Does Medicaid Help With Housing Costs?

Medicaid is a health coverage program, so it does not typically pay your rent, mortgage, or security deposit directly. However, in some situations it can fund services that help you stay housed or move into stable housing, especially if you have disabilities, long-term health needs, or are leaving an institution.

HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational site only; you must use official government offices and portals to apply for or manage any benefits.

Fast Answer: What Medicaid Can and Cannot Do for Housing

Medicaid is designed to pay for medical and long-term care services, not standard housing expenses.

Most people will find that Medicaid:

Does not pay: rent, mortgage payments, utilities, security deposits, typical hotel stays, or home repairs.
May help pay: certain supportive housing services that make it possible to live in the community instead of in a nursing home, hospital, or institution.

Depending on your state and your specific Medicaid category, Medicaid-funded services might include:

Case management and housing search support (help finding units, completing applications).
Tenancy support services (help communicating with landlords, understanding leases, resolving basic problems).
Home- and community-based services (HCBS) so you can safely live outside an institution (personal care, in-home supports, etc.).
Short-term or transitional services related to leaving a hospital, rehab facility, or nursing home.

These services support housing stability but do not replace housing programs like public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), or emergency rental assistance.

Key Terms You’ll See (Plainly Explained)

Medicaid waiver / HCBS waiver: A state option that lets Medicaid pay for extra “home and community-based” services instead of institutional care. Some waivers include housing-related supports.
Supportive housing: Housing combined with services (like case management or on-site support) for people with serious health conditions or disabilities.
Transition services: Short-term help (coordination, basic household setup) when leaving a facility and moving back into the community.
Managed care plan: In many states, Medicaid is delivered through private health plans that arrange your services; some plans offer care coordination that overlaps with housing support.

Knowing these terms helps when speaking with your Medicaid plan or local agencies about what might be available.

Does Any of This Apply to Me?

Whether Medicaid can help with housing-related services depends heavily on your state, your Medicaid category, and your health situation. Programs and waivers vary by state, and sometimes by county.

You are more likely to have Medicaid-funded housing supports available if you meet one or more of these conditions:

You qualify for a Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver.
Many HCBS waivers, especially those for people with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, or serious mental illness, include housing navigation, transition, or tenancy-support services.
You are in a nursing home, hospital, or institution and want to move back to the community.
Programs such as Money Follows the Person (name can differ by state) often use Medicaid dollars to fund transition coordination, basic household setup, and community supports that make a move possible.
You have serious mental illness or substance use needs.
Some states use Medicaid to fund supportive housing services, especially through behavioral health programs or specialized managed care plans, though the rent itself is usually covered by separate housing subsidies.
You are an older adult who needs help staying at home.
Medicaid HCBS for older adults may include services that indirectly keep you housed (personal care, home health, adult day care) and, in some states, limited housing-related coordination.

If you do not have disabilities or long-term health needs and are enrolled in Medicaid mainly due to income, Medicaid itself rarely offers housing-related services beyond basic care coordination.

Your Next Steps: How to Find Out What Your Medicaid Covers

Because programs differ by state, the most direct way to know if Medicaid can assist with housing-related services in your case is to ask your official Medicaid agency or plan and check housing agencies in your area.

1. Confirm your Medicaid type

Before asking about housing supports, find out what kind of Medicaid coverage you have:

Check your Medicaid card or health plan member ID card.
Look for a plan name (for example, “XYZ Health Plan Medicaid”) or a program label (like “HCBS,” “LTSS,” or “waiver”).
Log into your state Medicaid portal (if you have an account).
Portals typically list your plan name, program type, and sometimes your care coordinator or case manager.
Call the member services number on your Medicaid card.
Say something like: “I’d like to confirm what Medicaid program I’m in and whether I’m enrolled in any waiver or long-term services program.”

What to expect: The representative will usually verify your identity, then tell you your plan name and program type. They may transfer you to a care manager or give you another number to call for long-term services.

2. Ask specifically about housing-related services

Once you know your plan or waiver:

Call your plan’s member services or your case manager.
Use specific wording, such as:
“Are there any Medicaid-funded services that help with finding housing, moving out of a facility, or keeping my housing stable?”
and
“Do I qualify for any Home- and Community-Based Services or waivers that include housing navigation or tenancy support?”

What to expect:
They may:

Explain that rent cannot be paid by Medicaid, but services like case management or transition support might be covered.
Tell you you’re not currently in a waiver, but you can be evaluated for long-term services and supports.
Refer you to a local housing or behavioral health agency that coordinates supportive housing.

3. Contact your state Medicaid office and housing agencies

Because housing is usually funded outside Medicaid, you often need to contact both health and housing agencies:

Find your state Medicaid agency website using the federal directory from Medicaid.gov’s “State Overviews” section.
There you can locate the official Medicaid office, HCBS/waiver information, and sometimes specific pages on “Money Follows the Person” or “long-term services.”
Call your local public housing agency (PHA) or housing department and ask:
“Do you coordinate any supportive housing or housing vouchers connected to Medicaid or behavioral health services?”
Dial 2-1-1 or visit the official 211 website for your area to ask about supportive housing, rapid rehousing, or medical respite programs that work with Medicaid.

What to expect:
You might receive waitlist information for vouchers, referrals to supportive housing providers, or contact information for local nonprofit case managers who understand both Medicaid and housing options.

Real-World Friction to Watch For

People often get stuck when Medicaid and housing agencies assume the other side is handling things; Medicaid might say they only do health, while housing says they need a referral from a health provider. A practical way around this is to tell each side exactly what the other told you (for example, “My Medicaid plan said you handle supportive housing referrals”) and ask who, specifically, can bridge the gap—often a care manager, social worker, or housing navigator.

Avoid Mistakes and Housing-Related Scams

Any time housing and benefits are involved, it’s important to protect your information and money.

Medicaid never charges an “application fee” for coverage or services. If someone asks you to pay to “unlock Medicaid housing,” that is a red flag.
Do not pay anyone to guarantee you housing or a voucher; legitimate programs may have waiting lists and cannot promise approvals.
Only share Social Security numbers, Medicaid IDs, or bank information with:
- Your official Medicaid plan or state Medicaid agency.
- Verified public housing agencies or local government housing departments.
- Established nonprofits or health systems you can confirm on a .gov site or through 2-1-1.
Be cautious of calls or texts that pressure you to act immediately or demand payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency; government agencies do not operate this way.
If something feels off, hang up and call back using a phone number found on an official card, letter, or .gov website.

For general benefit and housing referrals, you can search or dial from the official 211 network website run by United Way: look for “211” plus your state or visit the national 211 page linked from UnitedWay.org or your state government website.

If Medicaid Can’t Help With Your Housing Situation

If your Medicaid plan confirms it cannot offer housing-related services—or you don’t qualify for a waiver—you still have several other routes to pursue:

Public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8):
Apply through your local Public Housing Agency (PHA); you can find PHAs from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) site under “Public Housing Agencies.”
Emergency rental or utility assistance:
Some states and cities operate short-term assistance programs through local social services departments or community action agencies.
Homelessness prevention and shelters:
Contact 2-1-1, local Continuum of Care (homelessness response network), or your city/county housing office.
Legal aid:
If you are facing eviction, legal services organizations sometimes help low-income tenants at no cost; you can often find them through your state court’s self-help pages or 2-1-1.

When you call any of these resources, it can help to say upfront: “I have Medicaid and I’m asking whether there are any housing or supportive housing programs for people in my situation.”

Quick Summary: Medicaid and Housing Help

Medicaid almost never pays rent, mortgage, or deposits directly.
It can sometimes fund services that support housing stability (case management, housing search help, tenancy support, transition services).
These options are more common for people in HCBS waivers, long-term services, or behavioral health programs.
Programs differ widely by state, so your best move is to contact your Medicaid plan and state Medicaid agency to ask about HCBS, waivers, or Money Follows the Person–type programs.
For paying actual rent or getting a voucher, you’ll usually need separate housing programs through PHAs, housing departments, or nonprofits.
To move forward now, call the number on your Medicaid card, ask directly about “housing-related services or waivers,” and then contact your local housing authority or 2-1-1 for non-Medicaid housing help.