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 could not verify a statewide program in North Dakota that pays rent to any household behind on rent. The state's Housing Finance Agency points people looking for rent help and emergency assistance to Community Action and the Salvation Army, so those are the honest first calls.
Community Action Partnership of North Dakota says seven regional agencies cover all 53 counties, with regional programs in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson and Williston, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown and Minot. North Dakota's eviction process moves quickly by the courts' own description, so call before a hearing date is set if you can.
Where to Start in North Dakota
Community Action Partnership of North Dakota
The statewide body for the seven Community Action agencies. Its site lists Homeless Supportive Services and Supportive Services for Veteran Families, which covers outreach, case management and benefits help. It does not name a general rent program, so ask which agency serves your county and what it can currently pay for. Toll-free: 800-726-7960.
Visit website · Phone: 701-232-2452 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open
North Dakota Housing Finance Agency renter programs
Longer-term help rather than emergency rent. Moderate Rehabilitation serves low-income, elderly or disabled households in Devils Lake, Fargo and Grand Forks, generally at 30% of adjusted income, through a waiting list. Opening Doors helps people with rental barriers and requires a referral from a participating care coordination agency. For Housing Choice Vouchers, the agency sends you to your local public housing agency.
Visit website · Phone: 701-328-8080 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open
FirstLink
Runs the 211 helpline for all of North Dakota, around the clock, and can connect you with rent and utility assistance through its resource search. You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211.
Visit website · Phone: 211 · Accepting applications when last checked
Local Rent Help in North Dakota
SENDCAA Rent and Security Deposit Assistance (Fargo, Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill counties)
Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency has a renters page with separate entries for Cass County and for its other five counties, and sends veterans to its Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. It does not list amounts or say whether funds are available. Office hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 3233 S. University Drive, Fargo.
Visit website · Phone: 701-232-2452 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open
Facing Eviction in North Dakota?
The North Dakota courts' tenant guide says the process moves very quickly. A tenant can be evicted for failing to pay rent for three days after it is due, and a 3-Day Notice, required only for some grounds, is not itself an eviction order. The hearing is your chance to tell your side or ask for more time to move out. The page refers tenants to a separate guide on answering a summons and complaint. Read the official guidance
Free or low-cost legal help: Legal Services of North Dakota. Free legal help for low-income and older North Dakotans. Call Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central, or apply online. People 60 and over use 866-621-9886. The organization warns that its services are free, so report any request for payment. Visit website · Phone: 800-634-5263
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 North Dakota
- Housing authorities in North Dakota
- Section 8 houses for rent in North Dakota
- Food pantries in North Dakota
- Food stamp offices in North Dakota
- Free clinics in North Dakota
- 211 in North Dakota
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 Dakota Rent Assistance Questions
Is ND Rent Help still open?
We could not confirm its current status from a page we were able to open, so we do not list it as open. The Department of Health and Human Services page would not load for our checker. The Housing Finance Agency's current renter page sends people seeking rent help to Community Action and the Salvation Army, and FirstLink at 211 can tell you what is running now.
Who helps with back rent in Fargo or Bismarck?
In Fargo and the southeastern counties, SENDCAA has a Rent and Security Deposit Assistance page, so call 701-232-2452 to ask about funds. Community Action Partnership of North Dakota also lists a regional program for Bismarck, but we could not verify a specific rent program there, so dial 211 for current options.
What does a 3-day notice mean in North Dakota?
The courts say it is not an eviction order. A judge decides at a hearing, and you should talk to a lawyer as soon as you can. Legal Services of North Dakota takes calls Monday through Thursday.
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: