delivered with case management and VA benefits assistance. 3049 Cleveland Ave., Suite 200, Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (239) 301-5222. Website: https://www.svdpsp.org/
Jewish Family & Children's Services of the Suncoast — Operation Military Assistance Program — From its Fort Myers office, this program pairs low-income veterans and their families with case managers, and qualified households may receive financial assistance aimed at obtaining or keeping housing, which can cover rent or a deposit. 1821 Victoria Ave., Suite 2, Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (941) 366-2224 ext. 630. Website: https://jfcs-cares.org/
Hearts & Homes for Veterans — When a veteran gets a new apartment, this Fort Myers nonprofit may furnish it: beds, household goods, and other essentials that make a bare unit livable. This can free up funds for future rental costs. 2230 Alicia St., Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (239) 674-1719
Veterans can also ask the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, listed below, about HUD-VASH vouchers, which combine rental assistance with VA case management.
Housing choice vouchers (formerly Section 8) and public housing
Two separate housing authorities cover Lee County, and they are not interchangeable. Both run the Housing Choice Voucher program — the tenant pays roughly a third of income and the subsidy covers the rest — but their waiting lists behave differently, so it pays to watch both.
Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers (HACFM) — Despite the city name, its voucher program and apartment communities reach across Lee County, including Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and North Fort Myers, with family and senior properties. Application windows open online for short periods, sometimes only hours, so register interest early and respond fast when an opening is announced. 4224 Renaissance Preserve Way, Fort Myers, FL 33916 | (239) 344-3220. Website: https://www.hacfm.org/
Lee County Housing Authority — A smaller authority based in North Fort Myers with public housing and a voucher program. Its lists stay closed much of the time except for narrow preference groups, so call for current status. Staff also help any Lee County resident apply for ACCESS Florida benefits — state aid that, once approved, may leave more of the budget for rent. 14170 Warner Cir., North Fort Myers, FL 33903 | (239) 997-6688. Website: https://www.leecountyha.org/.
Free legal help for tenants
Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) — Free civil legal aid for low-income Lee County residents, with housing work covering landlord-tenant disputes, security deposits, unsafe conditions, and subsidized housing problems. The elderly and farmworkers get dedicated attention. 3210 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901 | (239) 334-4554 or toll-free (888) 582-3410. https://www.frls.org/.
Also dial 211 for possible rent assistance options
211 in Polk County is run by United Way of Central Florida at https://uwcf.org/ and is worth a call as a backup. Several of the organizations on this page don't appear in referral databases, though, so don't stop with 211 alone. Dial 2-1-1, call (888) 370-7188, or text your zip code to 898-211.
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