ByHow to Find Immediate Rental Housing Assistance Programs
Finding yourself in a bind and needing money for rent isn’t a great position to be in. However, if it does happen, there are ways to get help. Some rental housing assistance programs can offer short-term as well as long-term solutions for your situation. DoNotPay can help you in your area.
What kinds of programs are there, and how exactly can they help? Let’s take a look.
Types of Rental Housing Assistance Programs
There are a few different that you can use if you find yourself needing help with rent. Some of those include:
- Low-income housing
- Section 8 housing
- And special programs for individuals at high risk for homelessness
If you qualify as low-income and need a place to stay, check with the local Housing and Urban Development in your area. There’s usually an apartment or other type of housing available that you can apply for.
These places will usually ask for a percentage of your income. So, if you make around $800 a month, and the place takes approximately 25% of your income, that would add up to $200 a month.
Other housing places in the area could run you at least $800, but not leave anything left for bills, food, and supplies. Depending on the state you live in, there may be an option to apply for Section 8 housing, which could pay all or a part of your rent if the place qualifies.
If you currently have a place to live, but something has come up and you’re short on cash, check your county’s resources. Some areas offer emergency help to keep you from getting evicted when you’re behind and can’t pay your rent. You still have to apply and qualify for the service, but if you’re accepted, this will help you get back on your feet and still keep your home. This can take some time.
If you currently are at risk of being homeless, there are programs that will help you get back on your feet and back into the home or another one that’s even better.
Where Should You Apply for a Rental Housing Assistance Program?
| If you’re looking for Section 8 housing, contact the Public Housing Agency in your state. | If available, you can apply for a housing voucher in your area. When you contact them they will let you know if you’re eligible to apply, and if you are, they’ll share how you can get one of those applications. |
| Many states offer a homeless prevention program or rental assistance when you’re facing eviction and short on cash. | To apply for this type of program, you should contact your county and see what they have available. They will point you to the right agency, who will evaluate your situation, and, if you qualify, have you apply for assistance. |
| For low-income families who need a home to call their own, your local public housing agency website can help. | You’ll find apartments and housing units set up specifically for those who don’t make enough to get by each month. If you qualify, you’ll be charged a certain percentage of your income every month, leaving you with money in your pocket for bills and other necessities. |
How Else Can I Get Help for Housing?
If there aren’t any of the above programs available in your area, or if you apply for some and find out you don’t qualify, all is not lost. There are a few other places you can try and get some help.
One of them is your local church. You don’t necessarily have to be a member of the church to qualify for assistance. Some of them are more than happy to help out an unfamiliar face.
They could offer rent assistance, and housing assistance, but some will help out in other areas as well.
For instance, some churches have been known to help a family in need with:
- Medical services
- Free food
- Clothing
- Utility bills
- Toys for Christmas gifts
There are religious-based programs, like Catholic Charities. These services will help anyone from any faith, culture, age, or even religious background. You don’t have to be within the Catholic church to get help from them. They offer rental assistance, clothing, food, and some areas will provide temporary shelter if it’s needed in your situation.
Salvation Army is one of the most well-known charitable organizations out there. They offer assistance in all areas of your life, including meds, overnight shelter, and medical services. As with some of the other programs, they will help senior citizens, disabled individuals, immigrants, and anyone who is in need.
How to Apply for any of the Rental Housing Assistance Programs?
If you find yourself in need of some assistance and you want to apply for help, find an organization that offers what you need. Housing and Urban Development can point you to the right place to go, so you can apply. Once you find the program that will work, you will usually need to fill out an application.
Once you’ve applied, the organization will look over the application, verify the information, if needed, and give you an answer. Sometimes, they’ll ask for specific materials, to help them come up with the decision, so be patient and do what they ask.
If you don’t qualify, they oftentimes will point you somewhere else that could help. But, if you do, they’ll get started right away on getting you set up with the assistance you qualify for.
However, some states have so many programs for assistance, it can be difficult to find which one will be the right fit for your needs. Narrowing down a list of potentials that suit your situation can also be confusing. If you feel overwhelmed, all is not lost. There’s still hope.
How to Find Rental Assistance In Your Area Quickly
When a situation comes up and you need help, the last thing you want to do is read through the details of a ton of programs trying to figure out which one is right for you. You have enough on your mind.
DoNotPay can help you create a letter for your local housing authority to inquire about which programs would work in your situation.
To use our tool, simply:
- Search for Rental Assistance on DoNotPay.
- Put together a list of your income, debts, expenses, and assets. If you need help accessing information like your credit report, DoNotPay can help you get your report.
- Let DoNotPay collect your basic information and compose a letter to your local housing authority requesting rental assistance.
- Lastly, DoNotPay will send your letter to your local housing authority.
We Have All the Resources You Need on Rental Assistance
When it comes to rental housing assistance, DoNotPay can help you understand:
- Find government assistance that could help with rent
- Where to find the best rental assistance programs
- How to get help with your rent
- How long it can take to get rental assistance
- Find rental assistance resources
- Where to find help with rent today
- Where to get rental assistance to avoid eviction
- Use resources from HUD for rental assistance
- How to apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Financial hardships happen, whether we like it or not. There’s help out there, so don’t be afraid to seek it. DoNotPay will be glad to help you seek the resources necessary to turn a bad situation into something more positive. Try it today!