Rent Assistance in Rhode Island

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.

Rhode Island has no statewide rent fund we could confirm as open today. Direct help comes through local agencies with limited funding, such as Comprehensive Community Action, which serves Cranston, Coventry, Scituate and Foster, and Community Care Alliance in Woonsocket. Providence proposed a city fund in March 2026, but we could not confirm that it has launched.

The RentReliefRI pages still online date from the pandemic, and we found nothing current showing that it takes applications. RIHousing also says the old Coordinated Entry hotline is no longer used for shelter access; it now directs people to regional access points.

Where to Start in Rhode Island

RIHousing

The state housing agency runs voucher programs and a centralized wait list for affordable housing, and it links to a list of the state's 26 public housing authorities. Its renters page also explains how to reach a regional access point if you are homeless. These are mostly longer-term options, not emergency rent payments.

Visit website · Phone: (401) 457-1234 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Local Rent Help in Rhode Island

Comprehensive Community Action Emergency Housing Assistance Program (Cranston, Coventry, Scituate and Foster)

Help with unpaid rent, security deposits, moving costs and utilities. Funding is limited, and the agency advises applying early. Call, or use the online application linked from its page.

Visit website · Phone: 401-467-7013 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Community Care Alliance Family Support Center (Woonsocket)

Offers emergency rental and mortgage help that it describes as very limited, plus referrals to public and subsidized housing. Walk-in hours at 245 Main Street vary by day and it is closed Tuesdays, so check its page before going.

Visit website · Phone: 401-235-6000 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Blackstone Valley Community Action Program (Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln and Woonsocket)

Its website does not list emergency rent help, but it serves these communities with utility assistance and other programs. Ask the main office whether any housing help is available.

Visit website · Phone: 401-723-4520 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Providence RENT Fund (proposed) (City of Providence)

Announced in March 2026 as a proposed ordinance: grants of up to $3,000 per household for items such as rent arrears, security deposits and utility arrears, up to 80 percent of area median income. The city expected a summer launch if it was approved. We could not confirm approval or an application, so call City Hall to ask.

Visit website · Phone: 401-680-5000 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Rhode Island Center for Justice (Rhode Island)

Its Tenant Advocacy Project gives low-income tenants brief advice and, where appropriate, full representation through clinics focused on substandard conditions. The state courts list it as a legal help contact for landlord-tenant cases.

Visit website · Phone: (401) 491-1101 · Accepting applications when last checked

Facing Eviction in Rhode Island?

A landlord can start a nonpayment eviction once rent is 15 days in arrears, by mailing a written demand giving you 5 days from the mailing date to pay. The landlord cannot file the complaint until at least the sixth day after mailing. You may cure by paying the full rent before suit is filed. Evictions for reasons other than unpaid rent use different notices. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: Rhode Island Legal Services. Legal help for low-income people and eligible client groups in Rhode Island. Call the Providence office, the Newport office at 401-846-2264, or toll-free at 800-662-5034, or apply through the website. Visit website · Phone: 401-274-2652

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 Rhode Island

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.

Rhode Island Rent Assistance Questions

Is RentReliefRI still open?

We could not confirm that it is. RIHousing's announcement describes a federally funded program of up to 18 months of rent and utility help, but it is dated 2021 and does not reflect today's status. Ask RIHousing at (401) 457-1234 or a local agency what is available instead of assuming it is.

Who helps with back rent in Rhode Island?

Comprehensive Community Action lists help with unpaid rent for Cranston, Coventry, Scituate and Foster, and Community Care Alliance in Woonsocket offers very limited rental help. Elsewhere, ask your local community action agency whether it has any rent funds.

How long do I have to pay after a 5-day demand in Rhode Island?

State law gives you until 5 days from the date the notice was mailed, and the landlord cannot file until the sixth day after mailing. You may still cure by paying the full amount before suit is filed. Legal aid can advise on what happens after filing.

Can I get up to $3,000 from Providence?

Not that we could confirm. The city proposed a RENT Fund offering grants of up to $3,000 in March 2026, but the page we found describes a proposal, with application procedures still to be announced.

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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