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

If you are behind on rent in Texas and staring at a notice to vacate, you still have options — but the biggest one is gone. The statewide Texas Rent Relief Program (TRR) and its companion Texas Eviction Diversion Program stopped accepting new applications in 2023 and never reopened. There is no longer a single state fund to apply to. Today, emergency rent help in Texas flows through three channels: charities and faith-based nonprofits, city and county emergency rental-assistance rounds that open and close as money allows, and the 2-1-1 Texas information line that routes you to whichever door is open right now.

This guide lists 10 real organizations that help Texas 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 Texas (2026)

Organization	Best for	Typical help	Where it serves
2-1-1 Texas	Finding an open program fast	Free referrals	Statewide
The Salvation Army	Eviction / notice to vacate	~$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 (multiple dioceses)
BakerRipley / The Way Home	Houston-area homelessness risk	Rapid re-housing + rent	Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery
Community Action Agencies (CSBG)	Low-income households	Varies by agency	~40 agencies statewide
TDHCA “Help for Texans”	Finding local & utility help	Directory + CEAP utility aid	Statewide
County / city ERA rounds	Larger back-rent balances	Varies by round	Select counties/cities
Lone Star / RioGrande Legal Aid	Fighting an eviction in court	Free legal defense	Eastern, Gulf & South Texas
Local crisis ministries	One-time neighborhood help	Varies by ministry	Community-based

1. 2-1-1 Texas — your free routing service

What it offers: 2-1-1 Texas is not a fund; it is a free, confidential referral line run through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, staffed by 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 (or 877-541-7905) from any phone, 24/7, or search your county at 211texas.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 Texas. Funds go straight to the landlord.

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

Typical amount: Roughly $200–$600, depending on the corps’ funding that month.

How to apply: Many corps take intake only during a set window (often the first week of the month) by phone or an online portal. 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.” Vincentians often speak with applicants directly to assess need, and 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. In North Texas, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul North Texas serves Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall counties — complete the online Need Assistance form or call 214-520-0650, and a conference volunteer typically responds within 24–48 hours (svdpdallas.org/need-help). Elsewhere, dial 2-1-1 for your nearest conference.

4. Catholic Charities (by diocese)

What it offers: Rent, mortgage, and utility assistance plus homelessness-prevention case management through Texas’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, one application per household, and enough income to sustain future payments. Notable specifics:

• Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: requires an eviction notice, court date, or being behind on the current month’s rent, plus a loss of income or out-of-pocket expense in the last 90 days — and clients receiving Section 8 or public housing are not eligible (catholiccharities.org/housing).
• Diocese of Fort Worth: emergency help with rent, utilities, prescriptions, and bus passes across its 28-county service area; you must live in a ZIP served by the office (catholiccharitiesfortworth.org/help).
• Diocese of Dallas: rent, mortgage, and utility relief for Dallas and Collin county residents and partner cities (ccdallas.org).
• Central Texas (Austin): rent or mortgage and utility help accepted online only (ccctx.org/financial-stability).

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

5. BakerRipley & The Way Home (Houston region)

What it offers: In the Houston area, homelessness-prevention and rapid re-housing rent assistance is coordinated through The Way Home, the regional collaborative led by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. BakerRipley is one of several partner agencies (alongside Catholic Charities, SEARCH, Career and Recovery Resources, and others) that deliver case-managed rent, utility, and re-housing help.

Who qualifies: Households in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties who are homeless or at imminent risk; specific criteria are set by the funding stream.

How to apply: You enter through Coordinated Access, not by applying to a single agency. Start at thewayhomehouston.org/get-help, or dial 2-1-1 and ask to be connected to homelessness-prevention services in your county.

6. Community Action Agencies (CSBG network)

What it offers: Texas funds a statewide network of Community Action Agencies through the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), overseen by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Many CAAs offer rent, utility, and crisis assistance alongside employment and self-sufficiency programs.

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

How to apply: Contact your local CAA directly. Find yours through TDHCA’s Help for Texans directory, or dial 2-1-1 for the nearest office.

7. TDHCA “Help for Texans” & utility (CEAP) assistance

What it offers: Because the statewide Texas Rent Relief Program closed in 2023, TDHCA now points renters to local resources through its Help for Texans search tool, and runs the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) that helps low-income households pay electric and gas bills — freeing up cash for rent.

Who qualifies: CEAP is for income-eligible households (generally at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines); the referral directory is open to anyone.

How to apply: Use the Help for Texans directory at tdhca.texas.gov/help-for-texans to find your local rent or CEAP provider by county.

8. County & city emergency rental-assistance rounds

What it offers: With the state program closed, individual counties and cities periodically reopen their own emergency rental-assistance rounds (Fort Bend County’s ERA2, Harris County, Dallas County, and others have run recent phases). These can cover larger back-rent balances than most charities, are grants, not loans, and generally do not depend on immigration status.

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

How to apply: Rounds open and close on short notice, and some — like the City of Austin’s portal — have closed and will not reopen. Always confirm the current status through 2-1-1 or your county’s housing department before relying on one; never assume a round is open.

9. Lone Star Legal Aid & Texas RioGrande 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 a lawyer can buy time, spot defective notices, and negotiate move-out or payment terms. Lone Star Legal Aid serves 72 counties in eastern and Gulf Coast Texas and leads the Houston Eviction Defense Coalition; Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) covers southwest Texas and the border region.

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

How to apply: Reach Lone Star Legal Aid at 713-652-0077 or text “APPLY” to 361-35-EVICT (lonestarlegal.org). For self-help forms and a statewide legal-aid locator, use TexasLawHelp.org.

10. Local crisis ministries & interfaith networks

What it offers: Nearly every Texas 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 specifically for “faith-based or crisis-ministry rent assistance in [your city].”

Rent help by Texas metro — where to start

Texas is home to roughly 31 million people across metros with very different programs. Start with the local door for your county:

Metro / county	Best first stop	Also try
Houston & Harris County	The Way Home / Coordinated Access	Catholic Charities Galveston-Houston; BakerRipley; Lone Star Legal Aid; 2-1-1
Dallas County	St. Vincent de Paul North Texas (214-520-0650)	Catholic Charities Dallas; Salvation Army; 2-1-1
Fort Worth / Tarrant County	Catholic Charities Fort Worth	Salvation Army; Community Action; 2-1-1
San Antonio / Bexar County	2-1-1 / Catholic Charities	SVdP conferences; Salvation Army; local CAA
Austin / Travis County	Catholic Charities of Central Texas (online)	2-1-1; local CAA; crisis ministries
El Paso & West Texas	Local CAA via TDHCA Help for Texans	Catholic Charities; Salvation Army; 2-1-1
Rio Grande Valley / South Texas	Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (eviction)	Catholic Charities; local CAA; 2-1-1
Anywhere in Texas	Dial 2-1-1 / 211texas.org	TDHCA Help for Texans; 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 notice to vacate or eviction citation if you have one — this moves you up the priority list.
• Photo ID for the head of household (many programs do not check immigration status — county ERA rounds explicitly do not).
• Proof of income dated within the last 30 days (pay stubs, SSI/SSDI, unemployment, or a benefits letter), and often 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 notice to vacate or a court date, and funds are first-come.
• Stack sources. A $600 Salvation Army grant plus a St. Vincent de Paul conference plus a crisis ministry can clear a balance no single program could.
• Be ready to show next-month income. Almost every program requires evidence you can pay going forward — that is the single most common approval criterion.
• Get legal help early in the eviction process. In Texas the timeline is fast; contacting Lone Star Legal Aid or TRLA 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 the Texas Rent Relief program still open?

No. The statewide Texas Rent Relief Program and the Texas Eviction Diversion Program stopped accepting new applications in 2023 and did not reopen. Emergency rent help in Texas now comes from charities, the 2-1-1 network, and city or county emergency rental-assistance rounds that open and close as funding allows. Dial 2-1-1 to find what is currently open in your county.

Which charity helps with rent the fastest in Texas?

For an active eviction notice, the Salvation Army and a local St. Vincent de Paul conference are usually the quickest one-time sources, and Lone Star Legal Aid or Texas RioGrande Legal Aid can add free legal defense if you already have a court date. 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, Catholic Charities, and county rental-assistance programs send funds directly to the property owner, so having your landlord’s payment details and W-9 ready speeds approval.

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

Often yes. County and city emergency rental-assistance rounds generally serve tenants regardless of immigration status, and faith-based charities like St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army typically do not condition help on citizenship. Requirements vary by program, so confirm with the specific agency or ask 2-1-1.

How much rent assistance can I actually get in Texas?

It varies widely: roughly $200–$600 from a Salvation Army corps, a variable one-time amount from a St. Vincent de Paul conference or crisis ministry, and case-managed help through Catholic Charities or The Way Home. County emergency rental-assistance rounds can cover larger back-rent balances. Because each source caps out, many renters combine two or three.

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 round about to reopen. In the meantime, request a written payment plan from your landlord, and if you have received an eviction citation, contact Lone Star Legal Aid or Texas RioGrande Legal Aid for free representation to buy time before your hearing.