Rent Assistance in North Carolina

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.

North Carolina has no single statewide rent program open today. The state's pandemic-era HOPE program stopped taking applications on December 17, 2021, so help now depends on your county.

NCDHHS passes federal Emergency Solutions Grant money to local governments and nonprofits, and it points residents to NC 211 or the Coordinated Entry office in their county. Wake, Durham and Mecklenburg each run their own process with different rules, so start with the listing for where you live.

We found no North Carolina program offering a set $2,000 rent payment on the official pages we reviewed. Be wary of any site promising that amount.

Where to Start in North Carolina

NC 211

United Way of North Carolina's information and referral line for health and human services. Call, chat or search the online directory by zip code, address or city to find rent help near you. The City of Charlotte lists it for people who are homeless or will become homeless in the next 14 days.

Visit website · Phone: 1-888-892-1162 · Accepting applications when last checked

NC Emergency Solutions Grant (NCDHHS)

Federal HUD money the state allocates to local governments and nonprofits for homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, emergency shelter and street outreach. You do not apply to the state. NCDHHS sends residents to NC 211 or their county's Coordinated Entry office, and its page has a county contact list. Rules and funding vary by local provider.

Visit website · Phone: 1-800-662-7030 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

NC Community Action Association agency directory

Directory of local community action agencies grouped into four regions, with each agency's address, phone number and counties served. The directory does not say which agencies have rent money, so ask yours directly.

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

Local Rent Help in North Carolina

Wake Prevent! (Wake County, including Raleigh)

County eviction prevention. Per the county page, you must be at least 30 days late with a late notice or letter, have lived in the home more than 90 days, and owe no more than 3 months of rent and under $5,000. Help is limited to once every 3 years. Apply online through the Wake County Neighborly Portal. The page does not say whether funds are available now.

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

Durham County Rental Assistance (Durham County)

Run through the county's Crisis Services. Applicants need a sudden income loss, must be at least two months behind or in eviction court, and need a past-due notice, rent demand or eviction notice. Household income must fall within 150% to 200% of the federal poverty level, depending on the program. Call and report your late notice or eviction filing to be scheduled with a social worker, subject to availability, or placed on the eviction court referral list.

Visit website · Phone: 919-560-8000 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Crisis Assistance Ministry (Mecklenburg County, including Charlotte)

Short-term rent and utility help for income-qualified Mecklenburg County residents, at 500-A Spratt St. in Charlotte. Its site gives no dollar limit. The agency also says you can apply directly with other local agencies for rent and utility help.

Visit website · Phone: 704-371-3001 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Mecklenburg County Coordinated Entry (Mecklenburg County)

The number the City of Charlotte gives for people who are homeless or at imminent risk of it. It is the entry point for housing programs rather than a rent payment program.

Visit website · Phone: 704-284-9665 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

TEAM Project and UNCG Eviction Mediation (Guilford County, including Greensboro and High Point)

The county lists the TEAM Project for rental assistance, pre-filing intervention and eviction mediation, with sessions at the Greensboro and High Point courthouses. UNCG's mediation service takes Guilford tenants and landlords when eviction is a risk or papers have been filed, and the phone number here is UNCG's. For homelessness, Guilford's Coordinated Entry is 336-553-2716.

Visit website · Phone: 336-334-3731 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Facing Eviction in North Carolina?

A North Carolina landlord must file a summary ejectment case in small claims court, and only the sheriff can remove a tenant. Legal Aid of NC says a landlord must wait ten days after demanding payment or move-out before filing. A magistrate hears the case, and either side has 10 calendar days from the judgment to appeal. Staying during an appeal requires a bond to stay execution and paying rent to the court, and being unable to pay rent is not a legal defense. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: Legal Aid of North Carolina. Free civil legal help for low-income North Carolinians, including evictions and housing problems. Apply online through JusticeHub or by phone, weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guilford County also lists a Legal Aid statewide housing helpline at 877-201-6426, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit website · Phone: 866-219-5262

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

North Carolina Programs That Have Closed

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

  • NC HOPE Program: The state's pandemic rent and utility assistance program. Applications closed at 6 p.m. on December 17, 2021, earlier than expected because funds were running out. It is not a current way to get rent help.

More Help in North Carolina

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.

North Carolina Rent Assistance Questions

Is there a $2,000 rent assistance program in North Carolina?

We did not find one. None of the official North Carolina pages we reviewed offers a set $2,000 payment. Amounts depend on the local program and many pages state no figure. Wake County's $5,000 figure is a limit on how much you can owe to be eligible, not a payment amount.

Can I apply for rental assistance in North Carolina online?

There is no statewide online rent application that we could find since HOPE closed. Some local routes are online: Wake Prevent! uses the Wake County Neighborly Portal, and NC 211 has a searchable directory. Durham County starts with a phone call to 919-560-8000.

Who helps with back rent in Charlotte?

The City of Charlotte lists Crisis Assistance Ministry at 704-371-3001 for rent or utility payments. If you are homeless or at imminent risk, it lists Coordinated Entry at 704-284-9665.

Is NC HOPE still open?

No. The state closed HOPE applications on December 17, 2021. Your county's program or NC 211 is the place to start now.

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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