How to Get Help Paying Your Rent

If you are short on rent, you can often get help from local rental assistance programs, charities, or emergency relief funds, but you must apply directly through the official agencies or organizations that run them. HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational site only; to apply or check status, you need to use the official portals, phone numbers, or offices listed by those programs.

Most rent help programs are run at the state, county, or city level, so the exact options and rules vary by location. A good starting point is to identify the main agencies in your area that handle housing, social services, and emergency assistance.

Quick Summary: Where Rent Help Usually Comes From

State or local housing agencies: emergency rental assistance, eviction prevention.
Local social services / human services: cash aid, crisis grants, utility help.
Nonprofits and charities: Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, community action agencies.
Landlord or court-based programs: mediation, payment plans, sometimes local funds.
Emergency resources: 211 helpline, shelters, legal aid if eviction is pending.

Step 1: Identify the Right Type of Rent Assistance

Most people piece together help from several sources rather than one program covering everything.

Common types of rent assistance include:

Emergency rental assistance: One-time or short-term help to cover past-due rent, sometimes future rent.
Eviction prevention programs: Help if you have an eviction notice, court date, or pay-or-quit notice.
Ongoing housing subsidies: Programs like Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) or public housing; useful long term but slow to obtain.
General emergency cash aid: State or county programs that can be used for rent, utilities, or other needs.
Charity grants or church assistance: Small but fast help, often paid directly to your landlord.

State-variation note: Eligibility rules and program names differ by state and even by county or city. To find the correct official office, search online for “[your county] housing assistance”, “[your state] emergency rental assistance”, or go to your state or county Department of Human Services / Social Services / Community Services website.

Key Terms You’ll See (Plainly Explained)

Arrears: Past-due rent you already owe.
Eviction notice: Written notice from your landlord telling you to pay, leave, or go to court by a certain date.
Means-tested: Program that looks at your income and assets to decide eligibility.
Subsidized housing: Rent is reduced because the government pays part of the cost.

Step 2: Gather What You’ll Usually Need Ready

Having documents ready reduces delays and makes it easier to apply quickly by phone, online, or in person.

Commonly required documents include:

Photo ID: Driver’s license, state ID, or other government-issued ID.
Proof of address and lease: Signed lease, rental agreement, or letter from your landlord with the address and rent amount.
Proof of income: Recent pay stubs, benefit letters (SNAP, SSI, unemployment), or bank statements.
Proof of hardship: Layoff notice, reduced hours notice, medical bills, or statement explaining the crisis.
Proof of amount owed: Rent ledger, letter from landlord with total due, eviction notice, or court papers.
Household information: Names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers or alternative IDs (if requested) for household members.

Real-world friction to watch for: A common reason applications get delayed is missing or unclear documents—especially if your lease is informal, your income is from gig work, or your landlord will not provide a clear statement of what you owe.

If you are missing documents, ask the agency what alternatives they accept (for example, a signed letter from the landlord, a self-written statement about income if you are paid in cash, or screenshots of payment apps showing rent history).

Step 3: Use Official Channels to Find and Apply for Help

3.1 Start with 211 and Local Social Services

Do this next:Dial 211 or visit the official 211.org website to search by ZIP code. 211 is a widely used, nonprofit-run referral line that typically knows about current local rent assistance, churches, and emergency funds.

You can also:

Search your county human services agency: Look up “[your county] Department of Human Services” or “[your county] Social Services rent help.”
Check your state housing agency: Search “[your state] housing finance agency” or “[your state] housing and community development emergency rental assistance.”
Look for city or county eviction prevention projects: Many cities run crisis funds through a Housing Department, Community Action Agency, or Homelessness Services office.

What to expect next: Typically, you’ll either fill out an online pre-screen form, be given a phone number to call during business hours, or be referred to partner nonprofits for applications and appointments.

3.2 Contact Housing and Legal Aid if Eviction Is Active

If you already have an eviction notice or court date, you may need both financial help and legal guidance.

Consider:

Local legal aid or legal services office: They often provide free or low-cost help with eviction cases.
Court-based diversion or mediation programs: Some courts have programs that can connect you to rent funds if a settlement is reached.
Your local housing authority: While they often manage long-term programs like Section 8, some also know about short-term community funds.

A simple phone script you can use:
“Hello, I’m calling because I’m behind on rent and have an eviction notice. Are there any emergency rental assistance or eviction prevention programs I can be screened for, or partner agencies you can refer me to?”

Step 4: Understand Eligibility Clues Before You Apply

While rules differ, programs often look at a few standard factors:

Income:
- Many programs require household income to be below a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI), such as 80% or 50%.
- They may ask about your income over the past 30, 60, or 90 days.
Housing situation:
- You usually must be a renter, not a homeowner.
- You are behind on rent, at risk of eviction, or unstably housed.
Location:
- Your unit should be within the service area (city, county, or state) of the program.
- Some funds focus on certain neighborhoods or populations.
Hardship or cause of crisis:
- Loss or reduction of income, unexpected expenses, health issues, or other documented hardships are typically considered.
Landlord cooperation (for some programs):
- Certain funds pay landlords directly and require them to provide a W-9, agree to stop eviction during assistance, or confirm the amount owed.

No program can guarantee approval or a specific amount of aid. If you do not qualify for one program, you may still qualify for others with different rules.

Step 5: Typical Application Steps and What Happens Next

This is how the process usually works for local rent assistance:

Pre-screening or referral
- You answer a few questions by phone, online, or in person about income, rent amount, and current crisis.
- What to expect next: You may be told immediately if you seem eligible and how to proceed, or placed on a callback list.
Complete a full application
- You provide contact information, landlord details, rent amount, and upload or submit documents.
- Action: Have your lease, ID, income proof, and amount owed ready.
Verification
- Staff may contact your landlord to confirm the rent and balance, or may ask you for additional paperwork.
- What to expect next: This step often takes the longest; respond quickly to calls or emails to avoid delays.
Decision and payment
- If approved, the program often pays directly to the landlord or sometimes to you with proof you will pay rent.
- What to expect next: You should receive a notice of what was covered (months and amounts); confirm with your landlord that they received payment.
Follow-up or re-application (if allowed)
- Some programs allow additional months of help if you still qualify and funds remain.
- Action: Mark any reapplication deadlines in a calendar so you do not miss them.

Step 6: Avoid Mistakes and Rental Assistance Scams

Because rent help involves money and personal information, scams are common.

Use these safety checks:

Never pay an “application fee” or “expedite fee” for rent assistance programs; most legitimate programs are free to apply.
Use only official websites ending in .gov or well-known nonprofit sites linked from government pages or 211.
Do not share full Social Security numbers, bank logins, or IDs over text or social media messages with individuals claiming to “get you approved fast.”
Be cautious of social media posts promising guaranteed rent help or asking for money upfront to “unlock” programs.
If unsure, verify the program by calling a published number from your state or county government website or from 211 before giving information.

A useful official resource is the HUD “Find Rental Assistance” page, which lists housing agencies and local partners: search online for “HUD find rental assistance” and use the link on the hud.gov domain.

If Local Rent Help Isn’t Available or Isn’t Enough

Sometimes funds run out, or you may not meet a specific program’s criteria. In that case, consider a combination of options:

Talk with your landlord early about a written payment plan or short-term reduction if you can show when funds will improve.
Ask about hardship programs from your utility companies, which can free up money for rent if they reduce or delay bills.
Apply for other benefits you qualify for, like SNAP (food assistance) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), through your state’s Department of Human Services, to stabilize your budget.
Contact local churches, community centers, and mutual aid groups, which often have small but fast grants or gift cards.
Seek housing counseling from a HUD-approved counseling agency to explore budgeting, relocation, or long-term housing options; these agencies are listed on hud.gov.

If you stay focused on official agencies, 211 referrals, and established nonprofits, you can usually find at least one path to request help, even if you need to contact several places before you find a program that fits your situation.