Are there any churches who help with rent? Absolutely! Churches and benevolence ministries provide financial assistance to millions of low-income renters every year.
If you’re struggling to pay your rent, you’ll also appreciate the other support services churches offer. When you’re finding it tough to stretch a paycheck, churches are a lifeline supplying free food, clothing, toys, and other essentials.
Many churches will also help with utility bills and affordable healthcare.
Churches Who Help With Rent in 2024
Church assistance programs provide a range of support services for people facing a crisis. To get help paying your rent, you’ll need to contact church rent assistance programs and provide proof of the amount you need to pay.
Depending on the program, you may receive help paying the current month’s rent, rent arrears, advance rent, or a security deposit.
If you’re facing eviction because of rent arrears, churches can help you find second-chance apartments that accept evictions. Many churches also own and operate housing for renters who are turned down elsewhere.
Local Churches That Help With Rent
Find out if you can get help with your rent by talking to local pastors, priests, or church elders.
Local churches that help pay rent often run charitable programs or partner with non-profit organizations that offer short-term financial help in emergencies.
While there’s a high demand for their support services, local churches won’t turn away anyone who is truly in need.
As well as helping you pay your rent, many churches operate food pantries. It’s a good idea to make use of the food aid offered, so you’ve got more money available to pay your rent.
Use Google Maps to find churches in your area. Type “churches” and the name of your town or city in the search box.
If you’ve got geolocation enabled on your device, type “ Christain churches that help with rent assistance near me”. You’ll see your local churches displayed on the map, along with opening hours and contact details for each one.
Call the churches listed and explain you need help to pay your rent. You’ll probably need to attend an appointment with a coordinator who will assist you or refer you to another organization with better resources.
Depending on church policy, the church may pay your landlord directly. If they can’t arrange payment before your rent is due, they’ll call your landlord to let them know when the rent will be paid.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant church and charity with a long history of providing support to local communities. Help is available to everyone in need, regardless of faith or immigration status.
They have a specific program designed to cover emergency rent payments and utility bills, although you may need to meet program eligibility requirements.
To get help from the Salvation Army:
- Go to https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/rent-mortgage-and-utility-assistance/
- Enter your Zip Code to get the contact details for your local rent assistance program
The time it takes for the Salvation Army rental assistance program to issue a payment for your rent depends on the resources available in your local area and the volume of requests they’re currently handling.
You may need to provide a notice of late payment from your landlord detailing the amount of rent you need to pay.
Your local Salvation Army also offers a broad range of support services, including:
- Food pantry or food vouchers
- Prescription vouchers
- Assistance for utilities and water
- Back-to-school supplies
- Access to a thrift store
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is the benevolent arm of the Catholic Church. While local Catholic churches may be able to help you directly, they’ll often refer you to your nearest Catholic Charities office, which provides social services to assist individuals and families in need.
You can turn to Catholic Charities for support no matter your beliefs, and support is available to all regardless of immigration status.
With over 3,000 offices nationwide, you’ll likely have a branch in your area you can turn to for help paying your rent.
Other community support services offered by Catholic Charities include:
- Low-income housing
- Recovery housing
- Transitional housing
- Low-cost legal help
- Food pantries and soup kitchens
- Free and low-cost home repairs
- Help to pay for basic needs
- Help with utility bills
- Free formula and diapers
- Funeral costs
To find your nearest Catholic Charities agency:
- Go to https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/about-us/find-a-local-agency/
- Enter your Zip Code.
- Click on the listed results to get addresses and contact details for churches that help pay rent near me.
You can also visit your local Catholic church to ask for a referral.
United Methodist Churches (UMC)
This United Methodist Church is committed to the fight against poverty. Families and individuals with emergency housing needs can get help to pay rent, help with utility bills, free food, and other basic necessities.
Other services may be available depending on your location. These include:
- Free access to community healthcare clinics
- Free home repairs
- Free rides to job interviews, medical visits, and other essential appointments
- Free or low-cost car repairs
- Case management and mentoring
Your local United Methodist Church serves as the intake point for assistance programs. You’ll need proof of financial hardship and following a review of your circumstances, staff will refer you to the partner organization best suited to your needs.
Find your nearest UMC at https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church.
Love In The Name Of Christ – Love INC
Aiming to provide coordinated, holistic care and resources, Love INC acts as a coordinator linking those in need with local churches and Christians in their community who can help.
Resources are provided to those facing an unexpected crisis because of circumstances beyond their control. If your rental difficulty is due to making poor spending decisions, you won’t be eligible for assistance.
Love INC operates a clearinghouse referral system. When you call Love INC, you’ll be referred to partner churches or other community organizations in your area.
To contact Love INC
- Go to https://www.loveinc.org/find-your-love-inc/
- Enter your Zip Code or look through the list of local Love INCs
- Visit the website to find contact details.
Society Of Saint Vincent De Paul
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVDP) is another Catholic charity that can help you pay your rent. With a nationwide presence, SVDP provides a wide range of essential services to people experiencing poverty and financial hardship.
Besides their rent payment assistance program, your local Society of Saint Vincent de Paul can help with:
- Short/long-term housing needs
- Utility bills
- Prescription costs
- Funeral costs
Furniture and other goods are available at a low cost in their thrift stores. Families who can’t afford basic necessities receive vouchers to get what they need from the thrift store.
Follow these steps to find your local SVDP office:
- Go to https://ssvpusa.org/assistance-services/
- Choose your region
- Click on the link for your city or nearest location
- Look on the linked website for contact details, office address, and open hours
Call The United Way Helpline – 211
Calling the United Way helpline is a quick way to connect with churches and Christian charities that can help you pay your rent.
A call to 211 is free and the call center is open 24 hours a day. When you call, tell the advisor “I’m looking for churches near me that help with rent”.
The advisor will also help you find other charities and nonprofits able to help with emergency rent payments.
Do You Have To Repay Church Rental Assistance?
The rental assistance you receive through church programs doesn’t need to be repaid. Payments are issued according to need as long as funds are available. Your rent payment is provided as a grant rather than a loan.
Next Steps
Reach out to the churches who help with the rent listed above. You may need to call multiple churches to get the help you need depending on the availability of funding and your eligibility for the various programs.
Find out if you’re eligible for food assistance so you’ve got more money available for your rent going forward.
If your rent is already late or coming due shortly, let your landlord know that you’ve requested financial assistance from a church.
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Alex Graham is a co-founder and manages high-quality content that helps once evicted/ex-felons find a place to call. home. Alex believes even if he can help one person return to a good, wholesome life it is well worth the effort.