1. I received an eviction notice
A notice is not an order to leave today. There are deadlines, a hearing and defenses, and in many states free legal aid for tenants.
What to read first
Urgent help
What is happening with your housing today?
Pick the situation closest to yours. Each one takes you to the guide that explains your deadlines and rights, to the tool that helps, and to the free official help you can ask for. Nothing you read here asks for your data.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Free help lines
If you need to talk to someone today, these lines are official and free. Each number comes from the official page shown under it.
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211: local help with housing, rent and utilities
It connects you with local specialists who know the help in your area for housing, rent and utility bills. The call is confidential. If you have lost your housing, HUD says to dial 2-1-1 and press 6; if no one answers, at 211.org you enter your ZIP code to find your local office.
Call 2-1-1 211.org (external site) Emergency shelter and rapid rehousing: how to get help
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National Domestic Violence Hotline
If you face violence at home, this line connects you with services near you, according to the Justice Department. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Call 1-800-799-7233 justice.gov (external site) VAWA: your housing if you face domestic violence or stalking
According to U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (external site)
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Local experts who can help you for free or at a low cost with rent and housing, according to the CFPB. Call HUD's line or find an agency near you.
Call 800-569-4287 hud.gov (external site) HUD housing counselors: what they do and what they cost
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Free legal aid (LSC)
The Legal Services Corporation's finder shows you the civil legal aid program for your area, for example for an eviction. Each program decides who qualifies under its own income rules.
lsc.gov (external site) Free legal aid: who qualifies and where to find it
According to Legal Services Corporation (LSC) (external site)
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National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline (NEAR)
If you owe the power or gas bill, this line tells you your local LIHEAP office, which helps with utility bills all year, according to the CFPB.
Call 866-674-6327 consumerfinance.gov (external site) LIHEAP: help paying for power, gas and heat
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FEMA: help after a disaster
If you live in a presidentially declared disaster area, you apply for FEMA help at DisasterAssistance.gov, with the FEMA app, by phone or at a recovery center, according to USA.gov. FEMA's helpline answers every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
Call 800-621-3362 usa.gov (external site) FEMA disaster assistance for renters and homeowners
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2. I cannot pay the mortgage
The sooner you talk to your lender and a HUD counselor, the more options you have: a pause, a payment plan or a modification. Beware of anyone who charges to "rescue" your home.
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3. I cannot pay rent this month
There are assistance programs, rules on late fees and steps that protect your record. First, what to say and what not to sign.
What to read first
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4. My electricity or gas is about to be shut off
Notices have deadlines and there are protections for health and extreme weather. What to ask the utility and where to turn.
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5. I think I was scammed
What to do in the first hours, where to report, and how to stop fraud involving your home or your deed.
What to read first
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6. A family member was detained and the home depends on them
How to protect the housing, the payments and the papers while the family regroups, and what legal help exists.
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7. A hurricane, flood or fire damaged my home
The first days' steps with insurance, the mortgage and emergency aid, and how to avoid fake contractors.
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8. I lost my job and have housing payments
What to prioritize, whom to notify and which help exists while you find income again.
More help: Help & programs Guides
Help in your state
Each state has its page of counseling agencies, housing authorities and tenant rights. The 52 states on this list have 1,366 HUD-approved counseling agencies (610 serve people in Spanish) and 3,769 public housing agencies.
Sources: HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026) · Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026)