Help paying a security deposit when you don't have the money to move in
A security deposit can be one of the biggest financial barriers to getting into a stable home. Even when a person can afford the monthly rent, coming up with one or two months' worth of money upfront — plus a first month's rent and sometimes a last month's rent — can make a rental that would otherwise be manageable feel completely out of reach.
This page covers who pays security deposits for low-income renters and how each type of help works: national charities with deposit assistance programs, government programs that cover move-in costs as part of rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention, deposit guarantee and surety bond programs that reduce the upfront cash needed, and where to look for local programs in your area.
- SCAM WARNING: There is also a note at the bottom on scams, because deposit fraud specifically targets people who are urgently trying to move.
What most programs require before they will help
Security deposit assistance is not available to everyone who needs it — funding is limited and programs are selective. Understanding what most programs look for can save time before you start calling.
Most programs want to see that the applicant has a stable source of income sufficient to cover ongoing rent after moving in. The concern is not just getting someone into a unit — it is making sure they can stay. A person with no income at all will have a harder time qualifying than someone with a fixed income, a new job, or a benefits award. Programs that do serve people with no income are typically connected to transitional housing or shelter systems where case management is part of the picture.
Priority is generally given to people moving out of homelessness, domestic violence survivors relocating to safe housing, people transitioning out of shelters or transitional housing, single parents with children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Veterans have additional dedicated options covered below. Documenting your situation clearly — a letter from a shelter worker, a disability determination, a protective order, proof of a new job or income — can make a meaningful difference in whether you qualify and how quickly.
Most programs pay the landlord directly rather than giving cash to the applicant. Some combine deposit help with first month's rent or utility deposit coverage. Some are grants; others are loans to be repaid when circumstances stabilize.
Charities that may help pay security deposits
The Salvation Army has deposit assistance programs through many of its local centers, though availability and terms vary significantly by location. In most cases, help with a deposit is focused on people moving out of Salvation Army shelters or transitional housing who have met the goals established during their stay. The assistance is designed to help people take a last step toward independence after a period of supported housing — not as a general walk-in service. To find out what a local center offers, contact it directly. How to find a center and what other assistance the Salvation Army provides is on the Salvation Army financial assistance page.
Catholic Charities may offer emergency financial assistance through thousands of local offices, with deposit help available at many locations. The focus tends to be on single mothers, seniors with insufficient savings, and women leaving domestic violence situations who need to get into safe housing quickly. Some locations also provide volunteers who help people physically move. Because Catholic Charities operates locally, the specific programs and eligibility requirements vary by office — call the one nearest to you to ask what they can do. Full details on finding a local office are on the Catholic Charities assistance page.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul may have limited funds for move-in costs and rental deposits through its local chapters, which operate out of Catholic parishes across the country. Requests are reviewed by a local SVDP conference, and the organization pays the landlord directly rather than issuing cash. They may also assist with lease application fees or storage costs in some cases. Many locations ask recipients to repay what they can over time as their situation improves. Information on finding a local conference is on the Saint Vincent de Paul financial assistance page.
United Way affiliated agencies provide referrals and in some areas (though rare) direct funding for deposit assistance. Local United Way organizations serve as a clearinghouse — connecting people with the specific nonprofits and government programs in their community that have active deposit funds. If you are not sure who to call in your area, a United Way office is a reasonable starting point for getting a current list of what is available locally. More on what United Way agencies offer is on the United Way housing and rent assistance page.
Community action agencies exist in every county in the country and are one of the most consistent sources of deposit assistance outside major urban charities. These are nonprofit organizations funded through a mix of federal, state, and local sources, and they often administer one-time deposit assistance as part of broader housing stabilization programs. If they cannot provide funds directly, they can typically refer you to whoever currently has active deposit funding in your county. A directory of community action agencies is on the community action agency page.
The Urban League provides deposit and first month's rent assistance in some cities, typically as part of broader economic stability programs. Eligibility is income-based and the person applying generally needs to demonstrate a path toward financial stability. Because Urban League programs are locally administered, availability and terms vary. The Urban League housing assistance page covers how to find a local program.
Government programs that may pay deposits as part of housing assistance
Federal homeless assistance programs — specifically the Emergency Solutions Grants program and the Continuum of Care program — fund rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention at the local level. One of the specific costs these programs can cover is a security deposit or first month's rent for someone who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. The money flows through local nonprofits and social services agencies rather than being available directly from the federal government. If you are in a housing crisis and need help with a deposit as part of moving into stable housing, the right starting point is to contact your local homelessness services network — calling 211 will connect you to whoever administers these funds in your county. HUD's homelessness assistance resources are at https://www.hud.gov/helping-americans.
Rapid rehousing programs specifically combine deposit assistance with short-term rental subsidies and case management to move people out of homelessness quickly. The goal is to get someone into a permanent unit fast, then provide support while they stabilize. These programs are among the most reliable sources of deposit help for people who are currently homeless, because the deposit is bundled with other move-in assistance rather than treated as a standalone request. How rapid rehousing works and how to access it is covered on the homeless prevention and rapid rehousing page.
Veterans have access to several dedicated programs for deposit and move-in costs. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program (SSVF) specifically covers security deposits, utility deposits, moving costs, and other housing expenses for low-income veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. HUD-VASH also has case managers who can connect veterans with local resources for deposit costs when a voucher alone does not cover them. A full overview of housing and deposit assistance available to veterans is on the veteran rental assistance page.
Some local housing authorities and county social services offices administer small deposit assistance funds for qualifying households. These are not widely advertised and vary significantly by location — it is worth asking your county's Department of Social Services or Housing and Community Development office directly whether they have active deposit funds, particularly if you are a domestic violence survivor, a single parent, or transitioning from shelter housing. HUD's state resources page at https://www.hud.gov/states local HUD offices by state, which can point you to county-level programs.
Deposit guarantees and surety bonds — reducing the cash you need upfront
For renters who do not qualify for grant-based assistance but still cannot pull together a full cash deposit, surety bonds and deposit insurance programs offer a lower-cost alternative. Instead of paying a full deposit upfront, the renter pays a smaller non-refundable fee or monthly premium to a third-party company, which guarantees the landlord coverage for damages or unpaid rent. These are not free money — if the company pays a claim to the landlord, it will bill the renter for that amount. The renter is still fully liable.
Not all landlords accept these alternatives, and they are most common at larger apartment complexes with formal provider partnerships. How each option works, what it costs, and what to watch for is on the security deposit guarantee programs page.
Finding deposit help in your state and county
Security deposit assistance is highly local. State and county programs, local charities, and church networks that cover deposits are not consistently listed in any national database — they are found by calling community action agencies, United Way offices, and 211. The rent assistance directory page is organized by state and county and covers local programs that help with both ongoing rent and move-in costs including deposits. Many of the programs listed there specifically include deposit assistance as part of what they provide, and several cover both rent and deposits in a single application.
If you are on Section 8 and need help specifically with the deposit on a Housing Choice Voucher unit, those programs operate under different rules than general deposit assistance. How deposits work on Section 8 properties, what landlords can and cannot charge, and where to find help specific to that situation is covered on the Section 8 security deposit assistance page.
For people looking for housing where no deposit is required at all — either because the landlord waives it or because the unit is in a program that does not charge one — options for that are on the rent-free and no-deposit housing page.
A note on scams
Deposit scams are widespread and specifically target people who are urgently trying to move. The most common involves a fake rental listing — often posted on Craigslist or Facebook — for an apartment priced attractively below market. The "landlord" asks for a deposit before you can view the unit, usually by wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, or gift card. Once you pay, they disappear. Never send a deposit on a rental without viewing the unit in person and verifying that the person you are dealing with has the legal right to rent the property. A real landlord will not pressure you to pay before you can see the place.
Deposit assistance scams also exist — fake organizations that charge a fee to connect you with deposit programs that don't exist, or that collect personal information under the guise of an application. Legitimate charities and government programs do not charge application fees. If an organization asks you to pay to apply for deposit help, it is not legitimate. Guidance on recognizing and reporting this type of fraud is on the financial assistance scam guide
Ask the community - moderated forum
The site's moderated forum has an active thread where people share what deposit assistance they have found in specific cities and counties, ask questions about their own situations, and help others navigate the process. If you have found a local program that helped with your deposit — or want to know what is available in a specific area — the thread focused on security deposit assistance programs is open to anyone.
Disclaimer: Security deposit assistance programs vary significantly by location, have limited funding, and change frequently. Contact programs directly to confirm current availability and eligibility requirements before making housing decisions. This page is for informational purposes only.
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