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Find help paying your rent.
You can find help with paying your rent from assistance programs offered by your state, the federal government, or other independent organization and charities. Or if you are being evicted because your landlord is facing foreclosure, read about your tenant - landlord foreclosure rights.
State Assistance Programs and Organizations
- Many states and local governments have government run organizations and agencies that can help you with paying your rent, security deposit, and other housing expenses. For example Massachusetts offers RAFT, the TDHCA rent assistance program in Texas, the Florida EFAHP program, Connecticut RAP, and many others. Contact the Assistance Agencies and Programs in your state to find rent help, or your local community action agency for rent help.
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Rent Assistance From Federal Stimulus Program
- The federal government is providing billions of dollars for housing and rent assistance as a result of the federal stimulus program. The program being funded is The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (more on this program), and most of the rent help is being distributed at the local government level, thru charities and other organizations. Find rent programs for your state, city, and county.
Federal Government Organizations
- HUD (Housing and Urban Development):
Almost 1.5 million families use this program that helps those in need pay rent and security deposits. In addition to offering grants that help pay rent, the government Rental Voucher Program also helps to increase affordable housing choices by allowing families to select privately owned rental housing. More.
- USDA Rural Development:
Provides rental assistance for struggling rural families, low-income residents, disabled, and the elderly of multiunit housing buildings. Continue.
- Veterans and their families can get help with paying rent:
The federal governments Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program is providing rental assistance vouchers and security deposit assistance to both veterans and their family members. More.
- Legal advice to prevent evictions:
Over one million people receive free legal assistance and counsel to help them deal with eviction notices from the federal government funded Legal Services Corp. Click here to read more.
- Apply for government or private grants:
Many private organizations as well as the government offer grants that can be used to help pay rent
Eviction Prevention Programs
- Find assistance from programs that prevent evictions:
The federal government as well as many local and state governments, charities, and non profit organizations have eviction prevention programs for low and moderate income individuals and families. Many of the programs will try to prevent evictions and associated lawsuits. Some even try to stop foreclosures. They provide resources such as mediation, landlord and tenant assessments, conflict resolution, direct rent payments grants to tenants, and other forms of rental assistance. Learn more.
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Short Term Loans
- Salary Advance Loans, Payday Loans, and Peer to Peer Lending:
Salary Advance Loans are a relatively new low interest loan product offered by credit unions to help those in need quickly get cash, and they can be used to help with rent. Peer to Peer lending involves receiving loans from social networks at lower interest rates than banks and payday loans. Payday loans are another option to help pay rent, but they will have a higher interest rate than the previous two options. More.
Charities and Other Local Resources
- You need to look to your local community and charities:
If you are experiencing a difficult time in paying your rent for a month, you should contact community and local agencies that may be able to help you with paying rent and security deposits. There are many community, religious, and charitable organizations that will sometimes have funds that can help many types of people who are having financial difficulties. Some of the organizations on the list, such as the Salvation Army and United Way can assist with rent. See the following link of organizations that can help. There are also charities and organizations referenced that can help with utility and heating bills. Resources provided are often one-time-only or they are given on a first-come-first-served basis, so you should not depend on these sources over the long term. Calling these organizations, even if you are affiliated with their group or a member, can sometimes get you the help you need. Or they can many times refer you to an agency that can help with paying rent and bills if your need is great. Some examples of agencies that can help include Catholic Charities, Social Services, United Way, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Legal Aid Society. There are many others.
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- Churches provide rent assistance:
Many local churches are increasing their assistance programs, including offering more rent help, electric bill aid, and more.
- Check your eligibility for government resources:
If a member of your household, or you personally, are a veteran you may very well qualify for government assistance that can help with paying your rent, bills, or debts. You need to contact your local veterans association for more eligibility requirements and more details on these rent assistance programs for veterans.
- Communicate:
Contact your creditors, as well as your landlord, and communicate with them and tell them exactly what is going on. You need to be very honest about every part of your financial picture. You can ask for a lower temporary rent payment, or even ask for a skipped payment schedule. The landlord and creditors will appreciate you being proactive, and in many cases they would rather keep you as a tenant than have to evict you, as it can cost them thousands of dollars to go through the eviction process, market the site, find a new tenant, run background checks on the new tenant, etc. It is many times in their best interest to work with you.
- Reduce expenses:
You need to immediately reduce your expenses. Cancel everything that you can - cell phones, cable TV, processed foods, etc. Each as cheaply as you can...mac and cheese, powered milk, etc. As every dollar in lower expenses can help with paying your bills and rent. Use other tips from this site to help save money.
- Contact your utility company:
You need to ask them what kind of payment plans they have for people in need or experiencing financial hardship. You may have to show them a lot of documentation of your condition, but it will be worth it if you can save on or skip a couple electric bills. You need to free up money by saving on utility bills.
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