Rent Assistance in Missouri

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.

Missouri has no open statewide rent fund that we could verify. The Missouri Department of Mental Health's Rental Assistance Program is closed through January 2027 for lack of funding, and the state housing commission's current program list does not show a general rent program. That leaves Community Action Agencies, which operate in every county and in the City of St. Louis, along with city and charity programs.

The two big metros have free lawyers for tenants. St. Louis runs HELP STL through Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and Kansas City has a Right to Counsel program with limited weekly intake. Missouri Tenant Help offers free court forms anywhere in the state.

Where to Start in Missouri

Missouri Community Action Network

Community Action Agencies operate in every Missouri county and the City of St. Louis. The network's Get Help page lists agencies by area and tells you to contact your local one. It does not describe rent aid specifically, so ask what is funded now.

Visit website · Phone: 573-634-2969 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Missouri Tenant Help

A free site for tenants facing eviction, funded by HUD and supported by Missouri legal aid groups. Its Eviction Defense Document Engine asks questions and prepares court forms you can print or email. It does not file for you, and you must file with the court yourself.

Visit website · Accepting applications when last checked

Missouri Housing Development Commission

The state housing finance agency. Its program list covers the Missouri Housing Trust Fund and Section 811 rental assistance among others, but no general back-rent program, so ask a local agency first if you are behind now.

Visit website · Phone: 816-759-6600 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Local Rent Help in Missouri

HELP STL (Housing Eviction Law Program) (City of St. Louis)

Free legal services for eligible low-income city residents at risk of eviction, provided by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri under a city contract. Department of Human Services staff also help with housing applications and connections to rental assistance. Second line: 314-657-1654. Hours are weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1520 Market, 4th Floor.

Visit website · Phone: 314-657-1671 · Accepting applications when last checked

Guardian Angel Emergency Assistance Program (St. Louis)

Listed on the city's housing help page as giving direct aid to people at risk of eviction, foreclosure or utility shut-off, along with counseling on negotiating payments with landlords and utility companies.

Visit website · Phone: 314-773-9027 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Beyond Housing (St. Louis)

The city's housing help page lists it for current and prospective renters' assistance. Ask whether funds are available and whether your address is covered.

Visit website · Phone: 314-533-0600 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

St. Louis Community Action agencies (City of St. Louis and St. Louis County)

People's Community Action Corporation serves the city and Wellston at 314-367-7848. Community Action Agency of St. Louis County is at 314-863-0015.

Visit website · Phone: 314-367-7848 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Kansas City Right to Counsel (City limits of Kansas City, in Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass counties)

A free attorney for tenants with an eviction filed in court who live in the property. Intake opens Mondays at 8 a.m. with a limited number of applications each week, and if spots fill you can reapply the next week. Applications are rejected if a trial is within four business days, so apply early. This covers a lawyer and not rent.

Visit website · Phone: 816-474-5112 · Accepting applications when last checked

Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City (Clay, Jackson and Platte counties)

The local Community Action Agency for the Kansas City area. Ask what rent help is currently available.

Visit website · Phone: 816-358-6868 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Facing Eviction in Missouri?

Missouri uses a rent and possession case for unpaid rent, and an unlawful detainer case when a lease has ended or been terminated, which requires notice from the landlord. You may be served in person or by having the suit taped to your door and mailed. After a judge orders you to move, you have 10 days, then the sheriff can evict you. Only a judge can order a tenant to move, so lockouts or removing your property without a court order are illegal. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: Missouri Legal Services. Free legal help through four regional programs, with each county served by one: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (314-534-4200), Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Legal Services of Southern Missouri and Legal Aid of Western Missouri (816-474-6750). Use the service area map to find yours. Visit website

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

Missouri Programs That Have Closed

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

  • Missouri DMH Rental Assistance Program (one-time assistance): Served households receiving services from a Department of Mental Health contracted provider or enrolled in a DMH housing program. The department says applications will remain closed through January 2027 due to lack of funding, with an update once February 2027 funding is known.
  • St. Louis Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA 3): A city program offering one-time payment of delinquent rent. The city says it stopped accepting applications on December 16, 2024, because of the volume received.

More Help in Missouri

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.

Missouri Rent Assistance Questions

Who helps with rent in St. Louis?

The city's housing help page lists Guardian Angel at 314-773-9027 and Beyond Housing at 314-533-0600. City staff at HELP STL, 314-657-1671, can connect eligible residents to rental assistance programs as well as free lawyers.

Is Missouri's SAFHR rent program still open?

Do not plan on it. SAFHR was a pandemic-era program, and it does not appear on the Missouri Housing Development Commission's current program list. Contact your local Community Action Agency instead.

When can I reapply to the Department of Mental Health rent program?

The department says applications stay closed through January 2027 and that it will post updates once February 2027 funding is known. The program is limited to people connected with DMH-contracted services or housing programs.

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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