There are numerous federal, state and local programs and organizations to help renters struggling to keep up with rent and other bills. Find out what assistance is available and if you qualify.

Find help with rent and utilities (in English and En Español)

Additional Resources

LIHEAP ( Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is a federally-funded program that helps low-income households pay their home heating and cooling bills. Depending on where you live, LIHEAP services include energy bill assistance, weatherization support, crisis assistance, equipment repair and replacement, energy education and disaster assistance.

Call 1-866-674-6327 or search online to find out if you qualify and to apply.

Federal fair housing laws protect people from discrimination, including harassment and intimidation, in housing and related services on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status and disability.  Housing discrimination is illegal in nearly all housing, including private housing, public housing, and housing that receives federal funding. The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Additional protections apply to federally-assisted housing.

The USDA National Hunger Hotline, operated by Hunger Free American, is a resource for individuals and families seeking information on how to obtain food. The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and various social services.

The hotline can be reached at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273), for Spanish, from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Call the Hunger Hotline.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of eligible needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiencyvia an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. This card can be used like a debit card to purchase eligible food in authorized retail food stores. To get SNAP benefits, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits, which are updated annually. There are special SNAP rules for households with elderly or disabled members. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.

A food bank is a nonprofit that safely stores millions of pounds of food that is delivered to local food programs, like a food pantry. Food pantries can be either permanent locations or mobile distributions. Food pantries are a reliable source for free, healthy and nutritious food in a neighborhood, and they often provide other critical resources such as nutrition education, health screenings, seasonal food baskets and back to school supplies. A community food pantry’s mission is to directly serve local residents who suffer from hunger and food insecurity within a specified area.

Meals on Wheels operates in virtually every community in America through a network of more than 5,000 independently run local programs. The diversity of each program’s services and operations vary based on the needs and resources of the communities, but they are all committed to supporting senior neighbors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes.

All children should have access to healthy, affordable foods to grow up healthy, happy and strong but sometimes that is a struggle for many families. Thre are organizations working to expand the reach of federal nutrition programs to eliminate barriers and improve delivery of healthy meals to children.