Connecticut residents struggling to pay rent can obtain assistance through state housing agencies, local Coordinated Access Networks, municipal programs, legal aid organizations, and non-profit services. Since funding availability and eligibility requirements may vary, it is important to review official program information before submitting an application.
If you need immediate help paying rent in Connecticut, call 2-1-1 or visit the 211 Connecticut website to speak directly with a housing crisis specialist or find local emergency rental assistance options.
Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
The Rental Assistance Program (RAP) is Connecticut’s primary state-funded housing voucher program. It operates similarly to the federal Section 8 program, allowing low-income tenants to seek their own housing on the private market while the state pays a subsidy directly to the landlord.
The program is overseen by the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) and administered statewide by J. D’Amelia & Associates (JDA).
Eligibility Criteria
Income limits: Your household’s gross annual income cannot exceed 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the county or metropolitan area where you reside. Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen or hold eligible immigration status.
Housing quality: The rental unit you choose must meet basic state health, quality, and safety standards before being approved for the subsidy.
How the subsidy works
Standard households: You pay 40% of your adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities. RAP covers the remaining balance up to the maximum allowable rent approved by the state.
Seniors or persons with disabilities: If the head of the household is a senior or a person with a disability, your contribution is reduced to 30% of your adjusted monthly income.
Portability: RAP certificates are portable, meaning you can move to any municipality in Connecticut and take your rental assistance with you.
Waiting lists and how to apply
The statewide RAP waiting list opens only periodically, depending on available funding. Due to high demand, the waiting list is currently closed to general applications.
When the waiting list opens, notices are published in local newspapers and online. To receive automatic email alerts regarding opening dates, you can sign up for notifications via the Housing Choice Voucher Program portal.
Direct Contacts for RAP
| Agency | Role | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|
| J. D’Amelia & Associates | Program Administrator | Visit jdamelia.com or call 1-800-466-4446 |
| 2-1-1 Connecticut | Waitlist status updates & emergency help | Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211ct.org |
Eviction Prevention Fund
Connecticut’s Eviction Prevention Fund 2.0 (EPF) is an active state program administered by the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH). It offers assistance to cover up to three months of rent or a maximum of $5,000 (whichever comes first) in past-due rent, helping tenants settle their debts and avoid eviction.
To apply for assistance or complete a preliminary assessment, tenants must call the UniteCT call center at 1-844-864-8328.
Eligibility Criteria
Active court case: This program does not apply to ordinary rent arrears. You must have received an official court summons and complaint regarding an active eviction proceeding due to non-payment. A simple “Notice to Quit” is not sufficient.
Valid financial hardship: You must demonstrate a sudden, temporary financial loss that occurred within the last 12 months. Valid reasons include job loss, the death of a household income contributor, or a serious health issue.
Sustainability: You must demonstrate the financial capacity to pay ongoing rent on your own once the accumulated debt is resolved.
Income limit: Generally, your total household income cannot exceed 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your locality.
Limits based on prior assistance: If you previously received assistance from the original UniteCT program (established during the pandemic), you are not eligible for this aid unless your household size has increased in the last six months.
How the process works
Phone assessment: Call 1-844-864-8328 to complete an initial assessment over the phone with an intake agent.
Landlord participation: If you are determined to be eligible, your landlord must participate in the program. You must provide tax documents and copies of the lease agreement, as well as agree to a formal agreement.
Payment of the remaining balance by the tenant: If the total rent debt exceeds the $5,000 limit, you must pay the difference directly to the landlord before the state disburses the corresponding portion of the fund.
Crucial Legal Protection: Right to Counsel
If you are facing an ongoing eviction proceeding, you may have access to a free lawyer—regardless of whether you meet specific income requirements—through Connecticut’s “Right to Counsel” program. Visit Eviction Help CT or call the helpline to find out if your zip code, municipality, or specific household circumstances are covered. Never ignore court documents, even if you are actively processing an application for the Eviction Prevention Fund.
Security Deposit Guarantee Program
Connecticut’s Security Deposit Guarantee Program (SDGP) offers landlords a financial guarantee voucher in lieu of a traditional cash security deposit. Administered by the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH), the program guarantees the landlord that the State will pay for property damage caused by the tenant or for unpaid rent (up to the voucher limit) once the tenant has moved out.
2026 Legislative Update
Under Connecticut House Bill 5257, effective October 1, 2026, landlords statewide are legally prohibited from requiring more than one month’s rent as a security deposit for any new lease. This amends previous policies that allowed landlords to request the equivalent of two months’ rent. Consequently, state-issued security deposit guarantees will be capped at one month’s rent starting in October 2026, with operational priority given to assistance for veterans.
Strict Eligibility Requirements
You cannot apply for this program directly as an individual. To qualify for a state security deposit guarantee, you must meet one of the following criteria:
Shelter or Homelessness Status: You must be registered as chronically homeless or be in the process of transitioning out of an emergency shelter.
Participation in housing voucher programs: You must be an active participant in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Mobility Program or the State Rental Assistance Program (RAP).
Income limits: Generally, your total household income cannot exceed 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
How to apply
Coordinated Access Network (CAN) referral: Since direct applications are not accepted, you must contact Connecticut’s housing services access point by calling 2-1-1 (Option 3). A caseworker from your regional Coordinated Access Network must submit the application on your behalf.
Finding housing and a landlord: You must find an apartment where the landlord explicitly accepts the state voucher guarantee instead of requiring an upfront cash payment.
State inspection: The state must inspect and approve the rental unit before the guarantee officially takes effect. Do not move into the unit before receiving formal approval from the state; otherwise, your application will be automatically disqualified.
Regional and Specialized Alternatives
If you do not meet the requirements for the state DOH (Department of Housing) program, there are alternative programs throughout Connecticut:
Mental health and recovery support: The DMHAS Housing Stabilization Services program accepts applications through select behavioral health providers to cover cash security deposits and utility connection costs.
Greater Hartford area: Non-profit organizations, such as My Sisters’ Place, administer local security deposit funds for individuals staying temporarily with acquaintances or residing in regional shelters.
New Haven residents: The city administers its own local assistance program for security deposits and utility debt, offering up to $2,500 to eligible residents moving into a new apartment within city limits.
Municipal and United Way assistance
When state funds are unavailable or delayed, municipal social services and regional United Way offices serve as the primary source of emergency assistance and rapid response for rent in Connecticut. Unlike large state programs, these funds are administered locally and often allow for payments to be made to landlords within days to help households facing a temporary crisis.
1. Municipal social services and local welfare programs
By law, every municipality in Connecticut must have a designated social services agent or a municipal social welfare program.
How it works: Municipalities allocate budgets for “discretionary funds,” “emergency relief funds,” or “general assistance” to prevent homelessness among local residents.
What they cover: One-time emergency payments to cover past-due rent, security deposits, or utility bills with shut-off notices.
How to apply for help: Contact your local town hall and ask to speak with the Department of Social Services. You will be asked to provide proof of residency in that specific municipality, a copy of your lease agreement, and evidence of a temporary crisis (for example, a car repair bill, a medical bill, or temporary job loss).
2. United Way Regional ALICE Funds
Generally, United Way does not pay rent directly to individuals; instead, it funds a network of local Community Action Agencies and administers ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) savings and emergency programs.
United Way 2-1-1 Database: The most direct way to access United Way-backed rental funds is to consult the Connecticut 2-1-1 housing database. This database tracks which local non-profit organizations currently have active private grants for rental assistance programs.
Regional Offices: Different offices offer specific regional assistance. For example:
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut frequently funds rapid-response housing stabilization programs in Hartford and Tolland counties.
United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut allocates emergency housing and utility grants to working families in Stamford, Danbury, Bridgeport, and Norwalk.
3. Community Action Agencies (CAAs)
United Way and local municipalities frequently collaborate with regional Community Action Agencies. These are federally and state-funded non-profit organizations that cover specific geographic areas of Connecticut to distribute emergency funds for rent payments.
- CRT (Community Renewal Team): Serves the Hartford and Middlesex regions.
- CAANH (Community Action Agency of New Haven): Serves the greater New Haven area.
- ABCD (Action for Bridgeport Community Development): Serves the greater Bridgeport area.
- TEAM, Inc.: Serves the Naugatuck Valley region.
- ACCESS Agency: Serves Windham and Tolland counties.
Immediate Action Plan
Call 2-1-1: Specifically ask for the names of private charities, religious organizations, or Community Action Agencies in your zip code that currently have funds available for rent payments.
Contact your local government: Call your city or town municipal offices and ask to speak with the social services caseworker. Ask directly: “Do you have municipal emergency funds available to help a resident pay past-due rent?”
