Quick answer
South Carolina has no open statewide rent relief application. SC Stay Plus stopped taking applications in December 2022 and has expended all funds the U.S. Treasury provided, after paying more than $335 million to over 55,000 households; SC Housing directs renters who still need help to 211. Today’s South Carolina rent relief is local: dial 211 for county emergency funds and charities, apply for a Housing Choice Voucher through SC Housing or your local housing authority for ongoing help, and use LIHEAP through your community action agency to free up money for rent. Applying is free.
Key facts
- SC Stay Plus is closed and will not reopen. It stopped new applications after December 16, 2022 and has spent all its Treasury funding.
- The federal Emergency Rental Assistance program behind it ended; Treasury’s ERA2 period of performance closed September 30, 2025.
- SC Housing warns that any offer or solicitation claiming to be associated with “SC Stay Plus” is not endorsed or administered by SC Housing.
- Ongoing help: Housing Choice Vouchers through SC Housing (in many counties) and local housing authorities, with waiting lists.
- One-time help: community action agencies, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, and church funds, reached through SC 211.
Table of contents
- Is the South Carolina rent relief program (SC Stay Plus) still open?
- What rent help exists in South Carolina now?
- How do LIHEAP and TANF free up money for rent?
- What if I already have an eviction notice?
- What documents do I need to bring?
- How do I apply, step by step?
- Related guides
- Frequently asked questions
Is the South Carolina rent relief program (SC Stay Plus) still open?
No. SC Stay Plus was South Carolina’s pandemic emergency rental and utility assistance program, run by SC Housing with federal Treasury money. It stopped accepting new applications at 11:59 p.m. on December 16, 2022, as local news reported at the time, and SC Housing’s SC Stay Plus page now states that the program has expended all funds provided by the U.S. Treasury for rental and utility assistance, that it provided more than $335 million to over 55,000 households, and that people who still need help should contact 211.
The federal source is gone too. The U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance page states that the ERA2 period of performance ended on September 30, 2025, so no state can fund new pandemic-style rent relief.
Watch out: SC Housing specifically warns that offers using the SC Stay Plus name are not endorsed or administered by SC Housing. Any site or text that asks for a fee to “apply for SC Stay Plus” is a scam.
What rent help exists in South Carolina 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 | SC Housing in many counties; city and county housing authorities elsewhere | Waiting lists, often months to years |
| County emergency funds | One-time back rent or deposit, amounts vary | Community action agencies and county human services | Days to weeks, by appointment |
| Charity rent funds | One-time payment to the landlord, often a few hundred dollars | Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, interfaith ministries, churches | Days, after an interview with lease and notice |
| 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 |
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 South Carolina that money flows through regional homeless coalitions and community action agencies; 211 knows which one covers your county.
How do LIHEAP and TANF free up money for rent?
- LIHEAP. South Carolina’s Office of Economic Opportunity administers federal energy assistance through local community action agencies, which verify eligibility and pay utilities directly for heating, cooling, and year-round crisis help. Find your agency through the LIHEAP office search at EnergyHelp.us or call 1-866-674-6327. HHS notes that LIHEAP never charges a fee. Paying the power bill with LIHEAP is often what makes rent possible.
- TANF (Family Independence). South Carolina’s monthly cash program for very-low-income families with children is run by the Department of Social Services; amounts are small and set by DSS, and you apply at your county DSS office. Ask about any one-time or diversion payment for a housing emergency.
- SNAP. Replaces grocery spending; estimate your benefit with our SNAP calculator and apply through DSS.
What if I already have an eviction notice?
- Respond on time. South Carolina eviction (“ejectment”) cases move through magistrate court quickly; missing the deadline to request a hearing usually means losing by default.
- Call South Carolina Legal Services or ask 211 for legal aid; representation is free for low-income tenants.
- Get the landlord’s written agreement to accept a charity or county payment and stop 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 (sc211.org) and ask for every open rent fund in your county: community action, charities, ESG prevention, and legal aid.
- Apply for a Housing Choice Voucher with SC Housing and any local housing authority that serves your area.
- Apply for LIHEAP through your community action agency, and for SNAP and TANF through DSS.
- Call your landlord and utility and ask for written payment plans while applications are pending.
Applying is free. SC Housing, 211, community action agencies, DSS, 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 South Carolina rent relief program still accepting applications?
No. SC Stay Plus closed to new applications in December 2022 and has spent all of its federal funds; SC Housing says it will not reopen and refers renters to 211.
Who do I call for rent help in South Carolina?
Dial 211. It connects you with county emergency funds, charities, HUD-funded prevention programs, and legal aid in your area.
Can I get ongoing rent help in South Carolina?
Only through Housing Choice Vouchers from SC Housing or a local housing authority, which have waiting lists. Other help is one-time.
Does South Carolina have emergency cash for rent?
Families with children can apply for TANF through DSS and ask about one-time payments. One-time rent help for everyone else comes from charities and county funds through 211.
How much rent assistance can I get in South Carolina?
One-time funds usually cover a few hundred dollars to one month’s rent, depending on the agency. Vouchers are ongoing and limit your share of rent to about 30% of income.
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.
- SC Housing: SC Stay Plus (program closed; all funds expended)
- WRDW (Nov. 2022): SC Stay Plus to stop accepting applications after Dec. 16, 2022
- U.S. Treasury: Emergency Rental Assistance program status
- 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.
