State crisis grants, charities, and county programs for Arizona renters
Most of the programs that may help pay rent in Arizona are available at local offices rather than one state agency. Charities such as St. Vincent de Paul may pay part of a past-due balance, one state crisis program sends grant money to families through community agencies, and county programs hold much of the rest. This page covers the statewide and major regional options first. County and city pages, with local charities and program contacts, are linked at the bottom.
NOTE: An Arizona landlord may give a five-day notice to pay or move as soon as rent is late, and an eviction case can reach a court date within days of being filed. The time to apply for help is the first month a payment is missed. A tenant who already has court papers should start with the Arizona eviction prevention and rehousing programs page.
Statewide and major regional rent programs in Arizona
The programs in this section reach every county, or most of the state, and they are open in addition to the local funds on the county pages below.
Short-Term Crisis Services (STCS) - Arizona's main state fund for a family behind on rent is run by the Department of Economic Security and applied for through the community action agency in each county. A dependent child under 18 must live in the home. The grant may cover back rent or a mortgage payment, a rental deposit, or a utility bill during a one-time emergency.
Household income generally must be at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or 150 percent when a member is 60 or older or has a disability. A family separation caused by domestic violence counts as a qualifying crisis under the program rules. Details are at https://des.az.gov/services/basic-needs/shelter-housing/short-term-crisis-services.
Community action agencies - Every Arizona county is assigned to a community action agency, and these offices take the applications for Short-Term Crisis Services along with their own rent, deposit, and utility funds. One visit may cover several programs at once. The Arizona community action agency page lists the office and phone number for each county.
St. Vincent de Paul across Arizona - One charity operates at close to statewide scale in Arizona. St. Vincent de Paul runs roughly 80 locations across the state, and the Arizona Department of Housing lists the charity as a resource for eviction prevention and utility help in every county. Dialing 211 connects a caller to the nearest conference, and the St. Vincent de Paul assistance page explains how the home visits and rent requests work.
Tribal nation housing programs - Arizona has 22 federally recognized tribes, and each nation runs its own housing department. An enrolled member who is behind on rent may ask the nation's housing office about tribal rental assistance, along with any state or county program the household also qualifies for.
Free legal help for an eviction case - Three nonprofit law firms divide the state by region — Community Legal Services in the Phoenix area and central Arizona, Southern Arizona Legal Aid in the south, and DNA-People's Legal Services on tribal lands and in the north — and each may represent income-qualified renters at no cost. A short screening at https://www.azlawhelp.org/ or (866) 637-5341 refers a tenant to the office for their county, and the free legal help in Arizona page covers what each firm handles. Step-by-step information on the eviction process itself is posted at https://azevictionhelp.org/.
Section 8 and long waiting lists - Housing Choice Vouchers in Arizona come from city and county housing authorities, and most waiting lists stay closed except for short openings. A voucher reduces the monthly payment for years, and it is long-term help rather than emergency money. HUD's locator line at (800) 955-2232 identifies the housing authority for any address, and the Section 8 housing in Arizona page explains the income limits and local contacts.
Government housing resources - HUD lists Arizona rental programs, tribal housing contacts, and free housing counselors at https://www.hud.gov/states/arizona. DES posts its shelter and crisis programs at https://des.az.gov/shelter, and the Arizona Department of Housing posts its programs at https://housing.az.gov/. Dialing 211 or visiting https://211arizona.org/help/housing-shelter/rent-utility-assistance-2/ adds referrals to nearby rent and utility funds, in addition to the offices above.
Local rent help by Arizona county and city
The statewide programs above are only part of what a household may find. Local charities, churches, Salvation Army centers, and county funds hold their own money, and those contacts are listed on the pages below. Select the area closest to you for phone numbers and application details.
Bisbee and Cochise
Mesa focused agencies
Mohave County
Phoenix, Maricopa County and surrounding communities
Prescott AZ and Yavapai County
Tucson area including Pima County
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