Where To Get Help With Housing: Practical Places To Start

If you are behind on rent, worried about eviction, or struggling to find an affordable place to live, there are several types of organizations that typically provide housing help in the U.S. (and similar structures exist in many other countries). HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational site only; you must use official government or nonprofit channels to apply for any program.

Housing help usually comes from a mix of local housing authorities, social services agencies, legal aid groups, and nonprofit housing organizations. The right place for you depends on whether you need emergency shelter, rent help, eviction defense, or longer-term affordable housing.

State and local rules vary. Names and offices are often different by city or county, so you may need to confirm which agency serves your exact address.

Fast Answer: Main Places To Look For Housing Help

Most people find real housing help through some or all of these:

Local public housing authority (PHA) – handles Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and sometimes emergency or special rental programs.
City or county housing / community development department – often runs local rent assistance, homelessness prevention grants, and landlord–tenant resources.
State or county human services / social services department – may provide emergency housing, cash assistance for rent, or connections to shelters.
Homeless service providers & shelters – can offer immediate beds, rapid rehousing, and case management if you have already lost housing or are about to.
Legal aid organizations – help with eviction defense, illegal lockouts, housing discrimination, or unsafe living conditions.

A quick way to locate local options is to call 211 (or visit the official 211.org) and ask specifically for “rental assistance,” “emergency housing,” or “eviction help” in your area.

What You’ll Need Ready Before You Ask For Help

Most housing and rent-assistance programs expect some basic proof that you live where you say you do and that you need the help.

Commonly requested documents:

Photo ID – driver’s license, state ID, or other government-issued ID.
Proof of income – pay stubs, benefit award letters (SSI, SSDI, unemployment, SNAP), or a recent tax return.
Proof of housing situation – lease, rent receipt, notice to quit, eviction filing, or letter from your landlord.
Proof of crisis or hardship – job loss notice, medical bills, reduced hours, or other documents showing why you can’t pay.
Household details – Social Security numbers (or other IDs) for household members, plus ages and relationships.

If you are missing something, still contact the agency and ask what alternatives they’ll accept; they often allow self-certification forms or letters from landlords or service providers.

Quick terms to know:

Eviction notice / Notice to quit – written notice from a landlord that they plan to remove you from the unit.
Voucher (Housing Choice Voucher / Section 8) – assistance that pays part of your rent to a private landlord.
Shelter – short-term place to stay if you have nowhere else to sleep.
Transitional housing – longer-term, time-limited housing with support services.

Your Next Steps: How To Locate And Contact The Right Office

1. If you are facing eviction or already homeless

Call 211 or your local homeless hotline first.
- Say this: “I’ve received an eviction notice / I have nowhere to stay tonight. I need emergency housing or rent assistance.”
- What to expect next: They typically screen you for immediate safety issues and then refer you to shelters, rapid rehousing, or emergency rent programs.
Contact your local legal aid office.
- Search online for “legal aid housing [your county or city]”.
- Ask for help with eviction defense, lockout, or unsafe housing.
- Legal aid can often represent low-income tenants for free or low cost.
Reach out to your city or county housing or human services department.
- Search terms like “[your city] rental assistance”, “[your county] homelessness prevention”, or “[your county] human services”.
- Many areas have Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) or short-term grants run through these offices.
If you cannot get through by phone or online, visit in person if possible.
- Bring any eviction papers, pay-or-quit notices, or shelter discharge papers.
- Ask staff specifically, “Which programs help with rent or emergency housing, and how do I apply?”

2. If you need help staying in housing (behind on rent or utilities)

Start with your local housing or community development department.
- Look up your “city housing department” or “county housing services.”
- Many run short-term rent, mortgage, or utility assistance programs, especially for low-income tenants.
Check with your state or county social services / human services office.
- Search “[your state] emergency assistance for rent” or visit your state human services website from the federal portal at Benefits.gov.
- These offices often screen you for multiple programs at once (cash aid, SNAP, emergency help).
Contact local nonprofits and community organizations.
- These may include community action agencies, faith-based charities, or housing nonprofits.
- Ask if they have short-term rent help, back-rent assistance, or security deposit help.
If you are in public housing or using a voucher, notify your housing authority.
- Tell them you are struggling to pay and ask if they have hardship policies, revised rent calculations, or referrals.

What to expect next:
Most agencies will screen you for income, household size, and proof of crisis, then either place you on a waitlist, schedule an appointment, or direct you to partner organizations. Approval can take time; you may need to check back or respond quickly to requests for documents.

Avoid Mistakes and Housing Scams

When money or housing is involved, scams are common. Be cautious with anyone who promises “guaranteed approval” or demands large fees.

Key safety tips:

Do not pay anyone upfront to “guarantee” a voucher, public housing unit, or rent grant. Legitimate programs do not sell spots or charge large application fees.
Verify that you are dealing with an official agency or recognized nonprofit. Websites should usually end in .gov for government agencies or match well-known local organizations.
Never share full Social Security numbers or bank details over text or social media messages. Use official portals, phone numbers from government sites, or in-person visits.
Be careful with online rental listings that ask for deposits or application fees before you see the unit. Check that the property is actually managed by the person or company advertising it.
If you suspect a scam, report it to your local housing authority, consumer protection office, or state attorney general.

Real-world friction to watch for:
A common reason applications get delayed is missing or unclear documents—especially proof of income and proof of the eviction or rent owed. People also often get stuck when they submit an online form but never follow up; many programs expect you to answer phone calls, open mail, or upload additional paperwork within a short timeframe.

If Local Programs Don’t Solve The Problem

Sometimes, you may not qualify, programs may be temporarily out of funds, or waitlists may be long. In those cases, focus on alternative paths that can still improve your housing situation.

Options to consider:

Ask legal aid about negotiation or mediation with your landlord. They sometimes help arrange payment plans or move-out dates that avoid an eviction record.
Look for rapid rehousing or transitional housing. These programs commonly pay a portion of rent in a new unit for a limited time and provide case management.
Explore subsidized or income-based housing waitlists. Your local public housing authority can tell you which public housing or project-based voucher properties are accepting applications.
Check if you qualify for other benefits that free up money for rent. Programs such as SNAP (food assistance), TANF (cash aid), or utility assistance can reduce other bills so you can put more toward housing.
Ask about relocation support or deposit assistance. Some nonprofits and agencies help with security deposits, first month’s rent, or moving costs if your current place is unaffordable or unsafe.

Common snags (and quick fixes):

Application portal is confusing → Call the listed help number or visit in person and say, “I’m trying to apply for rental assistance but I’m stuck online—can someone walk me through it?”
No appointments available soon → Ask to be put on a cancellation list and whether any partner nonprofits can see you sooner.
Program says “funds exhausted” → Ask when they expect new funding and which other agencies in your area still have open programs.

Quick Summary: Where To Turn For Housing Help

Start with 211 to identify local rent, shelter, and housing programs.
Contact your city/county housing or community development department for rental assistance and affordable housing resources.
Reach out to your state or county human services office for emergency or ongoing assistance that can help you stabilize housing.
If you have an eviction notice or unsafe housing, contact legal aid for rights and possible representation.
If homeless or about to be, contact local shelters or a homeless hotline immediately to ask about beds, rapid rehousing, or motel vouchers.
Gather ID, income proof, lease/eviction papers, and hardship documents before applying, and be ready to respond quickly to follow-up requests.

Once you have identified the correct agency using these steps, your next move is to contact them directly—by phone, through their official website, or in person—to ask how to apply for help with your specific housing situation.