Houston Emergency Rent Help 2026–27: Harris County's Rental Assistance Portal, Free Eviction Lawyers, and Where Else to Call
Houston renters who fall behind usually discover something frustrating: the City of Houston itself does not run a walk-in rent assistance office. The City's Housing and Community Development Department says plainly that it provides long-term solutions by financially supporting short-term providers, and that it does not directly house individuals or provide crisis services. The money that pays a past-due rent bill in Houston mostly flows through Harris County, through nonprofit partners, and, once a case is filed, through free eviction lawyers who can negotiate time or a payment plan.
This guide is built around one question: what is your situation today? Find the row that matches you, then read the section it points to.
Pick Your Starting Point
Your situation | Where to start | Phone |
Behind on rent, have a late or vacate notice, no court case yet | Harris County HCD Rental Assistance portal | (713) 696-7900 |
An eviction case has been filed in a Justice of the Peace court | Lone Star Legal Aid, Eviction Right to Counsel | 361-35EVICT |
Low income and worried an eviction is coming | Harris County Eviction Defense Program | 832-927-4955 |
Within days of losing housing or already without housing | Housing Support Intake Line | 832-531-6041 |
Need other referrals (food, utilities, nonprofits) | 2-1-1 Texas / United Way | 2-1-1 |
All numbers above come from the official Harris County, City of Houston, and Lone Star Legal Aid pages linked under Sources.
Door 1: Harris County Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Harris County Housing and Community Development (HCD) says it works with local, federal, state and other agencies to identify funds for people who have a one-time issue making a rent or mortgage payment. The county is candid that "funding can be scarce," but it invites residents to apply anyway.
How the portal works
You apply online through the red "apply" button on HCD's Rental Assistance page. The county explains a detail that confuses many applicants: if you open the "Highest Priority Assistance Type" selector and it reads "Nothing," the limit has been reached for applications. That is not a denial. HCD says to check back, because new appointment slots are added daily. Requests are reviewed first come, first served, so it pays to check early each day.
Who qualifies
Harris County lists these requirements for rental assistance:
You must reside within Harris County (which includes the City of Houston).
The applicant must be the head of household.
Household income must be below 80% of area median income for Harris County.
You must have a valid state or federal ID and a Social Security card.
You may need U.S. citizenship or resident status, or have children who are citizens with parents listed on the birth certificate. The county notes that some programs do not require citizenship.
You must show proof of need, such as a vacate notice with your name on it, a documented hardship, or proof that you have exhausted your income.
Your landlord or mortgage company must be willing to work with Harris County and guarantee your residency for the next 30 days.
You need a W-9 from your landlord, apartment manager or mortgage company.
The income chart the county posts
HCD's page publishes these maximum incomes. The county labels the figures as sourced from HUD, June 15, 2023, so they may be updated; confirm on the page before applying.
Household size | Maximum annual income |
1 | $52,200 |
2 | $59,650 |
3 | $67,100 |
4 | $74,550 |
5 | $80,550 |
6 | $86,500 |
7 | $92,450 |
8 | $98,450 |
Documents to gather before the slot opens
Because slots go quickly, have these scanned or photographed before you click:
Photo ID (state or federal) and Social Security card for the head of household.
Proof of income: 30 days of paycheck stubs, a workers' compensation letter, or all award letters (the county lists SSI/SSDI, TANF, food stamps, pension, veterans benefits and child support as examples).
Your signed lease (or mortgage statement for homeowners).
Your vacate notice or late notice with your name on it, or other proof of hardship.
A W-9 from your landlord or property manager. Ask for this now; it is the item that most often delays a file.
For questions about eligibility, the county directs residents to its Social Services department at (713) 696-7900.
Door 2: Free Lawyers Once Eviction Is Threatened or Filed
If your landlord has already filed, money alone may not be enough. You need someone who knows Justice of the Peace court. Harris County funds two overlapping kinds of help.
Harris County Eviction Defense Program
Under this program, outside legal providers give free legal advice and representation to Harris County residents at risk of eviction. To qualify, the county says you must:
be a resident of Harris County, and
have total household income at or below 200% of the current Federal Poverty Guideline.
Priority goes to applicants who qualify for or receive unemployment benefits, have had a reduction in income, or are at risk of eviction because of a financial hardship.
The program can cover:
advice before an eviction is filed, when an eviction is imminent;
direct representation after filing, including appeals; and
representation in negotiations and mediation to keep a tenancy or reduce housing instability.
The county lists Lone Star Legal Aid as the provider, at 832-927-4955.
Lone Star Legal Aid's Eviction Right to Counsel Initiative
Lone Star Legal Aid describes its Eviction Right to Counsel Initiative as working "like a public defender's office." If you meet its financial requirements, it will try to represent you fully in eviction court, depending on available resources. It is part of the Harris County Eviction Defense Coalition with Houston Volunteer Lawyers, South Texas College of Law Houston, Thurgood Marshall School of Law's Earl Carl Institute, and the University of Houston Law Center.
Key points from Lone Star Legal Aid:
It helps tenants in all 16 Harris County Justice of the Peace courts.
Its attorneys aim to be at eviction hearings across the county to talk with tenants on the spot.
Even if your court is not one where it is regularly present, it says it is still available to assist you.
Call 361-35EVICT as soon as you can.
The single most useful thing you can do is go to your hearing. Lawyers in this coalition look for tenants at court, and a judge cannot hear your side if you are absent.
Door 3: If You Could Lose Housing Within Days
HCD's Eviction Prevention page lists a Housing Support Intake Line at 832-531-6041, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The county says it is helpful for people who:
are living in a shelter or a place not meant for human habitation,
are within days of falling into homelessness,
were previously assessed and want an update, or
need to update contact information.
It says the line is not the right place for people who are couch surfing or unstably housed but not literally homeless, or who want other services; those callers should use 2-1-1. Eligible residents are waitlisted for housing referrals, though the intake line offers immediate referrals to income programs.
The same page describes a Community Resilience Rental Assistance Program meant to help households at risk of homelessness or eviction through problem solving, resource coordination and case assistance, aimed at low-to-moderate income households.
Door 4: Nonprofit Partners and 2-1-1
The City of Houston's HCD says it financially supports nonprofits that provide homelessness prevention, rental assistance, legal services and more, and it keeps a directory of those partners on its Supportive Services page. Lone Star Legal Aid's resource list also points to Harris County Social Services at (713) 696-7900 and labels emergency food, utilities and rent help from area ministries as subject to funding.
When you call 2-1-1, ask specifically for "rent assistance for my ZIP code" and mention whether you have a court date. Agencies often triage by urgency.
If You Are Turned Down
A "no" from one program is rarely the end. Common reasons and next moves:
"Nothing" in the priority selector. This means application slots are full, not that you are ineligible. Check back daily, as HCD advises.
Landlord will not cooperate or sign a W-9. County help requires landlord participation. Ask Lone Star Legal Aid whether a negotiated payment plan or move-out agreement is possible instead.
Income too high for the 80% AMI chart. You may still fall under other partners' rules. Ask 2-1-1 for programs without that cap, and consider the Eviction Defense Program if you are within 200% of the poverty guideline.
Missing documents. Ask the reviewer exactly what is missing and resubmit as soon as you have it; review is first come, first served.
Already have a court date. Do not wait on a rent decision. Call 361-35EVICT and attend your hearing.
A Five-Day Plan
Day 1: Ask your landlord in writing for a W-9 and a current ledger. Save your notice.
Day 1: Open the Harris County portal. If slots show, apply; if it shows "Nothing," set a reminder to check every morning.
Day 2: Gather 30 days of pay stubs or award letters and your lease.
Day 3: If you are low income, call 832-927-4955 for eviction defense advice, especially if a filing is likely.
Any day a case is filed: Call 361-35EVICT and put the hearing date on your calendar. Go.
Related Guides
Sources
This guide gives general information, not legal advice. Funding and application windows change; check the official sources above before you act.
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