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Pick the line that sounds most like you. Each opens a full step-by-step guide.
I am behind on rentHow to get emergency help paying rentEmergency rental funds and charities.I got an eviction noticeGot an eviction notice? What to do in the next 7 daysWhat to do in the next 7 days.I have nowhere to sleep tonightHomeless or about to be? How to find emergency shelter tonightShelter and the homelessness system.I need long-term affordable rentHow to apply for Section 8 housingVouchers, public housing and waiting lists.I want to move in fasterHow to find income-restricted apartments near youIncome-restricted apartments, apply direct.I am a veteranHousing help for homeless and at-risk veterans (HUD-VASH and SSVF)HUD-VASH, SSVF and VA help.I own my home and am behindBehind on your mortgage? How to avoid foreclosureAvoid foreclosure with free counselling.My home needs urgent repairsHome repair grants and loans for low-income homeownersRepair grants and loans.
Step-by-step guides in this topic
Each guide answers one specific question in depth.
How to apply for Section 8 housingTo apply for Section 8, contact the Public Housing Agency (PHA) that serves the area where you want to live and apply when its Housing Choice…Read the guide →How to apply for public housingApply for public housing through your local Public Housing Agency when its public housing waiting list is open. Eligibility depends on income,…Read the guide →How to get emergency help paying rentTo get emergency help paying rent, call 211 and ask which rental assistance programmes are open in your county, then apply to every one you…Read the guide →Got an eviction notice? What to do in the next 7 daysIf you get an eviction notice, do not move out and do not ignore it. Read what type of notice it is and its deadline, call free legal aid…Read the guide →How to find open Section 8 and housing waiting listsTo find open housing waiting lists, check the websites of every Public Housing Agency within the area you would live, your state's housing finance…Read the guide →How to find income-restricted apartments near youIncome-restricted apartments, usually financed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), rent some or all units below market to…Read the guide →Homeless or about to be? How to find emergency shelter tonightIf you need shelter tonight, call 211, which connects to your area's homelessness services and shelters, or contact your local coordinated entry…Read the guide →How to get help paying a security deposit and first month's rentTo get help with a security deposit, call 211 and ask about deposit assistance from your county, community action agency, and charities. If you…Read the guide →Free HUD housing counselling: what it is and how to get itHUD-approved housing counselling is free or low-cost advice from agencies certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, covering…Read the guide →Housing help for homeless and at-risk veterans (HUD-VASH and SSVF)Veterans who are homeless or at risk should call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838, available 24/7, or visit any VA…Read the guide →Behind on your mortgage? How to avoid foreclosureIf you are behind on your mortgage, contact your loan servicer immediately and ask about forbearance, a repayment plan or a loan modification, and…Read the guide →Affordable senior housing: how to apply for Section 202 and senior apartmentsSection 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly provides subsidised apartments for very low-income households with at least one member aged 62 or…Read the guide →Affordable housing for people with disabilitiesPeople with disabilities can apply for Section 811 supportive housing, mainstream vouchers for non-elderly disabled households, accessible units…Read the guide →Home repair grants and loans for low-income homeownersLow-income homeowners can find repair help through USDA Section 504 Home Repair loans and grants (grants for those 62+ in rural areas), the…Read the guide →
Programmes we point you to
Every one of these is free to apply for, and you apply directly. We are not affiliated with any of them and earn nothing from them.
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
What it isA voucher that pays part of your rent directly to a private landlord. You find the home; the voucher follows you.
Who it is forLow-income households. Run by your local Public Housing Agency, which sets its own income limits and preferences.
How to applyApply to the Public Housing Agency for the area you want to live in. Waiting lists are long and frequently closed.
Public Housing
What it isApartments and houses owned and run by the housing agency itself, with rent set against your income.
Who it is forLow-income families, older adults and people with disabilities.
How to applyApply through the same agency as the voucher programme - usually a separate list, so apply to both.
Emergency rental assistance
What it isState, county or city funds for back rent and sometimes utilities, usually paid straight to the landlord.
Who it is forHouseholds behind on rent or facing eviction. Rules and availability differ sharply by location.
How to applyThrough your state or county programme, or a local nonprofit administering the funds. 211 knows what is open near you.
HUD-approved housing counselling
What it isFree or low-cost advice from a counsellor trained and approved by HUD - renting, eviction, buying, foreclosure.
Who it is forAnyone. There is no income test to speak to a counsellor.
How to applyCall 1-800-569-4287, or search the HUD directory for an agency near you.
Income-restricted apartments (LIHTC)
What it isPrivately owned buildings that must rent a share of their units below market rate, in return for a tax credit.
Who it is forHouseholds under the building's income cap. Separate from Section 8 - and often a much shorter wait.
How to applyApply directly to the property, not to a housing agency. Search by city and state.
What to have ready
- Photo ID for every adult in the household
- Social Security numbers or cards for everyone who will be on the lease
- Birth certificates for children
- Proof of income - recent pay stubs, benefit award letters, or a statement if you have no income
- Your current lease and any notice the landlord has given you
- The eviction paperwork itself, if you have received any - the dates on it matter
Missing something on this list is rarely a reason not to start. Most offices will open a case and let you bring the rest afterwards — but the application date is what counts, so start now.
What people miss
The parts that are true, rarely explained, and change the outcome.
Apply to more than one agency
Vouchers are administered locally, and you can sit on several waiting lists at once. People commonly apply to one agency, hear nothing for two years, and assume the system is closed.
Waiting lists open with very little warning
Many agencies open their list for a few days every few years and announce it only on their own website. Ask each agency how they announce openings and whether you can be notified.
Preferences can move you up the list
Most agencies give priority to applicants who are veterans, elderly, disabled, homeless, or living in substandard housing. These are claimed on the application - nobody applies them for you.
Income-restricted buildings are a separate door
LIHTC properties take applications directly and often house people in weeks rather than years. They are the most under-used route on this page.
Eviction has a clock
Once a case is filed, the window to respond is measured in days and varies by state. Free legal aid can usually help - but only if you call before the hearing, not after.
Prevention is cheaper than rehousing
Programmes find it far easier to help someone stay in their home than to rehouse them after eviction. If you can see trouble coming - a rent increase you cannot meet, a pay cut, a notice - call 211 and legal aid before the situation becomes a court case.
Common questions
The waiting list in my area is closed. What now?
Apply to neighbouring agencies where it is open - a voucher can often be used across a wider area than the one that issued it. In the meantime, income-restricted buildings and emergency rental funds do not use the same waiting list at all.
Can I get help if I have an eviction on my record?
Often yes, though it is harder. Housing agencies set their own screening rules, and some look only at the last few years. A HUD counsellor can tell you which local options realistically remain open to you.
Does emergency rental assistance have to be repaid?
No. These are grants, not loans. They are usually paid directly to the landlord rather than to you.
Where can I get help paying rent?
Call 211 and ask for every rental assistance source in your county - state or local emergency rental programmes, community action agencies and charities. Apply to several, since small funds are often combined. If you have an eviction notice, contact legal aid the same day.
How do I get on a list for affordable housing?
Apply to every Public Housing Agency waiting list you would accept for vouchers and public housing, and apply directly to income-restricted (LIHTC) and project-based buildings, which keep separate lists and often move faster. Keep your contact details current on every list.
What is the difference between Section 8 and low-income apartments?
Section 8 is a voucher that pays part of your rent based on your income at a home you choose. Income-restricted apartments have below-market rent set for the unit, and you apply to the building directly. Many income-restricted buildings accept Section 8 vouchers too.
Can I be evicted without a court order?
In almost every state, no. A landlord needs a court judgment, enforced by a sheriff or marshal, to remove you. Lockouts and utility shut-offs to force you out are illegal. Do not move out because of a notice alone - get legal advice.
Is there housing help for seniors and people with disabilities?
Yes - Section 202 senior housing, Section 811 and mainstream vouchers for people with disabilities, senior public housing, and the right to reasonable accommodations in any rental. See our guides for each.
Where can I sleep tonight if I have nowhere to go?
Call 211 for shelters with space tonight. Survivors of domestic violence can call 1-800-799-7233, veterans 1-877-424-3838, and young people the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-786-2929.
Can I get help with a security deposit?
Many community action agencies, charities and rapid rehousing programmes help with deposits and first month's rent, especially for people leaving shelter or fleeing violence. Some areas offer deposit guarantees so no cash is needed.
How long does it take to get Section 8?
Often months to years, because demand is high and lists open rarely. Applying to several agencies, claiming preferences and also applying to income-restricted buildings shortens the effective wait.
Can I get help fixing my house?
Low-income homeowners may qualify for USDA Section 504 repair loans and grants in rural areas, the Weatherization Assistance Program, city or county rehabilitation programmes, and nonprofit repair groups.
Who can help if I am behind on my mortgage?
Call your servicer and a free HUD-approved housing counsellor at 1-800-569-4287. They can help you apply for forbearance, a repayment plan or a loan modification. Never pay upfront fees to foreclosure rescue companies.
Related topics
Programme rules, income limits and deadlines change every year and differ
by state and county. We have deliberately left exact figures off this page so
it cannot go stale — follow the official links above for current numbers,
or call us and we will talk it through.