Rent Assistance in Utah

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.

Utah's pandemic rent portal stopped taking applications on February 5, 2023, and we found no statewide program that replaced it at that scale. What remains is a small state payment for families with children, plus nonprofit programs that depend on available funding.

Speed matters more here than in most states. Utah courts give tenants 3 business days after a nonpayment notice, and usually only 3 business days to respond after being served with court papers. Some programs below take longer than that to process a request, so ask about mediation and legal help at the same time as money.

Where to Start in Utah

Utah Workforce Services Homelessness Prevention (Emergency Assistance)

A one-time state payment of $450 per family for one month's rent, per the program's page. Rules include a crisis beyond the family's control, at least one dependent child under 18 in the home, household assets of $2,000 or less, income within the program's limit, a plan to cover future payments, and no such payment in the past 12 months. Adults without children in the home do not meet the listed rules.

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

Local Rent Help in Utah

Utah Community Action deposit and rent assistance (Salt Lake City based. The page does not state a service area, so confirm yours when you call.)

For households in a temporary financial crisis beyond their control that have a current lease or can sign one. It covers deposits or rent only, and pays the landlord directly. Online applications are processed within 3 business days, appointments are booked about 2 weeks out, and a case manager makes the final decision based on the situation and available funding.

Visit website · Phone: 801-359-2444 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Utah Community Action Landlord Tenant Mediation (Salt Lake County)

For tenants who have received a 3-day pay or vacate notice, and for landlords. A mediator helps both sides work out the conflict, which may avoid an eviction. Salt Lake County's Stability Fund names Utah Community Action for this emergency case management and mediation. It does not provide legal representation.

Visit website · Phone: 801-214-3109 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Community Action Services and Food Bank rental assistance (Utah, Summit and Wasatch counties)

Up to 3 months of current or back rent depending on the situation, per its page. Households must be below 80% of area median income, face a crisis, and show they can keep paying afterward. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible, and a 12-month lease in a private unit is required. Steps include an intake form, documents at the Provo office, a waitlist that typically runs 1 to 4 weeks, and a required class.

Visit website · Phone: 801-373-8200 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Salt Lake City Tenant Resource Center (Salt Lake City)

Navigators connect city renters with eviction help, affordable housing and basic needs, with priority for low-income households. A related Relocation Assistance Fund for Tenants helped lower-income renters displaced by development with deposits and move-in costs. Both were announced in October 2024 with pilot funding, so ask whether money remains.

Visit website · Phone: 801-535-7712 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Ogden-Weber Community Action Partnership (Weber County)

The local Community Action agency. Its site does not describe a rent program, so call and ask what housing help is available.

Visit website · Phone: 801-399-9281 · Call or check the website to confirm it is open

Facing Eviction in Utah?

Utah courts list a 3-business-day notice to pay or move for unpaid rent, and 3 calendar days for rule violations, criminal acts, nuisance or property damage. The day a notice is delivered is day zero, and business days skip weekends and court holidays. After you receive a summons and complaint, you have only 3 business days to respond. Ending a month-to-month rental takes 15 calendar days' notice. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: Utah Legal Services. Civil legal aid for people who cannot afford a lawyer. Utah courts note free help for tenants in government housing and tenants who are locked out. People's Legal Aid, at 801-477-6975, is another option Salt Lake County names for eviction defense. Visit website · Phone: 801-328-8891

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

Utah Programs That Have Closed

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

  • Emergency Rental Assistance portal (often searched as Utah Rent Relief): Run from March 2021 by the Utah Department of Workforce Services, Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City. Per Salt Lake County, the portal stopped accepting applications on February 5, 2023.

More Help in Utah

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.

Utah Rent Assistance Questions

Is Utah Rent Relief still open?

No. Salt Lake County reported that the Emergency Rental Assistance portal stopped accepting applications on February 5, 2023. Any site offering to submit an application to it today is out of date.

How much rent help can I get in Utah?

It depends on the program, and none of these amounts are promised. The state's family payment is $450 for one month's rent. Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo lists up to 3 months of current or back rent. We did not find a Utah program advertising a set grant such as $2,000 or $5,000.

I got a 3-day pay or vacate notice in Salt Lake County. What now?

Complete Utah Community Action's tenant mediation application or call 801-214-3109, and call Utah Legal Services or People's Legal Aid at the same time. Count your 3 business days starting the day after the notice was delivered.

Who helps with back rent in Utah County?

Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo takes rental assistance requests for Utah, Summit and Wasatch counties. Call 801-373-8200 or begin with its online intake form, which starts the process but is not the application itself.

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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