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

If you are behind on rent in New York, the first thing to know is what is no longer available: the state’s pandemic-era Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) closed to new applications on January 20, 2023, and it has not reopened. What replaced it is not one program but a layered system — and New York’s is actually stronger than most states’, because New York City runs its own emergency-grant and homelessness-prevention machinery (One Shot Deals and Homebase) on top of the charities and county programs that operate statewide.

This guide lists 10 real sources of rent help for New Yorkers — who qualifies, what each covers, and exactly how to apply — with a metro-by-metro quick reference for NYC, Long Island, and upstate. Every program below was verified as of August 2026. Two ground rules apply nearly everywhere: funds are paid directly to your landlord, and programs want to see that you can carry the rent going forward once the arrears are cleared.

10 charities and programs that help with rent in New York (2026)

Organization	Best for	Typical help	Where it serves
211 New York / NYC 311	Finding an open program fast	Free referrals	Statewide / NYC
One Shot Deal (HRA)	Back rent with eviction risk	Full arrears grant (may be repayable)	New York City
Homebase (DHS/HRA)	Staying out of shelter	Prevention + emergency rent help	New York City
County DSS emergency assistance	Back rent outside NYC	Emergency grants, case-by-case	All 57 counties outside NYC
Catholic Charities	Rent + eviction-prevention casework	Varies by diocese	Statewide (by diocese)
The Salvation Army	One-time crisis help	Partial rent, by corps	Statewide (by ZIP)
St. Vincent de Paul	One-time parish help	Varies by conference	Statewide (by parish)
Community Action Agencies (CSBG)	Low-income households	Rent & crisis assistance	Statewide network
Rapid Re-Housing (CoC / ESG)	Homelessness risk	Deposit + short-term rent	Coordinated Entry (211/311)
Free eviction lawyers	Fighting the case in court	Right to Counsel (NYC) + legal aid	NYC guarantee; statewide providers

1. 211 New York and NYC 311 — your routing services

What it offers: Outside the five boroughs, 211 is the fastest way to learn which charities and county programs near you currently have rent money — funds open and close without notice, and the specialists see the live list. Inside New York City, 311 is the front door to Homebase, HRA benefits, and tenant-protection services.

Who qualifies: Anyone; both lines are free and confidential.

How to apply: Dial 2-1-1 anywhere in New York State (see the state 211 directory) or 311 in NYC.

2. The One Shot Deal — NYC’s emergency rent grant

What it offers: New York City’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) issues Emergency Assistance grants — universally known as One Shot Deals — that can pay off your entire rent arrears when you face eviction, along with utility shutoffs and other emergencies. It is the single most powerful back-rent tool in the state. Two caveats: HRA decides case-by-case, and you may be required to repay some or all of the grant, depending on your situation.

Who qualifies: NYC residents with a genuine emergency (eviction case, shutoff, disaster), judged on income, household size, and — critically — the ability to pay future rent on your own. Immigration status is considered but many household configurations still qualify; apply rather than self-reject.

How to apply: Online via ACCESS HRA, at any HRA Benefits Access Center, or by phone at 718-557-1399 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.). An interview follows the application. Bring your lease, rent ledger or court papers, photo ID, and proof of income.

3. Homebase — NYC homelessness prevention

What it offers: Homebase is the city’s neighborhood-based prevention network, with offices across all five boroughs. Case managers help you fight eviction, apply for One Shot Deals and rental subsidies such as CityFHEPS, negotiate with landlords, and access short-term financial help — the goal is keeping you out of the shelter system entirely.

Who qualifies: NYC residents at imminent risk of entering the shelter system, with low income.

How to apply: Call 311 and ask for Homebase, or use the Homebase locator to find your neighborhood office. Go early — the earlier Homebase engages, the more tools it has.

4. County DSS emergency assistance — the statewide One Shot

What it offers: Outside NYC, every county’s Department of Social Services administers state-funded Emergency Assistance (often called emergency safety-net assistance) that can pay rent arrears to prevent an eviction, in much the same way as the city’s One Shot Deal — including for households that do not receive ongoing public assistance.

Who qualifies: Case-by-case: documented emergency, income screening, and a plan to carry future rent. Families with children get priority handling.

How to apply: Apply at your county DSS office or via myBenefits.ny.gov; bring the eviction notice or rent demand, lease, ID, and income proof. The state’s OTDA site lists every county office.

5. Catholic Charities — statewide, by diocese

What it offers: New York’s Catholic Charities agencies run some of the state’s most substantive rent-help and eviction-prevention programs. In the Archdiocese of New York (Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and the lower Hudson Valley), the central helpline routes you to emergency financial assistance and the Eviction Prevention Grant Program (EPGP) — active in 2026 for Manhattan, Bronx, and Westchester households at or below 80% of Area Median Income with a Housing Court case and no attorney. Brooklyn/Queens, Rockville Centre (Long Island), Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany each have their own diocesan agencies with parallel emergency-assistance programs.

Who qualifies: Varies by diocese and program; typically low-income households with a documented housing crisis. No religious requirement.

How to apply: In the Archdiocese, call the Catholic Charities Helpline at 888-744-7900. Elsewhere, find your diocesan agency through catholiccharitiesusa.org/find-help or dial 211.

6. The Salvation Army

What it offers: The Salvation Army’s Greater New York and Empire State divisions provide emergency financial assistance through local corps community centers — typically one-time partial rent payments made directly to the landlord, alongside utility and food help.

Who qualifies: Income-eligible households in the corps’ service area with a documented crisis; expect an intake interview.

How to apply: Enter your ZIP at salvationarmyusa.org to find your corps, and call ahead — rent funds are limited and often exhausted mid-month.

7. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

What it offers: Parish conferences across the state make small, fast, case-by-case grants toward rent — often the difference-maker when you are a few hundred dollars short of what a larger program will cover.

Who qualifies: Generally residents within the parish’s boundaries; availability depends on local funds.

How to apply: Find a conference via svdpusa.org/get-help or ask 211 which parishes near you currently help with rent.

8. Community Action Agencies (CSBG network)

What it offers: New York’s federally funded Community Action Agencies deliver crisis assistance that commonly includes rent and arrears help, plus benefits screening, utility programs (HEAP), and case management aimed at longer-term stability.

Who qualifies: Low-income households; thresholds vary by agency and program.

How to apply: Find your county’s agency through the Community Action Partnership locator or dial 211.

9. Rapid Re-Housing and Coordinated Entry (CoC / ESG)

What it offers: If arrears help cannot save the tenancy — or you have already lost it — HUD-funded Rapid Re-Housing can pay a security deposit, first month’s rent, and short-term rental assistance for a new apartment, with case management attached.

Who qualifies: Households that are literally homeless or at imminent risk, assessed through their region’s Coordinated Entry system.

How to apply: Dial 2-1-1 (or 311 in NYC) and ask for a Coordinated Entry assessment for Rapid Re-Housing.

10. Free eviction lawyers — New York’s strongest tenant card

What it offers: New York City’s Right to Counsel law entitles eligible tenants facing eviction in Housing Court (and NYCHA termination cases) to free legal representation. A lawyer routinely buys the time that makes a One Shot Deal or charity grant land before a warrant executes — tenants with counsel keep their homes at dramatically higher rates. Outside NYC, regional legal-aid providers offer free eviction defense to income-eligible tenants.

Who qualifies: In NYC: tenants aged 60+ or with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line (about $62,000 for a family of four); provider capacity is stretched, so even eligible tenants sometimes receive advice rather than full representation. Statewide: income limits vary by provider.

How to apply: In NYC, call Legal Services NYC at 917-661-4500 (Mon–Fri, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.), the Housing Court Answers hotline at 212-962-4795, or tell the judge at your first appearance that you want your Right to Counsel lawyer. Outside NYC, find your provider at LawHelpNY.org.

What happened to NYS ERAP?

New York State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program stopped accepting applications on January 20, 2023, and remains closed — any site telling you to “apply for New York rent relief” through ERAP in 2026 is out of date. Applications filed before the deadline are still being processed; if yours is pending, check your status at nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov or call 844-NY1-RENT (844-691-7368). For new help today, use the ten doors above — not ERAP.

Rent help by New York metro — where to start

Metro	Start with	Then try
New York City	311 → Homebase; One Shot Deal via ACCESS HRA	Catholic Charities 888-744-7900; Right to Counsel 917-661-4500
Long Island (Nassau/Suffolk)	County DSS emergency assistance	Catholic Charities (Rockville Centre); Salvation Army; 211
Buffalo / Erie County	Erie County DSS; 211 WNY	Catholic Charities of Buffalo; Salvation Army Empire State
Rochester / Monroe County	Monroe County DSS; 211	Catholic Charities Family & Community Services; SVdP
Albany / Capital Region	County DSS; 211	Catholic Charities (Albany diocese); Community Action
Syracuse / Onondaga County	Onondaga County DSS; 211	Catholic Charities of Onondaga County; Salvation Army

What you’ll need to apply

• Photo ID for the head of household and Social Security numbers where required (many charities help regardless of status — ask).
• Your lease and a rent ledger, demand letter, or Housing Court papers showing exactly what you owe.
• Proof of income for the last 30 days — and anything that shows you can carry the rent going forward (new job letter, approved benefits).
• Landlord contact and payment details — every major program pays the landlord directly, and a responsive landlord speeds up every approval.

Tips to get approved faster

• In NYC, answer the Housing Court case even if you have no defense — appearing triggers your Right to Counsel screening and buys the time a One Shot Deal needs.
• Apply before the warrant, not after. Every program on this list can do more with an active case than an executed eviction.
• Stack sources. A county emergency grant covering most of the arrears plus SVdP or Salvation Army covering the gap is a common winning combination.
• Ask about ongoing subsidies. If your rent is simply unaffordable, ask Homebase (NYC) about CityFHEPS or your DSS about state FHEPS — clearing arrears without fixing the monthly gap only resets the clock.
• Keep every receipt and denial letter. A documented denial from one program is often the evidence another program needs to say yes.

Frequently asked questions

Is New York ERAP still open in 2026?

No. New York State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program closed to new applications on January 20, 2023 and has not reopened. Previously submitted applications are still being processed – check status at nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov or call 844-691-7368. For new help, use the One Shot Deal (NYC), county DSS emergency assistance, and the charities in this guide.

What is a One Shot Deal and do I have to pay it back?

A One Shot Deal is New York City’s Emergency Assistance grant, administered by HRA, that can pay your full rent arrears to stop an eviction. Depending on your situation, HRA may require you to repay some or all of it – repayment terms are set case-by-case, and failing to repay a prior grant can affect future eligibility. Apply through ACCESS HRA, a Benefits Access Center, or 718-557-1399.

Which charity helps with rent the fastest in New York?

For small-to-medium gaps, St. Vincent de Paul conferences and Salvation Army corps typically decide fastest. For large arrears, the One Shot Deal (NYC) or your county DSS emergency assistance is usually the only source big enough – start that application the same day you call charities to cover any remainder.

Do these programs pay me or my landlord?

Your landlord, almost always. Rent grants from HRA, county DSS, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and SVdP are paid directly to the landlord or property manager, which is why programs ask for the landlord’s contact and payment information up front.

Can I get rent help in New York without legal immigration status?

Often yes. Charities such as Catholic Charities, SVdP, and the Salvation Army generally help regardless of status, and New York’s emergency-assistance rules allow help for many mixed-status households – eligibility is judged case-by-case, so apply rather than self-reject. NYC’s Right to Counsel eviction lawyers are also available regardless of immigration status.

I got eviction papers in NYC – can I really get a free lawyer?

Yes. Under NYC’s Right to Counsel law, tenants facing eviction in Housing Court who are 60 or older, or whose household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, are entitled to free legal representation. Call Legal Services NYC at 917-661-4500 or Housing Court Answers at 212-962-4795, or ask the judge at your first court date. Provider capacity is limited, so call as early as possible.