Charities That Help With Rent in Florida: 10 Real Programs (2026)

If you are behind on rent in Florida and facing an eviction, you still have options — but the biggest one is gone. The state’s pandemic-era program, OUR Florida, is closed, and the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) money that funded most county programs ended on September 30, 2025. There is no longer a single statewide fund to apply to. Today, emergency rent help in Florida flows through three channels: charities and faith-based nonprofits, county emergency rental-assistance and SHIP programs that open and close as funding allows, and the 211 Florida information line that routes you to whichever door is open right now.

This guide lists 10 real organizations that help Florida renters — who qualifies, how much they typically give, and exactly how to apply — plus a metro-by-metro quick-reference so you can start with the agency that serves your county. Every program below is verified as of July 2026. Rental funds are almost always paid directly to your landlord, not to you, and most programs require that you show enough income to cover next month’s rent on your own.

10 charities that help with rent in Florida (2026)

Organization	Best for	Typical help	Where it serves
211 Florida	Finding an open program fast	Free referrals	Statewide
The Salvation Army	Eviction / three-day notice	~$200–$600	Statewide (by ZIP)
St. Vincent de Paul	One-time rent & utility crises	Varies by conference	Statewide (by parish)
Catholic Charities	Rent & case-managed help	Varies by diocese	Statewide (5 dioceses)
County ERA programs	Larger back-rent balances	Varies by county	Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach…
SHIP (county housing offices)	Rent, deposits & move-in help	Varies by county	All 67 counties
Community Action Agencies (CSBG)	Low-income households	Varies by agency	~30 agencies statewide
Rapid Re-Housing (CoC / ESG)	Homelessness risk	Deposit + short-term rent	Coordinated entry (211)
Legal aid (eviction defense)	Fighting an eviction in court	Free legal representation	Regional legal-aid firms
Local crisis ministries	One-time neighborhood help	Varies by ministry	Community-based

1. 211 Florida — your free routing service

What it offers: 211 is not a fund; it is a free, confidential referral line staffed by local specialists who maintain a live database of every rent, utility, food, and shelter program in your area — including which ones currently have money. It is the fastest way to avoid applying to a program that is already out of funds.

Who qualifies: Anyone. There is no income test to use the service.

How to apply: Dial 2-1-1 from any phone, 24/7, or search your county at 211.org. Ask specifically for “emergency rental assistance with open intake this week.”

2. The Salvation Army

What it offers: Emergency rental assistance to prevent eviction, help toward a portion of rent, and rental counseling through local Corps Community Centers across Florida. Funds go straight to the landlord.

Who qualifies: You must live in the ZIP code assigned to your local corps, present a current three-day notice and your lease, document your hardship, and show enough income to pay next month’s rent on your own.

Typical amount: Roughly $200–$600, depending on the corps’ funding that month; many Salvation Army offices now take referrals through the local Coordinated Entry system (via 211) rather than walk-ins.

How to apply: Find your nearest corps with the locator at salvationarmyusa.org, or dial 2-1-1 to confirm the open window in your city.

3. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP)

What it offers: One-time rent, utility, food, and prescription assistance delivered by parish-based volunteer “conferences.” There is no religious requirement to receive help.

Who qualifies: Generally open to anyone within the conference’s neighborhood boundaries; availability depends on the local conference’s funds.

How to apply: Contact the SVdP chapter nearest you — hours vary because conferences are volunteer-run. Start at svdpusa.org/get-help, or dial 2-1-1 for your nearest conference.

4. Catholic Charities (by diocese)

What it offers: Rent, utility, and homelessness-prevention assistance through Florida’s network of diocesan agencies. Aid is assessed case-by-case when funding is available.

Who qualifies: Rules vary by diocese; common requirements include documented income loss or an out-of-pocket emergency and enough income to sustain future payments. Florida’s main agencies:

• Archdiocese of Miami: the largest nonprofit social-services provider in South Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties (ccadm.org).
• Diocese of St. Petersburg: serves Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties; (727) 893-1314 (dosp.org).
• Catholic Charities of Central Florida (Diocese of Orlando): financial assistance and homelessness prevention across nine central-Florida counties; (407) 658-1818 (cflcc.org).
• Dioceses of Palm Beach, Venice, and Pensacola-Tallahassee cover the rest of the state.

How to apply: Apply through the local agency that serves your county. Bring your current lease, photo ID, proof of income dated within 30 days, and a short hardship letter.

5. County Emergency Rental Assistance programs

What it offers: Because OUR Florida closed and federal ERA2 ended in September 2025, individual counties periodically run their own emergency rental-assistance rounds using local and remaining federal dollars. These can cover larger back-rent balances than most charities and are grants, not loans.

Who qualifies: Income-eligible renters in the county with documented hardship; criteria are set per round.

How to apply: Programs open and close on short notice. Check your county’s housing or community-services department — for example, Miami-Dade, Orange/Osceola, Hillsborough, Duval (Jacksonville), and Palm Beach County (rentalassistancepbc.org) have run recent phases — or dial 2-1-1 to confirm what is currently open.

6. SHIP — State Housing Initiatives Partnership (county housing offices)

What it offers: Florida funds every county through the SHIP program, administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Many counties use SHIP dollars for rent, security deposits, and move-in assistance alongside homebuyer and repair programs.

Who qualifies: Income-eligible households (typically at or below 80% of area median income); rules and open cycles vary by county.

How to apply: Contact your county or city SHIP administrator (usually the housing or community-development office). Find your local office through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation at floridahousing.org, or ask 2-1-1.

7. Community Action Agencies (CSBG network)

What it offers: Florida’s network of Community Action Agencies, funded through the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), offers rent, utility, and crisis assistance alongside employment and self-sufficiency programs.

Who qualifies: Low-income households; income limits and services vary by agency.

How to apply: Contact your local CAA directly. The Florida Association for Community Action (faca.org) lists member agencies by county, or dial 2-1-1 for the nearest office.

8. Rapid Re-Housing (Continuum of Care / ESG)

What it offers: Federally funded Rapid Re-Housing through each region’s Continuum of Care provides short- and medium-term rental assistance plus security and utility deposits, application fees, and moving costs — the most complete move-in help available.

Who qualifies: Households who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness; you must be assessed through the region’s Coordinated Entry system.

How to apply: You cannot apply to a single agency — dial 2-1-1 and ask to be connected to Coordinated Entry / homelessness-prevention services for your county.

9. Legal aid (eviction defense)

What it offers: Free legal representation and advice for tenants facing eviction — a powerful tool once you have a court date, because Florida’s eviction timeline is fast and a lawyer can spot defective notices and buy time. Regional firms cover the state:

• Bay Area Legal Services — Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota; Legal Aid Line (800) 625-2257 (bals.org).
• Three Rivers Legal Services — 17 North Florida counties including Duval (Jacksonville); 866-256-8091 (trls.org).
• Legal Services of Greater Miami and Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida cover South and Central Florida.

Who qualifies: Income-eligible tenants (generally at or below 125% of the federal poverty level).

How to apply: Find your regional provider at FloridaLawHelp.org.

10. Local crisis ministries & interfaith networks

What it offers: Nearly every Florida community has a crisis-assistance ministry, interfaith coalition, or benevolence fund — often church-run — that gives one-time help toward rent, utilities, and food when other programs are tapped out. Amounts are modest but decisions are fast, and many will stack on top of a Salvation Army or Catholic Charities grant.

Who qualifies: Usually residents within the ministry’s service area with a demonstrated one-time need.

How to apply: These are hyper-local, so 2-1-1 is the best way to find the ones near you with open funds. Ask for “faith-based or crisis-ministry rent assistance in [your city].”

Rent help by Florida metro — where to start

Florida is home to roughly 23 million people across metros with very different programs. Start with the local door for your county:

Metro / county	Best first stop	Also try
Miami-Dade & the Keys	Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Miami	Legal Services of Greater Miami; county ERA; 2-1-1
Broward (Fort Lauderdale)	Catholic Charities of Miami (Broward)	Broward County Housing; Salvation Army; 2-1-1
Tampa Bay (Hillsborough/Pinellas)	Catholic Charities St. Petersburg (727-893-1314)	Bay Area Legal Services (800-625-2257); county SHIP; 2-1-1
Orlando & Central Florida	Catholic Charities of Central Florida (407-658-1818)	Orange/Osceola ERA; Community Legal Services; 2-1-1
Jacksonville / Duval	Three Rivers Legal Services (866-256-8091)	Duval County Social Services; Salvation Army; 2-1-1
Palm Beach County	Palm Beach County ERA (rentalassistancepbc.org)	Catholic Charities; SHIP; 2-1-1
Southwest FL (Fort Myers/Naples)	Local CAA + county SHIP	Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice; 2-1-1
Anywhere in Florida	Dial 2-1-1 / 211.org	County SHIP office; Catholic Charities

What you’ll need to apply

Having your paperwork ready is the difference between same-week help and a denial. Most rent programs ask for:

• A current lease in your name and, often, a rent ledger (a printout of rent paid over the last six months).
• Your three-day notice or eviction summons if you have one — this moves you up the priority list.
• Photo ID for the head of household and proof of Florida residency.
• Proof of income dated within the last 30 days (pay stubs, SSI/SSDI, unemployment, or a benefits letter), plus proof of the hardship or income loss.
• A short hardship letter explaining what happened and how one-time help gets you stable.
• Your landlord’s W-9 and payment details — funds are paid to the landlord, so having this ready speeds everything up.

Tips to get approved faster

• Call 2-1-1 first, every time. It tells you which agencies have money this week so you don’t waste an application on an empty fund.
• Apply the moment you get a notice. Most charities prioritize households with a three-day notice or a court date, and funds are first-come.
• Stack sources. A $600 Salvation Army grant plus a St. Vincent de Paul conference plus county SHIP help can clear a balance no single program could.
• Ask about your county’s SHIP funds. SHIP is Florida-specific and often overlooked — it can cover rent and a security deposit for your next place.
• Get legal help early. Florida’s eviction timeline is fast; contacting Bay Area Legal, Three Rivers, or your regional legal-aid firm before your hearing can protect you from a judgment that follows you to your next lease.
• Keep your landlord in the loop. Agencies pay landlords directly and often need them to sign a participation form; a cooperative landlord speeds approval.

Frequently asked questions

Is OUR Florida rent relief still open?

No. The statewide OUR Florida program is closed, and the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funding behind most county programs ended on September 30, 2025. Emergency rent help now comes from charities, county rental-assistance and SHIP programs, and the 211 network. Dial 2-1-1 to find what is currently open in your county.

Which charity helps with rent the fastest in Florida?

For an active eviction, the Salvation Army and a local St. Vincent de Paul conference are usually the quickest one-time sources, and Catholic Charities adds case-managed help. Regional legal-aid firms like Bay Area Legal Services can defend the eviction itself. Always call 2-1-1 first to confirm which nearby agency has open funding, since charity rent funds are first-come and run out mid-month.

Do these programs pay me or my landlord?

Almost always your landlord. Charities such as the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities, and county rental-assistance and SHIP programs, send funds directly to the property owner, so having your landlord’s payment details and W-9 ready speeds approval.

What is SHIP and how is it different from charity rent help?

SHIP (the State Housing Initiatives Partnership) is a Florida-specific program that channels state housing dollars to every county. Unlike one-time charity grants, many counties use SHIP to cover rent and a security deposit or move-in costs for income-eligible households. Contact your county or city housing office, or ask 2-1-1, because open cycles and rules vary by county.

Can I get rent help in Florida without legal immigration status?

It depends on the program. Faith-based charities like St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army generally do not condition one-time help on citizenship, while some county and federally funded programs have residency or eligibility rules. Confirm with the specific agency or ask 2-1-1.

What if no charity in my area has funding right now?

Ask 2-1-1 to check neighboring counties and to flag any county rental-assistance or SHIP cycle about to reopen. In the meantime, request a written payment plan from your landlord, and if you have received an eviction summons, contact your regional legal-aid firm for free representation to buy time before your hearing.