When rent is overdue or an eviction notice has arrived, the question isn't whether help exists — it's which kind fits your situation and where to find it fast. Rent assistance comes from many different sources: local charities, churches, community action agencies, state housing programs, and federal funding that flows through nonprofits. No single organization has it all, and what's available depends heavily on where you live.

This page explains the main types of rent help, how each works, and who typically qualifies. Links throughout connect to detailed pages on each program type. At the bottom, you'll find a search by state for programs in your specific city or county.

If you need to skip straight to local programs, the rent assistance directory lists programs by city, county, and state across the country.

The fastest help: charities, churches, and community action

When rent is due immediately, local organizations tend to move faster than government programs. Many require little paperwork and can issue a payment directly to a landlord within days.

Salvation Army operates corps and service centers in most cities and towns across the country. Emergency rent assistance may be available for households facing a documented crisis — job loss, medical emergency, or sudden income disruption. The amount is typically a portion of the rent due, paid directly to the landlord. Some locations also cover utility bills and security deposits. Availability and funding levels vary by location. The Salvation Army assistance program page covers how to apply for rent help and how to reach a local center.

St. Vincent de Paul conferences are volunteer-run and present in most counties. A brief home visit is typically part of the application — volunteers assess the situation in person before issuing any rent payment help. Amounts tend to be modest since funding comes from local donations, but the process is personal and the visit often connects applicants with additional local resources. The St. Vincent de Paul program page links to local conference locations and the types of help, for rent or other bills, each provides.

Community action agencies are federally funded nonprofits with at least one office in nearly every county in the country. They administer emergency rental assistance using CSBG funds, often alongside LIHEAP energy assistance, security deposit programs, and referrals to other housing services. Staff can help applicants identify and apply for multiple programs in a single visit or call. The NHPB community action agency directory covers how to locate your county's agency and what rent and housing assistance programs it runs.

Churches and faith-based organizations maintain emergency funds that operate independently of government funding cycles, meaning they can sometimes help with rent when other programs have run out. Most focus assistance on people in the immediate community. Amounts are typically small — enough to cover a shortfall rather than several months of back rent — but the barrier to apply is often lower than formal programs. The church financial assistance programs page covers major denominations and how to reach local congregations that offer rent help.

Not every organization will have funds available. Programs run out, based on funding levels that may even change on a weekly basis. If one place can't help, try another — most people who successfully get rent assistance have contacted more than one organization.

Eviction notices and legal help for tenants

Receiving an eviction notice and falling behind on rent are related but separate problems, and both need attention at the same time. In most states the eviction process runs on a fixed legal timeline — from notice to court date can be as little as a week in some jurisdictions.

Free legal aid for tenants is available in every state through organizations funded by the federal Legal Services Corporation and state bar foundations. Pro Bono legal aid programs may also help struggling renters. Income-eligible tenants can get free representation in eviction court, help challenging illegal lockouts or utility shutoffs, and assistance with habitability complaints. Legal aid attorneys can also help tenants apply for emergency rent assistance programs while a case is pending. The free legal advice and representation page and the more focused guide to free lawyers for tenants facing eviction page covers how these organizations work and how to apply.

Eviction prevention programs use Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding from HUD, distributed through state and local governments to nonprofits, to pay back rent directly to landlords as an alternative to completing the eviction process. Many programs also offer landlord mediation and short-term case management. These programs operate at the county and city level. The eviction prevention directory covers how to get help in your area and homelessness prevention programs page explains ESG-funded programs and what to bring when applying.

Government rental assistance programs

Government funding — federal, state, and local — is the largest source of rental assistance dollars in the country, though it typically reaches tenants through nonprofit intermediaries rather than directly. It also generally takes more time to get this type of help.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are the largest ongoing rental subsidy program in the United States. Eligible households receive a voucher covering the portion of rent above approximately 30% of their income, and they use it on privately owned housing that passes a basic inspection. Local public housing authorities administer the program and manage waiting lists, which are open in some areas and closed in others. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program page covers income limits, how the application process works, and what to do if your local waiting list is closed.

HUD administers multiple rental assistance programs and maintains a state-by-state directory of resources. The HUD housing and rental assistance programs page covers the full range of HUD programs available to renters. HUD's current consumer resource page at https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans covers Housing Choice Vouchers, affordable housing search, HUD-certified housing counselors, and state-level resources.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) maintains a renter-focused resource section covering how to get help paying rent and bills, how to identify housing scams, and how to find HUD-approved housing counselors. Because the CFPB is a federal consumer protection agency, its guidance on avoiding scams is particularly useful for people navigating unfamiliar assistance programs. Their rental assistance resources are at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/housing/housing-insecurity/help-for-renters/.

USA.gov maintains a federal directory of emergency rent assistance programs at https://www.usa.gov/emergency-pay-rent, organized by program type and updated regularly. It draws on multiple federal agencies and is a reliable starting point for anyone who wants to see what federal resources apply to their situation before contacting local organizations.

Housing First programs prioritize placing people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing immediately, combining rental assistance with case management rather than requiring employment first. These programs are funded through a combination of HUD, state, and local sources. The Housing First rental assistance programs page covers how these programs work and who qualifies.

United Way 211 is a referral service, not a funding source — calling 211 connects callers with a specialist who can identify local programs and sometimes assist with applications. It's a reasonable starting point, though local program pages on this site often include smaller organizations that 211 doesn't track. The United Way rental assistance referrals page explains how the 211 system works and what to expect when you call.

Security deposits or first month’s rent, moving costs, and lot rent

Getting into new housing or keeping a manufactured home on its lot often requires help beyond the monthly rent payment.

Security deposit assistance covers the upfront cost of moving into a rental — typically first month's rent and a security deposit equal to one or two months' rent. Community action agencies, local charities, and some government housing programs cover these costs for households with income sufficient to sustain future rent. The security deposit assistance programs page covers how to get help, which organizations may offer this and typical eligibility requirements.

Mobile home lot rent assistance helps low-income households pay the monthly fee for the land beneath a manufactured home. Some charities, churches, and government programs specifically cover lot rent as a distinct category from apartment rent. The lot rent and manufactured housing assistance page covers programs that address this type of housing cost.

Programs for specific situations

Veterans facing eviction or housing instability can access HUD-VASH vouchers — which combine rental assistance with VA case management — and the SSVF program, which provides faster emergency financial help including back rent, security deposits, and utility payments for veterans at risk of homelessness. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838 operates around the clock and connects callers to the nearest VA program - or see the NHPB veterans rent assistance program page.

People with disabilities have access to several rent-specific programs beyond standard Section 8 — including HUD's Section 811 program, which provides rental assistance exclusively for non-elderly adults with disabilities, Mainstream Vouchers for disabled households at risk of homelessness, and HOPWA for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS. People receiving SSI or SSDI typically qualify for Section 8 on income alone, paying approximately 30% of their monthly benefit toward rent with a voucher covering the balance. The housing assistance programs for people with disabilities page covers eligibility and how to apply for each program.

Community forum - what people in similar situations are saying

Real people facing similar housing crises share what's worked, what hasn't, and what they've learned in the NHPB community forum on rental assistance programs. It's moderated and free to read or participate.

What to have ready before you apply

Most programs require some combination of photo ID, proof of income, a copy of your current lease, documentation of the amount owed, and a copy of any eviction notice. Having these gathered before calling significantly shortens the process. The application checklist guide covers what each type of program typically asks for and how to prepare.

By state — rent assistance overview pages

Each state page below covers statewide organizations (housing finance agencies, legal aid, community action networks, USDA rural housing, veterans programs) and links to county and city pages within that state.