Can't Pay Rent This Month? What to Do First (and Where to Get Help)
- Message your landlord before rent is late (or as soon as you can). Ask for a short payment plan. A template is below.
- Call 211 (or search your ZIP code at 211.org). It’s confidential, and it can connect you with rent help programs in your area.
First, take a breath. Being short on rent is scary, but there are steps you can take today, and free help you can find.
This guide walks you through what to do, in the order that tends to work fastest.
Can’t pay rent this month? Start with where you are
Pick the line that sounds most like you.
What to have ready
Rent help programs usually ask for papers like these. Gather them first so you can apply as soon as you find a program.
Ways to get help (fastest first)
Tip: apply to two or three places. Always tell each program about any other help you’ve applied for or received.
Free up cash for rent
These programs don’t pay rent, but they cut other bills — which can leave more money for rent this month.
| Program | What it helps with | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP (food stamps) | Groceries | Your state’s SNAP office |
| LIHEAP | Heating and cooling bills | Ask 211 for your local LIHEAP office (program info) |
| Lifeline | Phone or internet bill discount | FCC Lifeline page |
How to find help with 211
You can simply dial 211 from most phones. If you’d rather look online first, here’s how.
Search your ZIP code
Let’s start with the easy part. All you need here is your ZIP code — 211 uses it to find the help line that covers where you live.
Go to 211.org/about-us/your-local-211.
| # | Box | What to do | Example | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ① | Address or ZIP code | Type the ZIP code where you live now | 75201 | Use your home ZIP, not your work ZIP |
| ② | Search | Click the blue Search button | — | To search a different ZIP, reload the page and type the new ZIP |
Contact your local 211
Nice, you found your local 211. This card has everything you need to reach them, so take a second to read it before you click anything.
You’ll see the 211 that covers your area.
| # | What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| ① | Your local 211’s name | The 211 service for your area | Click it to open their website |
| ② | Phone number | Call 211, or the backup number shown | Call and say “I need help paying rent” |
| ③ | Search for resources online | Their own database of local programs | Search “rent” or “rent payment assistance” |
| ④ | Hours and languages | When they’re open, which languages they speak | Ask for an interpreter if you need one |
What happens next: 211 will give you the names and phone numbers of programs. Write them down, call each one, and ask how to apply.
What to say to your landlord
Reach out before rent is due if you can. Be specific: say how much you can pay now and when you’ll pay the rest. Keep it short and polite, and send it in writing so you both have a record.
Text or email you can copy:
Hi [landlord’s name], this is [your name] in [unit]. I’m running short this month because [short reason, e.g. “my hours were cut”]. I can pay $[amount] on [date] and the remaining $[amount] by [date]. [Optional, only if true: I’ve applied for help through ___.] Would that work for you? Thank you for understanding.
If you’ve applied for help, add:
The program may contact you to confirm the amount I owe and to send payment. Could you please watch for their call or email?
If you got a notice
A written notice from your landlord (often called a “pay or quit” notice, meaning pay what you owe or move out by a date) is not an eviction. It’s usually the first step before a landlord can go to court. How many days it gives you depends on your state — in Florida, for example, a notice for unpaid rent must give you 3 days, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
What to do now:
- Read the notice carefully. Note the amount and the deadline.
- Contact your landlord using the template above, and say you’re applying for help.
- Call 211 and say you’ve received a notice, so they understand how urgent your situation is.
- Talk to a free housing counselor: HUD-approved counseling agencies help renters facing eviction. Call 800-569-4287 (TTY 202-708-1455) or search online.
If you got court papers
If you’ve been served with court papers (a “summons” or “complaint” for eviction), the deadline matters more than anything else. The papers list a deadline. Missing it, or missing a court date, can mean losing the case without a hearing.
- Find the deadline on the papers today and write it down.
- Get free legal help today. Use the Legal Services Corporation’s legal aid finder to find a free legal aid office near you.
- Tell any rent program you’ve applied to that a case has been filed, and ask whether they can still help.
- Go to every court date listed on your papers.
What to avoid
| Avoid | Why | Better option |
|---|---|---|
| Payday loans | Usually $500 or less, typically due on your next payday. A $15 fee per $100 borrowed works out to almost 400% APR. | If you belong to a credit union, ask about a payday alternative loan (PAL): $200–$1,000, 1–6 months, 28% APR, application fee up to $20 |
| Anyone asking for a fee or gift cards to “get you” rent help | It may be a scam | Go through 211 or an official .gov website |
| Ignoring your landlord or the notice | Silence makes a court case more likely | Respond in writing, even if you can only pay part |
| Missing a court date | You can lose the case without a hearing | Call legal aid and show up |
FAQ
Does rent assistance have to be paid back? It depends on the program. Some give you money you don’t pay back; others are loans. Ask each program before you accept.
Can I get help if I already got an eviction notice? Often, yes. Tell 211 and each program that you have a notice so they know how urgent it is.
I’m a veteran. Is there special help? Yes. Call the VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. It’s free, confidential, and open 24/7.
Can my landlord change the locks if I don’t pay? Rules depend on your state. In Florida, a landlord who locks out a tenant can be sued for damages. If it happens to you, call legal aid right away.
Sources
All checked on November 3, 2026.
- 211, About 211, Housing Expenses, Find your local 211
- Community Action Partnership, Find a Community Action Agency
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, Help for Veterans at risk of homelessness
- HUD, Housing Counseling
- CFPB, What to do if you’re facing eviction and What is a payday loan?
- NCUA, Payday Alternative Loans
- Legal Services Corporation, I Need Legal Help
- Florida Statutes §83.56 and §83.67
- Texas Attorney General, Renters’ Rights
- USDA, SNAP State Directory
Update log
- Nov 3, 2026: First published.