Pennsylvania offers various rental assistance options to help residents secure stable housing or avoid eviction. Although the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)—created during the pandemic—has officially closed, you can still access state, county, and local programs that remain active.
Statewide emergency programs
If you are facing imminent eviction or homelessness, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services oversees two primary cash and local assistance networks:
Emergency Shelter Allowance (ESA)
The Emergency Shelter Allowance (ESA) is a crisis-based cash assistance program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). It provides a one-time or short-term payment to help low-income individuals and families resolve an immediate housing emergency, such as the risk of eviction or homelessness.
What the program covers
ESA funds are paid directly to the landlord, utility company, or emergency housing provider. The program can be used to:
- Prevent eviction: Pay past-due rent to halt an ongoing eviction or foreclosure.
- Secure housing: Pay a security deposit or the first month’s rent to move into permanent housing.
- Provide temporary shelter: Pay for short-term stays at a hotel, motel, or emergency shelter if you are currently homeless.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for the ESA, you must meet specific criteria established by the state:
Immediate crisis: You must have an urgent, documented housing emergency (e.g., a written eviction notice, a court order, or proof of homelessness).
Income and resource limits: Your household must meet strict low-income limits, and your available financial resources (such as savings accounts) must fall below the threshold established by the program.
TANF or GA status: Eligibility is typically linked to families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or individuals meeting General Assistance (GA) criteria, although households not receiving this aid but facing sudden emergencies may also apply.
Future sustainability: Generally, you must demonstrate that you will be able to afford rent or housing expenses once the emergency subsidy has been paid.
How to Apply
Since ESA is an emergency service, it is strongly recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible:
Online via COMPASS: The fastest way to submit an application and upload your documents is through Pennsylvania’s COMPASS portal.
In person: You can visit your local County Assistance Office (CAO) to complete an application and speak directly with a caseworker.
By phone: Contact the Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 (or 215-560-7226 in Philadelphia) to request an application or check the status of your case.
Homeless Assistance Program (HAP)
The Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) is a program administered at the county level and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). Unlike the ESA cash benefit, which operates statewide, HAP funds are distributed as block grants to Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. This gives local administrators the flexibility to tailor assistance to their region’s specific needs, offering a combination of financial aid and long-term stabilization services.
The 5 main components of HAP
Counties decide how to allocate their HAP grant across five specific areas:
Rental assistance: Provides short-term financial aid if you are facing eviction or are in the process of transitioning out of homelessness. This aid can cover past-due rent, security deposits, the first month’s rent, or short-term utility bills. Program rules set maximum limits of up to $1,000 for households consisting only of adults, or up to $1,500 for families, within a 24-month period.
Case Management: A mandatory service component designed to help you achieve long-term self-sufficiency. An assigned case manager works with you on budget planning, life skills development, and understanding tenant rights, in addition to connecting you with other complementary social services.
Emergency Shelter: Offers immediate, short-term housing and care if you have completely lost your home due to eviction, domestic violence, fire, or natural disaster. This may include accommodation in an established facility or emergency stays in hotels or motels for a period of 3 to 5 days.
Transitional Housing (Bridge Housing): Shared, temporary accommodation for individuals and families for up to 18 months. It serves as an intermediate step between immediate homelessness and stable, permanent housing.
Innovative Supportive Housing: Allows specific counties to design unique, customized service initiatives to address local needs that fall outside the four standard categories.
Eligibility Criteria
Since the goal of HAP is for individuals to achieve self-sufficiency, applicants must demonstrate that they can maintain their housing once the temporary intervention ends.
Income Limit: Generally, your household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG). (These thresholds are sometimes adjusted locally by the county, ranging between 100% and 200%.)
Housing Status: You must meet the official definitions of “Homeless” or “Near Homeless” (defined as having a current lease but having received an official eviction notice or eviction order from the landlord).
Resource exhaustion: HAP is considered a “payer of last resort.” You must demonstrate that you do not have sufficient liquid savings, assets, or tax refunds to resolve the housing emergency on your own.
How to Contact Your Local Program
Since the state allocates these funds via block grants, you should not apply for the HAP program through the central state portal (COMPASS). Instead, you must contact your local provider:
Call 211: The fastest way is to dial 211 or visit the PA 211 emergency housing directory to be referred to the housing coordination center (“Coordinated Entry”) designated for your county.
Contact County Human Services: Consult the DHS homelessness assistance contact list to find the specific agency or partner non-profit organization (such as Catholic Charities or United Way) that manages the program in your zip code.
Local Housing and Navigation Hubs
Since most ongoing rental assistance is managed locally, using navigation networks is the fastest way to find available funds in your zip code:
Pennsylvania 211
You can dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to reach a resource navigator who can locate active local rental assistance programs. You can also consult the PA 211 affordable housing database.
PA Housing Search
To find affordable private and subsidized rental options, use the PA Housing Search directory or call their helpline at 1-877-428-8844.
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs)
For long-term assistance, such as Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, you must apply directly to your local housing authority through the HUD portal for Pennsylvania.
Assistance from Charitable and Non-Profit Organizations
Charitable organizations, non-profits, and religious groups fill the gaps left by state government safety nets in Pennsylvania. These entities rely on private donations and grants to provide emergency financial aid for covering past-due rent, preventing utility shut-offs, and paying security deposits. Because funding availability fluctuates rapidly, almost all these organizations operate at the local level—by neighborhood or zip code.
These centralized networks have branches or “conferences” operating in nearly every Pennsylvania county:
The Salvation Army: Focuses primarily on rapid eviction prevention. Its local offices (known as “Corps”) offer crisis intervention and case management. Residents of central and eastern counties can contact The Salvation Army’s Eastern Pennsylvania Division for help with rent and utilities.
Residents of western counties can turn to The Salvation Army’s Western Pennsylvania Division.
Certain urban centers, such as The Salvation Army’s West Philadelphia Corps, offer in-person appointments for emergency rental assistance.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul: Operates as a volunteer network based in local Catholic parishes. Volunteers conduct home visits to assess financial needs and can issue checks directly to landlords.
If you reside in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties, you can submit an urgent request form via the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Philadelphia portal.
If you live in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area or Allegheny County, you can locate your parish chapter using the St. Vincent de Paul Council of Pittsburgh directory.
Catholic Charities: Offers flexible emergency funds alongside comprehensive family programs. They prioritize households with children, pregnant women, and vulnerable seniors. For example, residents of central Pennsylvania can contact the Catholic Charities office in York County at 717-845-2696 to inquire about fund availability.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs)
Community Action Agencies are non-profit entities established by the federal government to combat poverty at the local level. They are excellent alternative sources for rental grants, budget counseling, and emergency relocation assistance:
York County: The Community Progress Council administers an emergency housing program that can award up to $1,000 over a 24-month period to households with minor children to prevent eviction.
Lehigh Valley: Organizations such as New Bethany in Bethlehem or the Hispanic American Organization in Allentown offer specialized local rental programs and assistance with completing applications in various languages.
How to find your agency: You can locate the CAA designated to manage safety-net programs for your county by searching the PA 211 emergency housing directory.
Required Documentation
To apply for almost any rental assistance program in Pennsylvania, you will need to gather the following:
- Proof of identity: Photo identification documents and Social Security numbers for all household members.
- Housing documentation: Your current, signed lease agreement.
- Proof of financial hardship: A formal notice of late rent, an eviction notice, or a utility shut-off notice.
- Proof of income: Recent pay stubs, tax documents, or unemployment letters demonstrating your financial need.
