Falling behind on rent is stressful, but acting early gives you the most options. New Haven-area programs offer emergency rental assistance, help with back rent, and security-deposit support, and legal-aid offices can step in if you have received an eviction notice.
The resources below are the verified rent-help and emergency-cash options in our New Haven directory. If you have a court date or an eviction notice, do not wait, reach out to legal aid right away.
Resource details below come from the live directory. Call the provider to confirm hours, openings, and eligibility before you go.
Who can get help
Rental-assistance programs usually look at income and the reason you fell behind (a job loss, a medical bill, a missed paycheck). Having an eviction notice or a shut-off notice often moves you up the priority list. You do not need perfect paperwork to start; call and ask what they need.
Rent help and emergency assistance in New Haven
Beulah Heights Social Integration Program
Beulah Heights Church
Beulah Heights Social Integration Program provides meals, food-pantry appointments and support for people experiencing homelessness or returning from incarceration. Its Morning Manna program serves ho…
CAANH Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Community Action Agency of New Haven
Free IRS-certified basic federal and state tax preparation for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families during tax season.
Christian Community Action
CCA
New Haven nonprofit offering food, housing support and case management. New HOPE housing accepts referrals from a case manager, social worker or counselor.
Columbus House - Healthcare Access
Columbus House
Columbus House connects people experiencing homelessness with healthcare and offers a medical respite program for people leaving the hospital. A current general walk-in clinic schedule at the shelter …
Columbus House Emergency Shelter
Columbus House
Emergency shelter and housing services for individuals experiencing homelessness. Provides meals, case management, and connections to permanent housing.
Community Action Agency of New Haven - Emergency Assistance
CAANH
CAANH connects people with housing support, benefits applications and other services. Passport Transitional Services (PTS) helps New Haven residents who are unsheltered or have a notice to quit or evi…
Community Action Agency of New Haven - Urgent Diaper Bank
Community Action Agency of New Haven (CAANH)
CAANH's Urgent Diaper Bank provides 50 diapers per child each month for three months after enrollment. Serves eligible New Haven and West Haven families already enrolled as CAANH clients, for children…
Connecticut Fair Housing Center - Eviction Help
Connecticut Fair Housing Center
Fair-housing organization offering tenant resources and an online Eviction Guide and Form Filler. Tenants facing eviction can use its legal-aid referrals and the Connecticut Right to Counsel eligibili…
Continuum of Care - Crisis Services
Continuum of Care Inc
Short-term residential crisis stabilization and respite for adults with mental-health or substance-use needs. Services include 24-hour care, case management, peer support and connections to ongoing tr…
Continuum of Care Emergency Housing
Continuum of Care Inc
Emergency housing at 270 Foxon Boulevard for adults, including single people and families. Provides meals, showers, laundry, clothing, clinical support and help finding housing. Staff are on site 24 h…
CT Department of Social Services - New Haven
State of Connecticut DSS
The New Haven DSS Resource Center helps residents with SNAP, cash assistance and DSS-administered health coverage. Staff provide benefit forms, help with applications, answer questions and conduct eli…
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK)
DESK
Meals at several downtown locations, a Wednesday grocery pantry, and a daytime Drop-In & Resource Center offering basic needs and connections to shelter, housing and income assistance. The State Stree…
General Assistance
CT Department of Social Services
State-Administered General Assistance (SAGA) provides a small monthly cash benefit to eligible Connecticut residents with very low income and assets. It usually serves adults who cannot work for medic…
Get Connected New Haven - Online Resource Directory
City of New Haven
An online directory for finding New Haven food, housing, healthcare, employment and other community resources. The City of New Haven and United Way partners use 2-1-1 resource information to help resi…
Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven
Habitat for Humanity
Homeownership preparation program and affordable home construction. Also operates ReStore selling discounted furniture, appliances, and building materials to fund housing projects.
How to get started
Act fast if you have an eviction notice
Contact a legal-aid office below as soon as you can. Free lawyers can often delay or stop an eviction and know which assistance funds are open.
Apply for rental assistance
Ask each program what it covers (back rent, this month, deposit) and what documents you need. Apply to more than one if you qualify.
Check for emergency cash help
Some programs offer one-time emergency cash for rent or essentials. Our Benefits Check tool can show what else you might qualify for.
Common questions
Where can I get help paying rent in New Haven?
Rental-assistance and emergency-cash programs in New Haven can help with back rent, this month's rent, or a deposit. The programs on this page are the verified options in our directory. Call to ask what each one covers.
I got an eviction notice. What do I do?
Contact a legal-aid office right away. Free housing lawyers can often delay or stop an eviction, and they know which rental-assistance funds are currently open. Do not miss a court date.
Can I get help with a security deposit?
Some programs cover security deposits or first-month rent for people moving into stable housing. Ask each program below what it covers.
Related help guides
Not sure where to start, or do not see what you need?