Security deposit and first month's rent help comes from local agencies, not one national program. Call 211 and ask who has deposit or move-in money in your county. Federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) money can pay up to 2 months' rent as a deposit, paid to the landlord, not you. Funds are limited, and many programs want you to have a unit first.
Last checked: November 4, 2026. Benefits Explorer is a private directory, not a government agency. We don't take applications, pay deposits or decide who gets help. Each program makes its own decisions. Report a mistake.
What Deposit Programs Won't Pay
- Cash to you. ESG money goes to owners, utility companies and other third parties. Utah Community Action also pays the landlord directly.
- More than the cap. ESG stops at 2 months' rent, and local agencies can set lower dollar limits. South Dakota and DC stop at one month's rent.
- A cost another public program already covers. ESG can't pay for the same type of help you get from another public source.
- High rent. ESG rental help can't be used if the rent is over HUD's Fair Market Rent or isn't reasonable for the area, under 24 CFR 576.106(d)(1).
- Move-in costs, at some back-rent programs. United Way of King County lists move-in costs under what it does not cover.
- Back rent, at some move-in programs. Tampa's RMAP is for new move-ins only, not existing leases.
- Application fees, in some places. ESG may pay a fee the owner charges all applicants. Tampa says it won't cover application fees under any circumstances.
- Repeat help. DC allows once in 12 months, Tampa once per household, and veteran deposit help once every 2 years.
Realistic Ways to Get Deposit Help
If you are homeless now: rapid re-housing
ESG rapid re-housing helps people move into permanent housing quickly. It is for people living in a shelter, a car, a park or another place not meant for sleeping, and for some people fleeing domestic violence who live in those places. Local providers run it. Ask 211 how to reach coordinated entry, the local intake system ESG providers use. No place to stay tonight? See emergency housing.
Under 24 CFR 576.105, ESG can pay:
- A security deposit of no more than 2 months' rent
- Last month's rent, up to one month, if needed to get the housing
- A rental application fee the owner charges all applicants
- A standard utility deposit
- Moving costs, such as a truck or movers, and up to 3 months of storage
That is what the rule allows, not a promise. Each provider decides what it can fund. A provider may also need to check the unit for safety, lead paint and rent, so ask before you sign or pay.
If you are about to lose your home: homelessness prevention
ESG prevention is for people with income below 30% of area median income who are at risk of homelessness. Examples in the federal definition include a written notice to leave within 21 days, or a motel stay you pay for yourself. It can help you stay where you are or move to other permanent housing.
If you are a veteran: SSVF
Supportive Services for Veteran Families serves low-income veteran families who are homeless or at imminent risk. Federal rules allow a security deposit once every 2 years and moving costs once every 3 years, paid to whoever is owed, and you may be asked to share the cost. Call the VA at 877-424-3838, open 24 hours a day.
HOME deposit programs
Some states and cities use federal HOME money. HOME rules allow deposit help on its own, with no monthly rent subsidy, up to two months' rent. Kansas and Kentucky list this help below. Ask 211 or your state housing agency whether it is offered where you live.
If you have a housing voucher
A voucher helps with monthly rent, but don't assume it covers the deposit. HUD says some housing agencies make voucher holders pay the deposit themselves, and each agency's board decides whether it offers deposit help. Ask your agency first. Find your housing authority. An agency may also bar deposits that are above private market practice, or above what the owner charges other tenants.
What to have ready
Papers differ by program. As one example, DC's ERAP asks for proof of residency, photo ID for each adult, 30 days of income and bank statements, an approval notice for the new unit, and proof of need.
Security Deposit Programs by State
Each program below names deposit or move-in help on its official page, or on a partner's page where we say so. We checked each one on November 4, 2026. Few pages say whether money is available today, so call first. Tap your state:
Alabama Arizona Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Hawaii Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Nebraska Nevada North Dakota Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Other states
Alabama
Huntsville Housing Helps
Huntsville
Pays: Rent, utility payments and deposits. The city runs it with the nonprofit Catholic Center of Concern.
Limits: The city's page lists no amounts or income rules.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
ADECA Emergency Solutions Grant
Statewide, through local groups
Pays: Moving costs and rental help for homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing. The state's page names moving costs but not deposits, so ask about deposits.
Limits: For direct help, ADECA says to call 211 or the Continuum of Care for your county.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Arizona
City of Phoenix Human Services
City of Phoenix
Pays: Lists move-in assistance along with rent and utility help.
Limits: It depends on current funding, and the city says funding is limited. If you can't get an appointment, it says to try again next week. Toll-free: 1-866-882-1778.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Maricopa County Rental Assistance
Maricopa County outside Glendale, Mesa and Phoenix
Pays: A rental deposit or a monthly rent payment, after a documented crisis.
Limits: The page also says you must be past due on rent, so ask how that applies if you are moving. Some funding may require checking citizenship or qualified noncitizen status.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Colorado
Catholic Charities of Central Colorado
El Paso County
Pays: Deposit help through its Colorado Springs Rent Assistance Program.
Limits: Your deposit can't be more than $2,500. You need an approval or welcome letter and must show you can pay rent going forward. Start with its Initial Contact Form. Funding has been limited since July 1, 2025.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Connecticut
Security Deposit Guarantee Program
Statewide
Pays: A state guarantee to the landlord of up to two months' rent. It is a promise to cover damage or back rent at move-out, not cash.
Limits: For people documented as chronically homeless or leaving shelter, and Section 8 Mobility participants. All referrals come from a Coordinated Access Network, so you can't apply directly. Dial 2-1-1 and press Option 3, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Delaware
Delaware 211 rental deposit listing
Statewide
Pays: Delaware 211 keeps a Rental Deposit Assistance listing under its renter resources. It is a referral list, not a program that pays.
Limits: The page gives no amounts or rules. You can also text your zip code to 898-211.
Status: Referral line. Ask what is funded now.
District of Columbia
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
DC residents
Pays: Security deposit and first month's rent. The unit can be in a neighboring county if you are a current DC resident.
Limits: The deposit can't be more than one month's unsubsidized rent, and first month's rent is held to the same amount. Help is limited to once in 12 months. You need an approval notice for the new unit and proof of need, such as an eviction notice or a voucher for the new unit.
Status: Scheduling opens December 3, 2026 at noon. DHS says it stops once funds are covered.
All rent help in District of Columbia
Florida
Tampa Rental and Move-In Assistance Program (RMAP)
City of Tampa
Pays: New move-in costs only: first month's rent, last month's rent, security deposit and administrative fees, up to $10,000 per household.
Limits: No existing leases or occupied units, and no application fees. You need an approved unit in city limits, a move-in within 45 days and stable income up to 140% of area median income. Voucher households can't get first or last month's rent or landlord charges like cleaning fees. A household can get it only once.
Status: Closed to new applications since November 1, 2026. The city expects to reopen in January 2027.
Hawaii
Hawaii Relief Program
Statewide. Maui, Molokai and Lanai use Maui Economic Opportunity at 808-243-4357
Pays: A one-time housing deposit at actual cost, up to $6,000.
Limits: For families with a dependent child under 18 or a woman in her third trimester, with a financial crisis and income under program guidelines. Other Catholic Charities offices: Hawaii Island 808-961-7050, Maui 808-873-4673, Kauai 808-241-4673.
Status: Accepting, per Catholic Charities Hawaii. The page has no date, so call to confirm.
Kansas
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
By county, through local agencies
Pays: Rent, security deposits and utility deposits for income-eligible households.
Limits: Pick your county on the state's provider map, because local agencies take the applications. The number shown is the state housing agency's main line.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Kentucky
KHC HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance
Through funded local groups
Pays: Funded groups can pay security deposit help even without a rent subsidy. Utility deposits only come with rent or deposit help.
Limits: The money goes to nonprofits and local governments, not to tenants directly, and the page doesn't list who has it. Ask which group serves your county.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Emergency Solutions Grant partners
East Baton Rouge Parish
Pays: Rent payments, security deposits and other housing costs, to help people move from homelessness into permanent housing.
Limits: Partners include Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, St. Vincent de Paul and Youth Oasis. The number shown is the city-parish line.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Maryland
Security Deposit Assistance Program (SDAP)
Baltimore City
Pays: A one-time payment to the landlord that matches the required deposit, up to $2,000. If the deposit is higher, you pay the difference to your landlord.
Limits: For people moving within the city or into it from another county, with income at or below 60% of area median income. You need an approved unit and a signed letter of intent, or a lease of at least six months dated on or after April 16, 2026. Processing can take up to 14 business days after a complete application. The city's FAQ lists general city lines, not a program line. From outside the city: (443) 263-2220.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Massachusetts
RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition)
Statewide, through regional agencies
Pays: Security deposits, first and last months' rent and moving costs, along with back rent and utility bills.
Limits: Up to $7,000 per household in a 12-month period, per Metro Housing|Boston. The number shown is its Resource Line. It doesn't run RAFT in Lynn, Holbrook, Randolph or Weymouth, so call 211 for your regional agency.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
All rent help in Massachusetts
Michigan
State Emergency Relief (SER) relocation services
Statewide, through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Pays: Any mix of a required security deposit, first month's rent, moving costs and back rent, to resolve a shelter emergency.
Limits: A yearly maximum by household size, in policy dated October 1, 2026: $410 for 1, $520 for 2, $620 for 3, $740 for 4, $870 for 5, and $1,040 for 6 or more. You must be homeless or at risk of it, or meet another listed reason, and the rent must pass the state's affordability test. A notice to quit alone isn't accepted as proof you are at risk.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Successful Leasing Program
Rentals licensed with the City of East Lansing
Pays: Up to $1,500 toward first month's rent and a security deposit.
Limits: Income at or below 80% of area median income, and rent within the state housing agency's limit. You pay a match equal to 25% of what the program covers. Applications are first come, first eligible, until funds run out.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Minnesota
Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP)
By county, through local providers
Pays: Minnesota Housing sends people who need security deposit help to an FHPAP provider.
Limits: Find your provider on the contact list and service area map on the state's Housing Help page. The page lists no amounts.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Hennepin County emergency help
Hennepin County
Pays: Housing costs like damage deposits, in a financial crisis that directly threatens health or safety.
Limits: Apply at mnbenefits.org or by mail with form DHS-5223. A phone interview is required. Toll-free: 844-803-8466.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Mississippi
CHOICE (Mississippi Home Corporation)
Statewide, by referral
Pays: May cover a rental security deposit, utility deposit and rental application fees, depending on need.
Limits: Only for adults with a serious mental illness, as the state Department of Mental Health defines it. Referrals go to choice.referral@mshc.com. The number shown is for help with the form.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Nebraska
Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties
Lincoln, Lancaster County and Saunders County
Pays: One-time financial help with rent, utilities and deposits for those who qualify.
Limits: The page lists no dollar limits. Apply by phone and leave a message if you need to. Saunders and rural Lancaster: 402-277-7330.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Nevada
HopeLink of Southern Nevada
Southern Nevada
Pays: Rent, utility and deposit help, according to the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.
Limits: It takes only a limited number of applications each month. Phone hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Nevada Rural Housing Security Deposit Assistance
Nevada outside Washoe and Clark counties
Pays: Up to $1,000 toward a deposit, as a grant you don't pay back.
Limits: You need a signed lease and must apply within 60 days of moving in. Income limits apply, the unit must meet Fair Market Rent, and the landlord must agree to accept the deposit after the lease is signed. It doesn't cover Las Vegas or Reno, which are in the excluded counties.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
North Dakota
SENDCAA Rent and Security Deposit Assistance
Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill counties
Pays: The agency lists rent and security deposit assistance on its renters page.
Limits: The page gives no amounts or rules. Veterans are sent to its Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Pennsylvania
Homeless Assistance Program (HAP)
By county
Pays: The state says your county may be able to help with rent, security deposits and utilities.
Limits: Counties set income limits between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Use the county contact list linked on the state's page.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services
Philadelphia
Pays: You can apply for help with a security deposit to move into a new home, or overdue rent.
Limits: Call the Homelessness Prevention InfoLine and follow the instructions, or visit a City-funded homeless intake center.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
FreshStartPHL move-in assistance
Philadelphia
Pays: Move-in assistance. The page doesn't list what it paid.
Limits: Applications already submitted are still being reviewed, and approved ones are paid until funds run out. The number shown is the main line of PHDC, which runs it. Questions: freshstartphl@phdc.phila.org.
Status: Closed. PHDC says enrollment is now closed.
Rhode Island
Comprehensive Community Action Emergency Housing Assistance
Cranston, Coventry, Scituate and Foster
Pays: Unpaid rent, security deposits, moving costs and utilities.
Limits: The agency says funding is limited. The page lists no amounts.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
South Dakota
SD Housing Security Deposit Assistance
Through participating agencies
Pays: A rental security deposit, up to one month's rent.
Limits: Income must be at or below 60% of area median income. You can't apply to SD Housing. Funds are first-come, first-served, and each agency has its own rules. Agencies: Aberdeen 605-226-2321, Brookings 605-692-1670, Calm Waters in Sioux Falls 605-595-0718, Huron 605-352-1520, Inter-Lakes in Madison 605-256-6518, Mobridge 605-845-2560, Pathways in Yankton 605-665-8994, Pierre 605-773-7425, Safe Place in Mitchell 605-996-4440, Western Resources in Rapid City 605-718-1930.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Tennessee
THDA Emergency Solutions Grants
Outside Memphis and Nashville-Davidson County
Pays: Security deposits of up to 2 months' rent, through funded local agencies.
Limits: THDA's 2026 program description limits prevention help to households below 30% of area median income who also meet HUD's definitions. Ask 211 which agency has funds near you.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Metro Action Commission Homeless Services
Davidson County, including Nashville
Pays: Deposits for rent, electric and water.
Limits: Only for people who have secured housing after being homeless. You need a documented referral from an agency, church or other program.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Texas
BakerRipley Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazos, Brazoria and Waller counties
Pays: Security deposits, as part of housing help for eligible veteran families.
Limits: For veterans only. The intake line is open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Status: Closed for now. The page says online applications and appointments have reached capacity.
Utah
Utah Community Action deposit and rent assistance
Salt Lake City based. Confirm your area when you call
Pays: Deposits or rent only, paid directly to the landlord or property manager.
Limits: You need a current lease or must be able to sign one. It doesn't cover mortgages or payments to roommates or family members. A case manager decides based on your situation and funding.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Salt Lake City Relocation Assistance Fund for Tenants
Salt Lake City
Pays: A deposit, first and last month's rent and application fees.
Limits: For renters who must move because of repairs, demolition or income-restriction changes. The city's 2024 announcement set income at 80% of area median income or less. The fund was announced with $180,000, so ask whether money remains. The number shown is the Community Development Corporation of Utah.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Vermont
Housing Opportunity Program (HOP)
Statewide, through Community Action agencies
Pays: May help with upfront rent, security deposits and moving expenses, for people homeless or at risk of losing housing.
Limits: Vermont Law Help says funds are limited and for rental housing only. Contact your local Community Action agency.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Chittenden, Addison, Franklin and Grand Isle counties
Pays: First month's rent, security deposits, back rent or short-term rent help, for people homeless or at risk.
Limits: A group of agencies reviews applications weekly. Chittenden number shown, ext. 4. Addison: 802-388-2285. Franklin and Grand Isle: 802-527-7392.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Southeastern Vermont Community Action
Windham and Windsor counties
Pays: Security deposits or first month's rent to help you relocate.
Limits: Follow the phone prompt for your Family Services office. Toll-free: 800-464-9951. Help is as capacity allows.
Status: Unknown, call to confirm
Other States
We haven't verified a deposit or move-in program in these states yet. Local help may still exist, so call 211 and ask. Each link goes to that state's rent help page.
Alaska Arkansas California Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Maine Missouri Montana New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon South Carolina Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Watch for Deposit Scams
- Don't pay a deposit or first month's rent for a place you haven't seen. The FTC says to visit before you sign or pay.
- Don't pay by wire, gift card or cryptocurrency. The FTC says that money is probably gone for good.
- Walk away from pressure to decide fast, or from rent far below the area's going rate.
- Be wary of anyone charging a fee for faster approval. Tampa says it charges no fee to apply, and no one can guarantee approval or fast-track an application.
Security Deposit Questions
Who helps with first month's rent and a security deposit?
Mostly local agencies: Community Action agencies, nonprofits, cities and counties. Call 211 and ask who has move-in money in your county. We found no single national application for this help.
Is there a limit on security deposit help?
Yes. Federal Emergency Solutions Grant money can pay a deposit of no more than 2 months' rent, and federal HOME deposit help has the same cap. Local programs can be lower. South Dakota's and DC's programs stop at one month's rent.
Does Section 8 pay the security deposit?
Not as a rule. HUD says some housing agencies require voucher holders to pay the deposit themselves, and each agency's board decides whether it offers deposit help. Ask your housing agency.
Will a program give me the deposit money directly?
Don't count on it. Federal Emergency Solutions Grant money goes to owners, utility companies and other third parties, and Supportive Services for Veteran Families deposits go to whoever is owed. Ask each program how it pays.
More Help
- Rent assistance guide
- Emergency housing: what to do tonight
- Eviction help: what to do today
- Has CARES Act and ERAP rent assistance ended?
- Housing authorities by state
- Section 8 houses for rent
Sources:
- 24 CFR 576.105, Emergency Solutions Grants (April 1, 2025 edition, govinfo)
- 24 CFR 576.105, current text (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
- 24 CFR 576.106, rental assistance and rent limits (Cornell LII)
- 24 CFR 576.103, homelessness prevention (Cornell LII)
- 24 CFR 576.2, definitions (Cornell LII)
- 24 CFR 92.209, HOME tenant-based rental assistance (Cornell LII)
- 24 CFR 982.313, voucher security deposits (Cornell LII)
- 38 CFR 62.34, Supportive Services for Veteran Families financial help (Cornell LII)
- HUD: Housing Choice Vouchers for tenants
- VA: Supportive Services for Veteran Families
- FTC: Rental listing scams
- 211.org
- Connecticut Office of the Consumer Advocate: Emergency housing and utility assistance
- Catholic Charities Hawaii: Hawaii Relief Program
- Metro Housing|Boston: Housing Consumer Education Center
- Salt Lake City: New renter resource center and relocation assistance (October 30, 2024)
- United Way of King County: Rent help
- Huntsville Housing Helps (Alabama)
- ADECA Emergency Solutions Grant (Alabama)
- City of Phoenix Human Services (Arizona)
- Maricopa County Rental Assistance (Arizona)
- Catholic Charities of Central Colorado (Colorado)
- Security Deposit Guarantee Program (Connecticut)
- Delaware 211 rental deposit listing (Delaware)
- Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) (District of Columbia)
- Tampa Rental and Move-In Assistance Program (RMAP) (Florida)
- Hawaii Relief Program (Hawaii)
- Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) (Kansas)
- KHC HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (Kentucky)
- East Baton Rouge Emergency Solutions Grant partners (Louisiana)
- RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) (Massachusetts)
- Security Deposit Assistance Program (SDAP) (Maryland)
- State Emergency Relief (SER) relocation services (Michigan)
- Successful Leasing Program (Michigan)
- Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) (Minnesota)
- Hennepin County emergency help (Minnesota)
- CHOICE (Mississippi Home Corporation) (Mississippi)
- Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties (Nebraska)
- HopeLink of Southern Nevada (Nevada)
- Nevada Rural Housing Security Deposit Assistance (Nevada)
- SENDCAA Rent and Security Deposit Assistance (North Dakota)
- Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) (Pennsylvania)
- Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services (Pennsylvania)
- FreshStartPHL move-in assistance (Pennsylvania)
- Comprehensive Community Action Emergency Housing Assistance (Rhode Island)
- SD Housing Security Deposit Assistance (South Dakota)
- THDA Emergency Solutions Grants (Tennessee)
- Metro Action Commission Homeless Services (Tennessee)
- BakerRipley Supportive Services for Veteran Families (Texas)
- Utah Community Action deposit and rent assistance (Utah)
- Salt Lake City Relocation Assistance Fund for Tenants (Utah)
- Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) (Vermont)
- Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (Vermont)
- Southeastern Vermont Community Action (Vermont)