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Rental assistance programs in Pennsylvania - programs for back rent, deposits, and moving

Pennsylvania renters have access to emergency rent help from local charities, faith-based organizations, and community action agencies — these tend to be the fastest path when rent is past due or a notice has arrived. County-level Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) providers, funded through DHS, cover back rent, security deposits, and moving costs for households at or near the edge of eviction. In addition the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network coordinates free tenant legal help through eight regional offices serving every county. This page covers all of it, with links to county pages across the state at the bottom.

No single organization has unlimited funds. If one place can't help pay rent or assistance with moving costs, try another — community action agencies, churches, and the Salvation Army often have separate funding pools from HAP and can sometimes move faster. Most people who get rent help in Pennsylvania have reached out to more than one place.

If you've received an eviction notice and need immediate rent help or legal aid, note that Pennsylvania's eviction process gives tenants a court date but moves on a fixed timeline once filed. Reaching out to a legal aid organization as soon as a notice arrives — before a hearing is scheduled — gives tenants the most options. In addition, 211 connects callers to other local rent assistance programs. The Pennsylvania county pages below include programs as well as local organizations that 211 doesn't always list, so use both.

Statewide programs - government and non-profit options

Pennsylvania Homeless Assistance Program (HAP)
HAP is a county-administered program funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services that provides emergency help to renters facing eviction or already displaced. Through local county HAP providers, eligible households can receive help with back rent, security deposits, first month's rent, utilities, and moving costs. HAP is available in every Pennsylvania county, though it is administered locally — the amount of help available, and how quickly it moves, varies by county. Income eligibility is generally set between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level, determined by each county provider.

To apply, contact the HAP provider in your county directly. The state maintains a county contact list at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/for-residents/homeless-assistance. For more on HAP and related eviction prevention resources in Pennsylvania, see the NHPB Pennsylvania homeless prevention and rehousing page.

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
PLAN is a statewide consortium of eight regional legal aid organizations covering every county in Pennsylvania. For tenants, this means free eviction defense, help challenging wrongful removals, security deposit disputes, and assistance with applications for rent relief programs. Pennsylvania recently launched a statewide right-to-counsel program for low-income renters, funded through PLAN's network.

Income limits apply; contact your regional office or use the legal help finder at https://www.palawhelp.org/. Contact: 118 Locust Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Phone: (717) 236-9486 | Toll-free: (800) 322-7572. Website: https://palegalaid.net/. PLAN's member programs handle other civil legal matters beyond housing. See the NHPB guide to free legal assistance in Pennsylvania for a broader overview.

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)
PHFA administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in partnership with local public housing authorities across the state and oversees Pennsylvania's portfolio of income-restricted rental housing. PHFA's Customer Solutions Center can answer questions about rental housing options, help locate income-restricted units, and connect callers with housing counselors statewide. Voucher waiting lists vary significantly by housing authority. Contact: 211 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Phone: (855) 827-3466. Website: https://phfa.org//. See the NHPB guide to Section 8 housing in Pennsylvania for information on voucher programs and local housing authority contacts.

Salvation Army in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has two Salvation Army divisions — Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, and Western Pennsylvania — together operating dozens of corps along with hundreds of volunteer Service Units. Both divisions provide emergency rent and utility assistance directly through corps locations. The Eastern Pennsylvania division's Service Units extend reach into smaller communities where no corps is present, with volunteers providing emergency financial help to households in crisis. Funding and amounts vary by location; contact the corps or service unit nearest you. Find your nearest Pennsylvania location and the full range of assistance through the NHPB Salvation Army Pennsylvania page.

The Pennsylvania United Way
The non-profit provides referral information - both online and using the 211 service. People from across the state can get referred to organizations that may offer emergency or long-term rent payment help, provide assistance for a deposit or other housing resources. Website is https://www.pa211.org/homelessness-resources/ or dial 211.

Community action agencies
Pennsylvania's community action agencies — members of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP) — cover all 67 counties and are one of the most consistent local sources of emergency rental and security deposit assistance in the state. No two agencies operate identically because each agency tailors its programs to local needs and funding. The CAAP Contact is 222 Pine Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Phone: (855) 720-2227. Pennsylvania's community action agencies handle a range of programs beyond rent. See the NHPB Pennsylvania community action page for a broader overview of services by county.

Veterans: HUD-VASH and SSVF
Pennsylvania's VISN 4 network coordinates both HUD-VASH vouchers and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. HUD-VASH pairs rental vouchers with VA case management for veterans who are homeless. SSVF covers veterans at risk of eviction — it can pay back rent, security deposits, and utilities, and moves faster than voucher programs. VA medical centers in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lebanon, Coatesville, Wilkes-Barre, and Erie all have homeless veteran care teams that serve as the entry point for both programs. Contact: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: (877) 424-3838 (24 hours)

Local pages — find help in your county

Pennsylvania has 67 counties. Select from the pages below for local organizations, contacts, and program details. Counties are listed individually; for cities that are coextensive with or within a county, the county page covers both.

Harrisburg and Dauphin County

Indiana and Armstrong County