Emergency help paying rent in Polk County, Florida
Most rent assistance in Polk County is local by design. Mulberry, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Lake Wales, and Bartow each have a community center that helps only its own town, while the countywide programs take applications from anywhere in the county. Your address often determines which of the rental assistance programs will accept your application.
Depending on the program and its funding, a tenant may find help with back rent, a security deposit, first month's rent, or a utility bill. Section 8 vouchers, free legal aid for renters, and programs specific to farmworkers, veterans, and seniors fill out the rest of the county's options. Everything below was confirmed against each organization's own current information.
For overnight shelter or transitional housing rather than rent money, the county has a separate page: Polk County shelters and transitional housing.
County and state programs for rent and deposits
Polk County social services — The county's Health and Human Services operation has case managers who may help very low-income residents, including seniors and people with disabilities, with rent, mortgage, or utility costs when a household qualifies and funds allow, alongside enrollment in benefits. The same office connects residents to ACCESS Florida, the state system for temporary cash aid, which if approved may help pay for rental costs as well. Call before visiting, as intake is by appointment. (863) 534-5387
Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development — The county's housing office puts federal and state money into homeless prevention and rapid rehousing, delivered through partner nonprofits, along with affordable housing programs. If qualified, the nonprofits that administer the funds can help a tenant pay their rent on their home or someone pay a security deposit or storage costs for a new place. Staff can point residents toward whichever partner agency is currently taking applications. 1290 Golfview Ave., Suite 167, Bartow, FL 33830 | (863) 534-5240. Website: https://www.polkfl.gov/services/housing-and-neighborhood-development/.
Charities that help with rent across Polk County
Catholic Charities of Central Florida — Family Stability Program — A homeless prevention program that may pay part of a qualified household's rent when funding allows. To qualify, the household must have income, owe no more than one month's rent, and not yet have an eviction case filed in court — so the earlier you apply, the better. Walk-ins are generally taken Monday through Thursday at two Polk County parish sites, and eligibility decisions take several business days.Lakeland: St. Joseph Multi-Ministry Service Center | appointments (863) 686-7153 or Winter Haven: St. Joseph Catholic Church | appointments (863) 299-7983. Website: https://cflcc.org/financial-assistance/family-stability-program/.
The Salvation Army — Two separate corps cover the county, and each takes emergency assistance requests that can include rent or utility help for approved applicants when funding allows. Services shift with donations, so call first to ask what is currently offered.
Lake Wales Care Center — Serves the greater Lake Wales area, including Babson Park and Dundee. The center may provide temporary financial help toward rent or utilities during a crisis when funds are available, structured through a CARE plan that can involve budgeting classes, volunteer hours, or a payback agreement. Note that the center does not pay security deposits. 140 E. Park Ave., Lake Wales, FL 33853 | (863) 676-6678. Website: https://lakewalescarecenter.com/.
Mulberry Community Service Center — Serves Mulberry, Nichols, Pine Lake, Willow Oaks, Fuller Heights, Imperial Lakes, Bradley, and southeast Lakeland (zip 33813). The center tries to help qualified neighbors with rent, any housing costs, or utility bills. 1392 N. Church Ave., Mulberry, FL 33860 | (863) 425-1523. Website: https://www.mulberrycsc.org/.
HELP of Fort Meade — Fort Meade area residents in a short-term crisis may receive assistance toward rent or utilities, with funding arranged through United Way and other partners. Funding for rental payments is limited and variable. 202 W. Broadway St., Fort Meade, FL 33841 | (863) 285-6600. Website: https://www.helpoffortmeade.com/.
Frostproof Care Center — Serves the rural southeast corner of the county, including Frostproof and Babson Park. In times of sudden hardship, the faith-based center tries to assist with rent, mortgage, or utility costs when able. 17 S. Scenic Hwy., Frostproof, FL 33843 | (863) 635-5555.
Bartow Church Service Center — An ecumenical charity for the Bartow area that works to meet emergency needs, which in some cases can include partial rent payments. They have from time to time help with other bills. 495 E. Summerlin St., Bartow, FL 33830 | (863) 533-5822
First United Methodist Church of Lakeland — The downtown church's benevolence fund, built on donations, sometimes helps with small amounts toward rent or help tenants with energy arrears, and staff can offer referrals to other Lakeland programs. 72 Lake Morton Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801 | (863) 686-3163
Society of St. Vincent de Paul parishes — Volunteer groups at Catholic parishes around the county, including the Haines City conference at 1001 S. 10th St., may offer small amounts toward rent, utilities, or a deposit, along with low-cost furniture for a qualified renter. Each parish group has its own funds and rules, so availability varies. Haines City conference: (863) 419-4819
Help for farmworkers
Agricultural and Labor Program (ALPI) — A community action agency built around Polk's farmworker economy. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers, the rural poor, and other low-income families may receive emergency support that can extend to rental costs, along with HUD-certified housing counseling as well as weatherization. Services reach the whole county. 300 Lynchburg Rd., Lake Alfred, FL 33850 | (863) 956-3491. Website: https://alpi.org/.
Help for veterans
St. Vincent de Paul CARES — Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) — Serves Polk County veterans and their families who are homeless or about to lose housing. Very low-income veteran households that qualify can receive temporary financial help toward rent, security deposits, and moving costs, plus case management and help obtaining VA benefits. One phone screening starts the process. (844) 455-7783
Seniors and residents with disabilities
Faith in Action North Lakeland — A volunteer ministry for frail seniors, the chronically ill, disabled, and homebound in the North Lakeland area. Alongside various social services, qualified homebound clients may in some cases get help toward rent or utility bills for a rental unit. 1123 Omohundro Ave., Lakeland, FL 33805 | (863) 686-0009
Section 8 and public housing
Polk County splits its subsidized housing between two main authorities, each running the Housing Choice Voucher program — the tenant pays a share of income toward rent and the subsidy covers the rest — alongside its own public housing. Voucher lists here open rarely and have closed within a single day, so apply the moment one opens and keep your contact information current with the authority.
- Lakeland Housing Authority — Vouchers, public housing, and affordable apartments for the Lakeland area and parts of west Polk. 430 Hartsell Ave., Lakeland, FL 33815 | (863) 687-2911. Website: https://www.lakelandhousing.org/.
- Winter Haven Housing Authority — Vouchers, public housing communities, and senior apartments for Winter Haven and greater east Polk. 2653 Avenue C SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880 | (863) 294-7369. Website: https://www.winterhavenhousing.com/.
Smaller city housing authorities also operate in Bartow, Haines City, and Lake Wales with their own waiting lists — worth asking about if you want to live in those towns, since shorter lists sometimes hide there.
Free legal help for renters
Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) — The free civil legal aid firm for Polk County tenants. Attorneys handle tenants' rights, illegal lockouts, substandard housing, utility shutoffs by landlords, housing discrimination, subsidized housing problems, and eviction defense, and a statewide farmworker unit serves agricultural workers. Spanish is spoken. 1321 E. Memorial Blvd., Suite 101, Lakeland, FL 33801 | (863) 688-7376 or toll-free (888) 582-3410. Website: https://www.frls.org/.
Also dial 211
211 in Polk County is run by United Way of Central Florida (website: https://uwcf.org/) and is worth a call as a backup to learn about other emergency rental assistance programs. Several of the organizations on this page don't appear in referral databases, though, so don't stop with 211 alone. Dial 2-1-1, call (888) 370-7188, or text your zip code to 898-211.
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