Rent Help in Detroit and Wayne County — Who to Call and Where to Start
The Detroit area resources for struggling renters range from a community action agency covering all 43 Wayne County communities, several active emergency rent funds, and faith-based programs that may help with past due rental payments when other options are exhausted. For tenants who've already received an eviction notice, there's also a Right to Counsel program that provides free lawyers in housing court. This page covers verified contacts for emergency rent, deposit help, Section 8 housing, and free legal aid for tenants throughout Wayne County.
Wayne Metro is the starting point for most county residents — it's the designated community action agency for all 43 communities in Wayne County and runs emergency rental assistance and eviction prevention programs. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is one of the most active faith-based resources for short-term rent help across Detroit and the suburbs. For veterans, the Wayne County Soldiers and Sailors Relief office provides emergency housing assistance specifically for those who've served.
If you've already received an eviction notice or have a court date, tenant legal aid is available at no cost through two strong organizations: United Community Housing Coalition (which also administers Detroit's Right to Counsel program) and Legal Aid and Defender Association.
Emergency rent payment and housing assistance programs
Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (Wayne Metro)
Wayne Metro is the federally designated Community Action Agency for all 43 communities in Wayne County. As the county's anchor social services organization, Wayne Metro provides emergency housing assistance, including for rent, and eviction prevention programs, security deposit help, utility assistance, and case management for income-qualifying households. Their Connect Center is the intake point for all programs — call or visit to be screened for eligibility and connected to the right services. Contact: 7310 Woodward Avenue, Suite 800, Detroit, MI 48202 | (313) 388-9799. Website: https://www.waynemetro.org
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul — Archdiocese of Detroit
SVdP provides short-term, limited financial assistance for rent, utilities, and relocations costs for Wayne County households experiencing an unexpected financial crisis, including those who have no access to other options or government programs. Assistance, including for rent, is delivered through a network of parish-based volunteer conferences throughout Detroit and the suburbs. Call the archdiocesan line to be connected to the nearest conference. Contact: 3000 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit, MI 48207 | (313) 393-2930. Toll-free for all Wayne County parishes: 1-877-788-4623. Website: https://svdpdetroit.org.
ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services)
ACCESS is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in metro Detroit, serving residents of all backgrounds. Their Social Services team provides emergency assistance with housing, rent, and utility shut-off prevention, along with advocacy, immigration services, and referrals. While anyone may be assisted, a focus is on helping immigrants in Wayne County with rental needs. They also administer a Transitional and Permanent Housing Assistance program for Wayne County residents. English and Arabic services available; multilingual staff across locations. Contact: West Warren location (Detroit): 16427 W. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48228 | (313) 429-2469. Website: https://www.accesscommunity.org
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) — Wayne County
The state's human services agency administers the State Emergency Relief (SER) program, which provides emergency financial assistance for rent, mortgage, and utilities for low-income Wayne County residents. Applications for rent payment help can be submitted at local MDHHS offices or through the MI Bridges portal online. Call the main number or the call center for assistance. Main office: 3040 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48202 | (313) 578-5500. Call center: (313) 926-8600. MI Bridges online: https://newmibridges.michigan.gov.
Salvation Army — Wayne County
Multiple Salvation Army community centers throughout Detroit and Wayne County provide limited emergency rent and housing assistance as funding allows. Several locations also offer shelter for those who have already lost housing — those programs are on the dedicated shelter page. For rent assistance specifically, call the location nearest you:
- Dearborn Heights: 26700 W. Warren Street, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 | (313) 563-4457
- Detroit (Grandale): (313) 835-3736
- Detroit (Harding): 3000 Conner Street, Detroit, MI 48215 | (313) 822-2800
- Detroit (Temple): 3729 W. Chicago Avenue, Detroit, MI 48206 | (313) 897-2914
- Plymouth: 9451 Main Street, Plymouth, MI 48170 | (734) 453-5464
- Wayne/Westland: 2300 S. Venoy Road, Westland, MI 48186 | (734) 722-3660
- Downriver (Wyandotte): 1258 Biddle Avenue, Wyandotte, MI 48192 | (734) 282-0930
- Website: https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc/michigan/
Samaritan Center — Wyandotte Ministerial Association
Provides limited assistance including emergency rent help and security deposit loans for low-income residents of Wyandotte and the surrounding downriver area. St. Patrick's Church is one of the participating agencies. Contact: 135 Superior Boulevard, Wyandotte, MI 48192 | (734) 486-8473
CAM Detroit (Coordinated Access Model) — Coordinated Entry
CAM Detroit is Wayne County's Coordinated Entry system for housing and homelessness services, including rapid rehousing (which may include first months rent or deposit help), permanent supportive housing, SSVF (veterans housing), and referrals to emergency rent programs. For residents who are already homeless or unsheltered, CAM is the entry point. For those still housed but at risk, CAM can connect to available resources. Contact: 1600 Porter Street, Detroit, MI 48216 | (313) 305-0311 or (313) 963-6601. Website: https://www.handetroit.org/need-help
Health Emergency Lifeline Programs (HELP) — Corktown Health Center
Provides housing assistance, emergency rent funds, and case management exclusively for Wayne County residents who are HIV-positive. Income-eligible individuals living with HIV/AIDS can receive help with rental costs and housing stability through this program. Contact: 1726 Howard Street, Detroit, MI 48216 | (313) 832-3300
Veterans in Wayne County - rental and housing assistance focused programs
Wayne County Soldiers and Sailors Relief
Provides emergency grant assistance for rent, moving costs, and lease application fees for eligible veterans and spouses of deceased veterans in Wayne County. Funds are administered through the SSVF framework. Contact the office directly for eligibility requirements and to apply for financial help - whether rent or other housing needs. Contact: 28 W. Adams Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226 | (313) 224-8163
Wayne County Veterans Affairs Department
Provides emergency rent and housing assistance to veterans and their families — including spouses, widows, widowers, minor children, and mothers of veterans. Contact the department directly for current programs and eligibility. Contact: 28 W. Adams Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226 | (313) 224-5045
Section 8 vouchers and income-based, rental subsidized housing options
Detroit Housing Commission (DHC)
The Detroit Housing Commission administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and rent subsidized public housing for the City of Detroit and portions of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer, and St. Clair counties. The main HCV (Section 8) waiting list and most public housing waiting lists are often closed due to demand. Several project-based voucher lists (for specific senior and near-elderly developments) are more often open. Monitor the DHC website for any changes in waiting list status. Contact: 1301 E. Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI 48207 | (313) 877-8000. Website: https://www.dhcmi.org/applicants
Plymouth Housing Commission
Administers Section 8 vouchers and affordable housing for Plymouth and the immediate surrounding area. Contact directly for waiting list status. Contact: 1160 Sheridan Street, Plymouth, MI 48170 | (734) 455-3670
Taylor Housing Commission
Administers Section 8 and affordable housing for the City of Taylor. Contact directly for waiting list status.
(734) 287-9460
Free legal help for struggling tenants - including Right to Counsel program
United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC)
UCHC is Detroit's designated administrator of the Right to Counsel program, ensuring eligible low-income tenants facing eviction in Detroit receive free legal representation in housing court. Their attorneys provide eviction defense, tenant rights counseling, and case management. They also assist with tax foreclosure prevention and housing placement for displaced residents. If you've received an eviction notice or have a court date, call the eviction defense hotline directly. Contact: 2727 Second Avenue, Suite 313, Detroit, MI 48226. Main: (313) 963-3310 | Eviction Defense Hotline: (313) 725-4646. Website: https://www.uchcdetroit.org.
Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD)
Provides free civil legal services to income-qualifying residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, including eviction defense, habitability issues, housing discrimination, public housing matters, and applications for SSI and Section 8. LAD also provides free legal services to homeless veterans. Detroit's Right to Counsel program is supported through LAD and UCHC jointly. Intake is by normally phone on Mondays and Wednesdays. Contact: 613 Abbott Street, Suite 630, Detroit, MI 48226. Intake: (877) 964-4700 or (313) 967-5800. Website: https://ladadetroit.org
Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan (NLSM)
Provides free legal services focusing on health, safety, and housing stability for low-income Wayne County residents - including renters. Includes tenant representation, housing advocacy, and elder law. Located at the same Woodward address as Wayne Metro. Contact: 7310 Woodward Avenue, Suite 301, Detroit, MI 48202 | (313) 964-1975. Website: https://nlsmichigan.org.
Community forum
Residents of Wayne County and Detroit looking for local assistance information, recommendations, or to share resources with others can visit the moderated NHPB community forum for the area. The forum has real people posting comments, whether where they received rent help or their needs. See the Wayne County-Detroit rent assistance forum thread.
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