Security deposit assistance programs provide grants, low-interest loans, or guarantees to help low-income renters, families, and individuals facing housing instability cover upfront move-in costs. Because these programs are funded locally and federally, options vary significantly depending on your specific city, county, and state.
Local Government & Emergency Rental Programs
Most government assistance for deposits is administered at the county or city level. Although the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) program, established during the pandemic, ended in late 2025, local jurisdictions continue to fund their own programs using federal block grants, such as HOME or the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).
Local Housing Authorities
Local public housing agencies (PHAs) often manage or coordinate moving grants funded by federal block grants to cover upfront lease costs, such as the first month’s rent and security deposits. However, there is a common misconception that standard Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) automatically cover deposits. “Some public housing agencies require voucher holders to pay the housing security deposit themselves,” clarifies HUD.gov. Instead, PHAs use separate local emergency funds or refer tenants to networks of partner organizations to meet this need.
How Local Housing Authorities Fund Moving Costs
When a PHA offers assistance for security deposits or the first month’s rent, the funds typically come from specific federal budget allocations designated for local jurisdictions:
HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA): This federal block grant allows PHAs to offer direct grants or low-interest loans to low-income tenants, specifically for utility deposits, security deposits, and initial rent payments.
Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG): This funding source, often used for rapid rehousing, allows PHAs and partner agencies to cover the full range of upfront costs for families transitioning out of temporary shelters or unstable housing situations.
Referrals to PHA partners: Most PHAs maintain direct referral channels with local community action agencies and charitable organizations. If the housing authority itself lacks liquid funds for deposits, its social workers can arrange an urgent referral to an agency that does have such funds available.
Program formats and rules
Depending on the specific housing authority, financial assistance for moving is structured in one of three ways:
Direct grants to the landlord: The PHA issues a check directly to the private landlord. The tenant is not required to repay this money.
Interest-free repayment loans: The PHA covers the full initial deposit to secure the housing but requires the tenant to repay the funds in small, manageable monthly installments over the term of the lease.
Installment payments for gradual accumulation: For public housing or project-based units, arrangements may be made for the tenant to build up the security deposit gradually, in accordance with HUD Exchange guidelines. This allows the tenant to split the deposit into smaller payments—spread over 6 to 12 installments—added to their monthly rent.
Step-by-Step Action Plan to Request PHA Aid
Step 1: Obtain the landlord’s intent: Before a PHA (Public Housing Authority) can disburse moving funds, you must have either an unsigned lease agreement or a signed “Request for Tenancy Approval” (RFTA) form. The document must clearly detail the exact breakdown of the first month’s rent and security deposit requirements.
Step 2: Request discretionary moving funds: Immediately inform your PHA housing specialist or caseworker that you lack the necessary capital to cover moving expenses. Ask if they have an active HOME TBRA fund or a Local Emergency Stabilization Fund.
Step 3: Obtain the landlord’s vendor form: If the PHA or a partner agency approves financial assistance, they will require the landlord to complete a W-9 tax form. The landlord must register as a county or state vendor so the agency can make a direct electronic payment.
Department of Social Services
State and local Departments of Social Services (DSS) provide emergency moving assistance to help low-income families and individuals secure permanent housing. Unlike Housing Authorities (which strictly manage long-term housing vouchers), the DSS operates emergency financial assistance programs designed specifically to prevent homelessness or move families out of emergency shelter systems.
These programs are often classified under names such as Emergency Assistance (EA), Diversion Programs, or Housing Stabilization Services. DSS emergency applications are known for strict deadlines regarding document submission. Gather the following items before requesting an intake appointment:
Proof of emergency: Generally, you will need to demonstrate a sudden loss of income or present a current eviction notice from your previous residence to access emergency funds.
The “Welcome Letter” and the unsigned lease agreement: A written statement from your prospective landlord confirming that you have been approved for the apartment, with only the security deposit and first month’s rent remaining to be paid.
Bank statements from the last 30 to 60 days: The DSS reviews all active financial accounts (including apps like Cash App, Venmo, or Chime) to verify that you do not have hidden cash resources available to pay the deposit yourself.
Public Housing Programs
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is a local government framework designed to prevent evictions by paying overdue rent and utility bills, while also funding initial security deposits or first month’s rent for households in the process of moving into stable housing. Since the major federal emergency rental assistance funding (ERA1 and ERA2) established during the pandemic has officially concluded operations nationwide, the ERAP now functions as a patchwork of initiatives funded locally by cities, counties, and states; each has its own application deadlines, stricter budget constraints, and specific eligibility criteria.
Look for your county’s “Coordinated Services Planning” or “Housing Stabilization” division. These agencies typically manage the local ERAP waiting list or maintain the master schedule indicating when application appointments reopen.
TANF & Diversion Programs
The TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program and “diversion programs” offer immediate financial aid specifically designed to help low-income families avoid enrolling in long-term social assistance programs by resolving an immediate emergency. Since TANF is a federal block grant administered by individual states, these programs have widely varying names, payment limits, and eligibility criteria depending on where you live.
While monthly TANF checks are relatively small, diversion assistance can be substantial. Depending on the state, it can range from $1,000 to $3,500 (or equal the amount of three or four months of standard financial assistance) and is paid out as a lump sum. Accepting TANF diversion assistance legally prevents you from applying for standard monthly TANF financial assistance for a set period (usually 120 days to one year), unless you can demonstrate that you have suffered an extreme, unforeseen catastrophe.
National non-profits and faith-based charities
Charitable organizations—both national and local—often offer direct financial aid or loans to cover security deposits.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army primarily channels its financial assistance through its local “Family Services” departments. They specialize in helping families overcome the financial hurdles associated with moving into a new home or avoiding literal homelessness.
“Our rental program typically covers up to two months of rent under the following circumstances… First month’s rent: The Salvation Army can pay the first month’s rent for applicants who have already found a rental property and obtained a move-in authorization letter… Generally, we can cover the first month’s rent (in full or prorated) and the security deposit,” according to the organization’s operational guidelines. Most local branches limit this important financial assistance to once every 24 months to ensure an equitable distribution of funds.
Catholic Charities (Caritas)
Catholic Charities manages local housing funds categorized under headings such as “Emergency Financial Assistance” or “Housing Stabilization Services.” Their offices offer “one-time direct financial assistance for: past-due rent payments; [and] emergency security deposits to prevent homelessness,” according to the guidelines of the organization’s regional Family and Community Services programs.
Because they manage high-demand community funds, they rarely cover both the first month’s rent and the security deposit at the same time. They generally require you to pay a portion while they issue a check to cover the rest.
Voucher restriction rules: Local affiliates often impose strict eligibility criteria. For example, some affiliated organizations stipulate that clients are ineligible for assistance if they live in Section 8, public, or subsidized housing, or if they receive a county housing grant, according to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. These organizations reserve their emergency cash funds for households that lack any other government safety nets.
St. Vincent de Paul
The St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) organization is known for its great flexibility. Because they are not subject to the rigid federal restrictions that affect government agencies, local conferences can decide to pay the exact amount needed to prevent an eviction or secure a lease.
Financial assistance from SVdP cannot be obtained solely through an online application form. “Our volunteer teams—called Vincentians—visit people directly in their homes… Home visits allow us to accurately assess their complex needs,” explain St. Vincent de Paul regional operations managers. If you are moving to a new apartment, they will meet with you at your current home or at the future unit to discuss your situation in person.
You must call the specific parish conference that covers your exact neighborhood. Calling a church located elsewhere in the city will result in an immediate referral to the entity serving your zip code.
Alternative options for the deposit
When cash grants are not available, there are institutional solutions to avoid high upfront costs:
Security deposit guarantee programs: Some state housing authorities or non-profit organizations offer a formal guarantee to the landlord. “The goal of the Security Deposit Guarantee (SDG) Program is to offer landlords a guarantee equivalent to up to two months’ rent as a security deposit,” according to CT.gov. Installment payments to the landlord: Program staff or case managers can sometimes negotiate with private landlords to allow the tenant to pay the security deposit in monthly installments (ranging from 6 to 12) added to the base rent.
Alternative strategies with landlords
If program waiting lists are long, you can negotiate directly with the property manager:
Installment payment plans: “Program staff can negotiate with landlords on behalf of tenants to allow the security deposit to be paid in monthly installments alongside the rent,” notes Local Housing Solutions.
Security deposit insurance: Ask the landlord if they accept alternatives to the traditional deposit, such as Rhino or Obligo. Instead of paying a large lump sum upfront, you pay a small, non-refundable monthly fee (usually between $5 and $20) to an insurance company that protects the landlord against damages.
How to apply and get information
Call 2-1-1: Dialing 2-1-1 or checking the official United Way 2-1-1 database is the fastest way to find active programs in your zip code.
Find a HUD counselor: Use the HUD-approved housing counselor search tool to find a local specialist who can guide you on available state assistance.
Prepare your documentation: Organizations can act faster if you have your documentation ready. “Having documents prepared can speed up your application by weeks,” according to LifeSTEPS housing resource guides. Gather your photo ID, proof of income (or proof of lack thereof), and a signed intent-to-rent agreement from the landlord specifying the required deposit amount.
