Maryland offers various rental assistance programs—at the state, federal, and local levels—designed to help low-income families, elderly or disabled residents, and individuals facing eviction or housing instability. Depending on your situation, you may be able to access monthly subsidies, one-time emergency grants, or tax credits.
State-Level Rental Assistance
Rental Allowance Program (RAP)
Maryland’s Rental Allowance Program (RAP) is a state-funded program designed to provide short-term housing relief. Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), RAP funds are distributed locally to help individuals and families overcome temporary crises and achieve long-term stability.
Program Details
Benefit: Eligible households receive a monthly rental subsidy check for a fixed amount—issued in the names of both the tenant and the landlord—to help cover rent costs.
Duration: Assistance is limited to a strict maximum of 12 months.
Amount: The exact payment varies based on family size and location; it generally ranges from $100 to $503 per month.
Housing Choice: Participants find their own housing on the private market. The unit simply must meet basic safety and affordability standards established by the program.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the state RAP program, you must meet the following basic requirements:
Housing Situation: You must currently be homeless, facing imminent eviction, or living in temporary emergency housing.
Income Limits: Generally, the total gross household income must be below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your county. Self-sufficiency requirement: You must demonstrate that you have a clear plan or the ability to resume paying the full rent on your own once the 12-month subsidy period ends.
Subsidy restrictions: You cannot receive RAP benefits if you live in public housing or if you already hold a federal Section 8 Housing Choice voucher.
How to Apply (Administered Locally)
Although RAP is a state initiative, funds are distributed directly to county governments and local housing authorities for administration. Consequently, application rules, wait times, and fund availability vary by county.
For example, under Montgomery County’s Rental Assistance Program (RAP), you cannot apply directly; a formal referral from a county social worker or a housing stabilization case manager is required. In contrast, other rural counties may manage direct waiting lists.
State Rental Assistance Voucher Program
Maryland’s State Rental Assistance Voucher Program (SVP) is a unique, state-funded initiative designed to assist low-income residents who are waiting to receive federal housing assistance.
Managed by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and administered by local public housing authorities (PHAs), the program selects eligible families directly from existing federal waiting lists to provide assistance more quickly.
Features and Rules
Bridge to the waiting list: This program specifically assists households already on a federal waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program.
No penalty: Accepting a state voucher through the SVP will not affect your position or status on the federal Section 8 waiting list. You retain your spot until a federal voucher becomes available.
Duration: Vouchers are initially issued for a 12-month period. However, depending on the availability of state funds, they may be renewed for up to 60 months (5 years) or until you obtain a federal voucher.
Portability and choice: Like the federal Section 8 program, the state voucher is tenant-based. This means you find your own rental housing on the private market and keep the voucher if you move, provided you comply with program rules.
Who is eligible for the SVP?
To receive a voucher under this program, the household must meet three fundamental requirements outlined by the Maryland People’s Law Library:
- Must currently reside in the state of Maryland.
- Must meet standard low-income eligibility limits.
- Must be actively enrolled on a federal waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher program administered by a local public housing authority (PHA).
Who has priority?
Since funding for state vouchers is limited, local housing authorities must prioritize families falling into specific categories of vulnerability:
- Families with children under the age of 18
- Young adults aged 18 to 24 who were formerly in the foster care system
- Military veterans
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
- Older adults or individuals with disabilities
How to access the program
You cannot apply directly for the State Rental Assistance Voucher Program (SVP). Instead, you must sign up for your county’s federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program waiting list. When the local housing authority receives state funding for SVP vouchers, it will automatically review its existing list and contact the highest-priority applicants.
If you are already on a waiting list, you can check your current status via the state’s Housing Choice Voucher program waiting list portal.
Maryland Renter’s Tax Credit
The Maryland Renter’s Tax Credit Program is based on the premise that renters indirectly pay property taxes through their monthly rent payments. To alleviate this burden, the state offers a direct financial assistance payment of up to $1,000 per year to low-income residents, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.
The deadline to apply for the benefit for the current program year is October 1, 2026.
Who is eligible for the credit?
To be eligible for the credit, you must meet general housing requirements and belong to at least one of the following specific demographic categories:
General housing and asset rules
Lease requirements: You must have a valid lease, be legally responsible for paying rent, and use the property as your primary residence for at least 6 months of the calendar year.
Asset limit: Your household’s combined net worth must be less than $200,000.
Property status: The property cannot be exempt from property taxes (for example, you are not eligible if you live in public housing or rent from a tax-exempt charitable organization). No subsidies: If you are under 60, you cannot receive federal or state housing subsidies (such as Section 8).
Demographic categories (must meet at least one)
Seniors: You are 60 years of age or older.
People with disabilities: You have a total and permanent disability and receive federal disability benefits, or have been certified as disabled by a county health official.
Families with dependents: You are under 60, have at least one dependent child under 18 living with you, and your total household gross income is below the federal poverty threshold.
How the benefit is calculated
The tax credit is calculated using a formula that compares your total household gross income with your occupancy rent (your base rent, strictly excluding utilities and furniture).
The state estimates the portion of your rent that goes toward property taxes. If that amount exceeds a specific percentage of your household income, the state issues you a check for the difference, up to a maximum of $1,000.
The Montgomery County bonus: If you rent a home in Montgomery County and qualify for the state credit, you will automatically receive a supplemental county check equal to 50% of that credit. This means the total combined payment could reach up to $1,500, without the need to submit an additional application.
How to Apply for the 2026 Tax Credit
The application period opens every February, and a new form must be completed each year.
Gather your documentation: You will need copies of your federal income tax return from the previous year (if filed), your lease agreement, all rent receipts or proof of rent payment, and documentation of all household income (including Social Security SSA-1099 forms or retirement letters).
Apply online: You can submit your application instantly via the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) OneStop portal.
Apply by mail: You can download the physical Form RTC-1 from the SDAT tax credit application webpage and mail it in, although paper applications take longer to process.
If you need direct assistance completing the application, you can contact the SOAR program by calling 443-961-6220.
Emergency Assistance for Families with Children (EAFC)
Emergency Assistance for Families with Children (EAFC) is a program administered by the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) that provides emergency cash grants to families with children facing a sudden housing or financial crisis.
The program offers up to $1,500—available once within a 24-month period—to resolve emergencies that threaten the health and safety of children in the home.
What can EAFC funds cover?
The grant is strictly intended for emergency interventions and can be used to cover:
Eviction prevention: Payment of past-due rent or mortgage to halt active eviction or foreclosure proceedings.
Security deposits: Payment of the first month’s rent or a security deposit if your family is currently homeless or fleeing unsafe housing.
Utility reconnection: Payment of overdue electricity, gas, water, or heating fuel bills to prevent disconnection or restore disconnected services.
Basic needs: Purchase of emergency food, clothing, or essential household items if your family lost everything in a disaster, such as a house fire.
Who is eligible?
To receive EAFC funds, your household must meet the following criteria:
Presence of a minor in the household: You must have at least one minor child (under age 18) living with you, or be in the third trimester of pregnancy. Defined crisis: You must have an active, documented emergency (such as a formal court eviction notice, a utility shut-off notice, or a disaster report).
Income limits: Your household must meet low-income criteria based on family size.
Resolution rule: The maximum grant of $1,500 must be sufficient to fully resolve the emergency. For example, if you owe $3,000 in back rent, you must demonstrate that you have the means to pay the remaining $1,500 before EAFC disburses its portion.
How to apply
The EAFC program is administered locally by your county’s Department of Social Services (DSS).
Online application: You can submit an emergency application digitally via Maryland’s MyMDTHINK portal.
In-person application: You can visit your local DSS office to submit a paper emergency application. If you are facing imminent eviction or a utility shut-off, applying in person is usually the fastest option.
Long-term federal assistance
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
This federal program provides long-term rental subsidies directly to landlords on behalf of low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Administration
The program is administered locally. In regions such as the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland, the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) acts as the administrator, while other regions utilize county-specific Public Housing Authorities (PHAs).
Local County & Emergency Assistance
Local Eviction Prevention and ERAP: Many jurisdictions—such as Prince George’s County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)—administer local emergency funds, housing rehabilitation programs, and credit counseling services.
Security Deposit Assistance: Certain municipal programs—such as the City of Baltimore’s Security Deposit Assistance Program (SDAP)—offer a one-time grant of up to $2,000 to help eligible residents cover upfront moving costs.
Emergency Grants to Prevent Homelessness: These grants, managed through local social services departments, provide immediate support to resolve a housing emergency.
Immediate Assistance and Crisis Hotlines
If you are facing imminent eviction or utility shut-off, you can contact Maryland 211 by dialing 2-1-1 from any phone or by visiting the 211 Maryland eviction prevention resource database. They can immediately connect you with local non-profits, faith-based charities, or community action agencies that offer local emergency funding.
