If you're behind on rent or facing eviction, help is available in every state. Federal, state, and local programs can cover months of back rent — often within days of applying.
How Much Rental Assistance Can You Get?
Who Qualifies for Rental Assistance?
- Renters earning up to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)
- Households experiencing financial hardship (job loss, medical bills, etc.)
- Tenants who have received an eviction notice
- Households past due on rent or utilities
- US citizens and many qualified non-citizens
Key Rental Assistance Programs
Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher — The largest federal rental assistance program. Caps your rent at 30% of income. Apply through your local Public Housing Authority — waitlists can be long, apply immediately.
Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) — State-administered programs funded by federal dollars. Covers back rent and utilities. Most states still have active ERA-successor programs.
USDA Rural Housing — Rental assistance specifically for households in rural areas.
State Programs — Every state has additional rental assistance. Florida, California, New York, and Texas all have multi-hundred-million dollar programs.
How to Apply for Rental Assistance
- Step 1: Find your local program — use GrantLantern to match with programs in your state
- Step 2: Gather documents — ID, proof of income, lease, and any eviction notices
- Step 3: Apply through your local Community Action Agency or state housing authority
- Step 4: If denied federally, apply to local nonprofits — 211.org connects to local resources