Rent Assistance in Connecticut

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.

Connecticut's main state rental subsidy, the Rental Assistance Program, has a closed wait list, so people in a crisis usually start with 2-1-1, Option 3, which reaches a Housing Crisis Specialist. Security deposit help works differently here: the state issues a written certificate to the landlord instead of cash, and you can get it only by referral from a Coordinated Access Network.

The state's eviction rules also differ from those of many neighbors. Unpaid rent carries a nine-day grace period, and income-eligible tenants in covered towns may get a free lawyer through the Right to Counsel Program.

Where to Start in Connecticut

211 Housing Crisis Line

For people at risk of losing their housing with nowhere to go. Dial 2-1-1 and press Option 3, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., to reach a Housing Crisis Specialist and a Coordinated Access Network.

Visit website · Phone: 211 · Accepting applications when last checked

Security Deposit Guarantee Program

The state gives your landlord a written certificate for up to two months' rent in place of a cash deposit. You cannot apply directly: all referrals come from a Coordinated Access Network. Also open to people in the Section 8 Mobility Program.

Visit website · Phone: 860-908-7387 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Rental Assistance Program (RAP)

A state subsidy for very low-income households. The Department of Housing says the wait list is closed, apart from certain health or housing transition lists open by referral only. Register at cthcvp.org to be told when it reopens.

Visit website · Phone: 203-757-1138 · Closed when last checked

Eviction Prevention Fund (UniteCT)

A one-time arrears payment for tenants with a pending eviction. Current status is unclear, so do not plan around it. A state page seen in search results says UniteCT paused new appointments on February 28 and the program is closed, but that page no longer loads and gives no year. The state's Right to Counsel site still lists Eviction Prevention Fund 2.0 at this number for job loss, a death in the household or a medical issue. Call to ask, and also dial 2-1-1.

Visit website · Phone: 1-844-864-8328 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Connecticut Right to Counsel Program

Free lawyers for eligible tenants facing eviction or loss of a housing subsidy, administered by the Connecticut Bar Foundation per a 2023 legislative report. Coverage varies by town and zip code, including Greater Hartford and parts of New Haven, and depends on your circumstances and provider capacity. Start with the questions on its site.

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

Connecticut Association for Community Action

The statewide network of nine Community Action Agencies. Use its directory to find the agency for your town, then ask about housing help.

Visit website · Phone: 860-832-9438 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Local Rent Help in Connecticut

Community Renewal Team (CRT) (Hartford, Middletown and other central Connecticut towns)

Lists housing counseling and help with housing among its services. Call or use its online form to describe your needs.

Visit website · Phone: (860) 560-5600 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Alliance for Community Empowerment (Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull and Westport)

The Community Action Agency for these towns, formerly ABCD. Ask about housing help.

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

Community Action Agency of New Haven (East Haven, Hamden, New Haven, North Haven and West Haven)

The Community Action Agency for these towns. Ask about housing help.

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

Facing Eviction in Connecticut?

Connecticut's court eviction process is called summary process. A September 2023 Office of Legislative Research report says a landlord may act on unpaid rent after a nine-day grace period, and paying within it stops a nonpayment eviction. The notice to quit must give at least three full days, and it is not a court order. If you stay, the landlord can file a summons and complaint, and you must file an appearance and an answer within two days after the return date or risk a default judgment. After judgment there is an automatic five-day stay, not counting Sundays and legal holidays, and a court may add up to three months in a nonpayment case if back rent is paid. A state marshal carries out the eviction after giving 24 hours' notice. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut. The hotline tells you whether you qualify for free legal aid. You can also apply by texting APPLY to 860-300-3845. CTLawHelp.org has self-help material on eviction. Visit website · Phone: 1-800-453-3320

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

More Help in Connecticut

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.

Connecticut Rent Assistance Questions

Is the Connecticut Rental Assistance Program open?

The Department of Housing says the RAP wait list is closed, apart from certain lists open by referral only. You can register at cthcvp.org to be told when it reopens.

Can I apply directly for security deposit help in Connecticut?

No. All referrals to the state's deposit certificate program must come from a Coordinated Access Network. Dial 2-1-1 and press Option 3 to reach one.

Is UniteCT or the Eviction Prevention Fund still open?

We could not confirm it either way. The Department of Housing's program pages no longer load and its August 2026 housing resources page does not list the fund, yet the Right to Counsel site still shows a number for Eviction Prevention Fund 2.0. Call 1-844-864-8328 to ask, and treat it as uncertain until someone confirms.

How long do I have after a notice to quit in Connecticut?

At least three full days, per the Office of Legislative Research and the State Marshal Commission manual. A notice to quit is not a court order. Only a later court judgment and execution allow a marshal to remove you, so call legal aid at 1-800-453-3320 as soon as you get one.

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:

Sources: