Rent Assistance in California

Last checked: November 2026. Benefits Explorer is a directory. We do not provide rent money or decide who gets help, and each program makes its own decisions.

We found no statewide rent relief portal open to all California renters. The state's COVID-19 Rent Relief program, known as Housing Is Key, closed to new applications after March 31, 2022, and large local programs have since run out of money or closed their windows. Sacramento's SERA program spent its last funds in December 2024, and Los Angeles County's Emergency Rent Relief application period has closed.

What remains is narrower and local. Families on CalWORKs can ask county welfare offices about homeless help. Others go through city or county programs, which often have small budgets and specific rules. California's pay-or-quit notice is only 3 court days, so look for money and legal help at the same time.

Where to Start in California

CalWORKs Homeless Assistance and Housing Support Program

The California Department of Social Services lists these for CalWORKs recipients, or applicants who appear eligible, who are homeless or at risk of it. They are run locally: contact your County Welfare Department or Homeless Continuum of Care.

Visit website · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Home Safe

A locally run program listed by the state for people involved with Adult Protective Services who are homeless or at imminent risk because of abuse, neglect, self-neglect or financial exploitation. Contact your County Welfare Department or Homeless Continuum of Care.

Visit website · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Local Rent Help in California

Housing Instability Prevention Program (HIPP) (City of San Diego)

The San Diego Housing Commission program pays $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 a month toward rent for up to 24 months, for low-income households at risk of homelessness. It can serve up to 300 households at a time. Referrals come from 2-1-1 San Diego and the commission's homelessness hotline. Priority goes to seniors 55 and over, people with disabilities, families with a child 17 or younger, and youth ages 18 to 24.

Visit website · Phone: 619-578-7768 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

City of San Diego Eviction Prevention Program (City of San Diego)

Run by Legal Aid Society of San Diego for tenants at a City of San Diego address with income at or below 80% of Area Median Income. It offers legal help with eviction notices and unlawful detainers, up to full representation through trial. It does not pay rent. Intake runs Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Visit website · Phone: 1-877-534-2524 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

San Diego Housing Commission vouchers (City of San Diego)

The commission says it is not selecting new families from its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list and does not expect to for several more years, so a voucher will not help with a current notice.

Visit website · Waitlist when last checked

Stay Housed LA (Los Angeles area)

Free legal services for eligible tenants facing eviction, plus tenant rights information, workshops and legal clinics. The site does not offer rent payments.

Visit website · Phone: 1-888-694-0040 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Sacramento Problem-Solving Access Points (Sacramento County)

Sacramento Steps Forward says to call 2-1-1 and press 8 or use the toll-free line. 2-1-1 assesses your situation and schedules an appointment with an approved agency. Prevention help can include short-term rental assistance, utility help, landlord negotiation and legal help with eviction notices, but financial help is limited.

Visit website · Phone: 844-546-1464 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Sacramento housing waitlists (Sacramento County)

The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency says all of its waiting lists are posted only on Sacwaitlist.com. Check that site for which lists are accepting applications.

Visit website · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Facing Eviction in California?

The California Courts self-help site says a 3-day notice to pay or quit can demand only past-due rent, not late fees, bounced-check fees or utilities, and that counting skips Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays. If you don't comply, the landlord can file a court case. To take part, you must file response papers within 10 days. From the notice, it can take 30 to 45 days or longer for a judge to decide. If you lose and don't leave, the landlord can ask the sheriff to remove you. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: LawHelpCA. Statewide legal aid directory maintained by the Legal Aid Association of California, with eviction guides, an eviction response tool and a way to find free legal help by county. Visit website

This page is general information, not legal advice. Don't ignore a notice or court papers, because eviction deadlines can be short.

California Programs That Have Closed

You may still see these programs online. Check before you spend time on an application.

  • Housing Is Key (California COVID-19 Rent Relief): The state's pandemic rent program. The Department of Housing and Community Development said the portal closed to new applications after March 31, 2022.
  • Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA): The waitlist closed December 15, 2023. The agency says all funds were disbursed and the program closed as of December 11, 2024.
  • Los Angeles County Emergency Rent Relief Program: Round 2 took applications from February 9 to March 11, 2026, with awards of up to $15,000 per unit. The program's site now shows the application period as closed, with submitted applications in review. Questions go to 877-849-0770.

More Help in California

Want other options? See our full rent assistance guide, including how to spot a scam, or see your options. That form is not an application for rent assistance. If you submit it, Benefits Explorer and its partners may contact you.

California Rent Assistance Questions

Is Housing Is Key still taking applications?

No. The state program stopped taking new applications after March 31, 2022. No statewide replacement appeared on the state pages we could open, so look to your county welfare office, 211 and local programs.

Who helps with rent in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles County's Emergency Rent Relief Program is closed, and we did not confirm another open rent fund for the city or county. Stay Housed LA at 1-888-694-0040 offers free legal help to eligible tenants facing eviction. Call 211 to ask what is funded now.

Who helps with rent in San Diego?

In the city, the Housing Instability Prevention Program provides monthly rent help for up to 24 months, but it can serve up to 300 households at a time and works by referral. Ask 2-1-1 San Diego or call the housing commission's line at 619-578-7768.

Is Sacramento's SERA rent program open?

No. SHRA says SERA closed on December 11, 2024, after all funds were disbursed. For prevention help now, call 2-1-1 and press 8, or 844-546-1464, to be assessed for a Problem-Solving Access Point appointment.

Rent Assistance in Nearby States

Most programs only help people who live in their state. If you are moving or live near a state line, you can also check:

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