Quick answer
Alabama has no open statewide rent relief application. ERA Alabama stopped accepting applications at 8 a.m. on December 15, 2022 after committing $173.5 million to more than 39,000 households, and the federal Emergency Rental Assistance program behind it ended September 30, 2025. For rent help now: dial 211 for charities and county funds with money this month, go through coordinated entry for HUD-funded homelessness prevention, and apply for a Housing Choice Voucher through your local housing authority for ongoing help. Families with children can apply for Family Assistance cash through DHR, and everyone can use LIHEAP (income at or below 150% of poverty) through a community action agency. Applying is free.
Key facts
- ERA Alabama is closed. AHFA wound the program down in December 2022; it had paid or pledged $173.5 million to more than 39,000 households in all 67 counties.
- Jefferson County and Baldwin County ran their own ERA programs and have also closed them after exhausting funds.
- Treasury’s ERA2 period of performance ended September 30, 2025, so no new pandemic-style rent relief can be funded.
- Family Assistance: Alabama DHR’s TANF cash program for low-income families with children under 18; the average monthly family benefit DHR reports is small.
- LIHEAP in Alabama is delivered by community action agencies under ADECA; household income must not exceed 150% of the federal poverty level.
Table of contents
Is the Alabama rent relief program still open?
No. The Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama program was run statewide by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority with federal Treasury money. AHFA announced it would conclude the temporary program and shift focus to long-term housing solutions, stopping applications at 8 a.m. on December 15, 2022; by then it had committed $173.5 million in paid or pledged assistance to more than 39,000 households across all 67 counties, as the National Council of State Housing Agencies reported. Jefferson County’s program closed after determining that applications in process would exceed the dollars available, and Baldwin County reports it has effectively exhausted its funds.
The federal source is gone too: the U.S. Treasury states that the ERA2 period of performance ended on September 30, 2025, on its Emergency Rental Assistance page.
Watch out: sites that still offer an “ERA Alabama application” and charge a fee are scams. AHFA, 211, and the agencies below never charge.
What rent help exists in Alabama now?
| Type of help | What it pays | Who runs it | How fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) | Ongoing subsidy; you typically pay about 30% of income toward rent | Local public housing authorities | Waiting lists, often months to years |
| Homelessness prevention (ESG) | Short-term rent and move-in costs for households about to lose housing | Nonprofits funded by HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants, through coordinated entry | Varies; start with 211 |
| Charity rent funds | One-time payment to the landlord, often a few hundred dollars | Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, United Way partners, churches | Days, after an interview with lease and notice |
| Community action emergency funds | One-time rent, deposit, or utility help; amounts vary | Community action agencies | Days to weeks, by appointment |
HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants fund street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, and data systems through states and cities, which pass the money to nonprofits, according to HUD Exchange. In Alabama, ADECA distributes the state share and Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery receive their own. 211 knows which agency covers your county.
How do Family Assistance and LIHEAP free up money for rent?
- Family Assistance. The Alabama Department of Human Resources describes the Family Assistance Program as temporary cash assistance for basic needs for low-income families with children under 18 (or 19 if a full-time student), paid on an EBT card, with the JOBS Program providing work and training services to all parents receiving cash, on its Family Assistance page. Amounts are low; DHR’s dashboard shows an average monthly family benefit under $200, and the maximum for a family of three is $344 according to the National Center for Children in Poverty’s 2025–26 profile. Apply at your county DHR office.
- LIHEAP. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs contracts with community action agencies and local nonprofits to deliver energy assistance; the applicant’s household income must not exceed 150% of the federal poverty level, and ADECA does not take applications itself, per its LIHEAP page, which lists the agency for every county. The national LIHEAP office finder and hotline (1-866-674-6327) are at EnergyHelp.us; LIHEAP never charges a fee.
- SNAP. Replaces grocery spending; estimate with our SNAP calculator and apply through DHR.
What if I already have an eviction notice?
- Act within 7 days. In Alabama, after being served with an eviction (unlawful detainer) complaint you generally have seven days to file an answer with the court, or you lose by default.
- Call Legal Services Alabama or ask 211 for legal aid; representation is free for low-income tenants.
- Get the landlord’s written agreement to accept a payment from a charity or agency and dismiss the case.
- Bring documents: lease, notice or court papers, ID, proof of income, and the landlord’s contact details.
What documents do I need to bring?
Most rent programs make a decision at the first appointment if your paperwork is complete, and send you home if it is not. Gather these before you call:
| Document | Why the agency needs it |
|---|---|
| Photo ID for the applicant | Identity and residency |
| Current lease or rental agreement | Proves the rent amount and that you are the tenant |
| Notice to vacate, shutoff notice, or court papers | Shows the emergency; some funds require it |
| Proof of income for the last 30 days, or a signed statement of no income | Most funds have income limits |
| Proof of the hardship (layoff letter, medical bill, repair estimate) | Many funds require a cause beyond an ongoing shortfall |
| Landlord’s name, phone, and mailing address | Payments go to the landlord or vendor, not to you |
| Social Security numbers or ITINs for household members | Required by many public programs; many charities do not ask |
Bring originals and keep photos on your phone. If an agency says funds are gone, ask which fund in the county still has money this week; caseworkers usually know.
How do I apply, step by step?
- Dial 211 and ask for every open rent fund in your county: charities, community action, coordinated entry, and legal aid.
- Apply for a Housing Choice Voucher with every housing authority that serves your area.
- Apply for Family Assistance and SNAP at your county DHR office if you have children; SNAP for everyone.
- Apply for LIHEAP through your community action agency listed on ADECA’s map.
Applying is free. AHFA, DHR, ADECA agencies, housing authorities, 211, charities, and legal aid never charge to apply.
For more specifics, see our guides on emergency rent relief by state and programs that help pay rent.
Related guides
- Immediate hotel vouchers for people who are homeless
- Hardship grants for individuals
- Utility relief and LIHEAP by state
- Housing help: vouchers, affordable housing, and paths to owning
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alabama rent relief program still accepting applications?
No. ERA Alabama stopped taking applications on December 15, 2022, the Jefferson and Baldwin county programs have closed, and federal ERA funding ended in 2025. Rent help now comes from charities, HUD-funded prevention programs, community action agencies, and Housing Choice Vouchers.
Who do I call for rent help in Alabama?
Dial 211. It lists open charity and county rent programs and connects you to coordinated entry and legal aid.
How much is Alabama Family Assistance?
It is small: the maximum for a family of three is about $344 a month, and DHR reports an average family benefit under $200. It is for low-income families with children under 18.
What is the income limit for Alabama LIHEAP?
Household income must not exceed 150% of the federal poverty level. Apply through the community action agency for your county, not ADECA.
Can I get ongoing rent help in Alabama?
Only through Housing Choice Vouchers from your local housing authority, which have waiting lists. Other help is one-time.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on October 24, 2026. If a source and this page ever disagree, follow the source.
- National Council of State Housing Agencies: AHFA to conclude ERA Alabama (December 2022 closure and totals)
- U.S. Treasury: Emergency Rental Assistance program status
- Alabama Department of Human Resources: Family Assistance (TANF)
- National Center for Children in Poverty: TANF 2025–26 profile, Alabama (maximum benefit)
- Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs: LIHEAP
- HUD Exchange: Emergency Solutions Grants program requirements
- EnergyHelp.us: LIHEAP office search and hotline (HHS)
- 211.org: find your local 211
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice, and not an application. Program funding changes; confirm with the agency that runs the program. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
