Arizona Eviction Assistance: Rent Help, Free Legal Aid, and Your Rights in Court

Arizona eviction assistance options at a glance

No one office handles every part of an eviction. Money to catch up on rent comes from one set of places, and help in court comes from another. You can, and usually should, contact both at once.

What happened to pandemic rent relief

From 2021, Arizona renters could apply to large programs that paid months of back rent: the statewide Arizona Rental Assistance Program run by the Department of Economic Security, and separate programs in Maricopa County, Phoenix, Pima County, and Tucson. All of them ran on the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program.

That money is gone. The U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance page says the ERA2 period of performance has ended and grantees can no longer use the funds to help renters. The ERA2 period ended September 30, 2025. No new statewide fund has replaced it, and no new federal stimulus payments are scheduled.

Websites that still advertise an “Arizona eviction relief application” for a fee are not official. Our Arizona rent relief program guide tracks what is open county by county.

The Arizona eviction timeline

Arizona evictions are among the fastest in the country, so knowing the dates matters. These are the main steps under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act:

Put together, a nonpayment case can go from notice to a court order in about two weeks. Read the full text of A.R.S. 33-1368, A.R.S. 33-1377, and A.R.S. 12-1178 on the Arizona Legislature’s website. Always go to your hearing. If you miss it, the landlord usually wins by default.

Paying to stop an eviction

Under A.R.S. 33-1368, the cost of keeping your home goes up the longer a nonpayment case goes on:

• Before the landlord files: paying all past-due rent plus any reasonable late fee written in the lease reinstates the lease.
• After filing, before judgment: you must pay past-due rent, late fees, attorney fees, and court costs.
• After judgment: reinstatement is up to the landlord, who can refuse payment.

That is why the first five days matter most. If an agency has approved help but has not paid yet, ask for a letter or email that says so. Show it to your landlord, and bring it to court. Many landlords will wait a few days for a confirmed payment, and judges see these letters often.

State crisis help for families

The Arizona Department of Economic Security runs Short-Term Crisis Services (STCS) for low-income families facing an emergency they cannot cover from their own income. It can pay rent or mortgage to prevent homelessness, emergency shelter, utility payments and deposits, and rental deposits.

• Household: you must live in Arizona and have a child under 18 at home who is a U.S. citizen or qualified legal resident.
• Income: gross income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, or 150% if someone in the home is 60 or older or has a disability. For 2026, 125% is $34,150 a year for a family of three.
• Limit: help is available once in 12 months and is not guaranteed.
• How to apply: through the community action agency for your county. Dial 2-1-1 to find yours.

Ask the same agency about LIHEAP energy help. Getting your power bill paid can free up money for rent. Our Arizona hardship program guide explains STCS and other state help in more detail.

Phoenix and Maricopa County help

Maricopa County Eviction Prevention Pilot. On August 17, 2026, Maricopa County announced an eviction prevention pilot paid from its fiscal year 2027 budget. It pays up to $3,200 per household, enough for up to two months of back rent. HOM, Inc. runs the program and contacts landlords and tenants, and the City of Phoenix supplies utility aid and case management. Tenants are generally reached through participating landlords, so ask your landlord whether your property is enrolled.

City of Phoenix crisis assistance. The city’s Human Services Department offers emergency housing and utility help to Phoenix residents in a crisis, including eviction prevention and move-in help, when funding allows. The city says rent and utility money is limited because demand is high, and if appointments are full you should try again the next week. Call the appointment line at 602-534-2433 (602-534-AIDE) or 1-866-882-1778, or apply through the city’s online portal. Bring proof of identity, residency, your rent or utility obligation, household income, and household members.

Phoenix Eviction Legal Services Program. The city’s Eviction Legal Services Program offers free full or limited legal representation, mediation, or help after an eviction. You must live in Phoenix or receive Phoenix water service, be at risk of eviction or already evicted, and have income at or below 80% of area median income. The city’s posted 2025 limits are $62,850 for one person, $71,800 for two, $80,800 for three, and $89,750 for four. Call 602-262-7210; the city says it responds within one business day.

Other cities in the county, such as Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, and Chandler, have run their own rent help at times. Ask 2-1-1 what is open where you live.

Tucson and Pima County help

In Pima County, call the county’s Community Action Agency at 520-724-2667 about one-time rent, utility, and deposit help, which the county says depends on funding. Tenants in eviction cases can call Pima County’s Emergency Eviction Legal Services line at 520-724-3357 to ask about a free lawyer and court navigation. Our Pima County rental assistance guide covers Tucson nonprofits and current county programs.

In rural counties, the local community action agency is usually the main door for STCS, LIHEAP, and any local rent funds. 2-1-1 can tell you which agency serves your town.

Free legal help for tenants

A lawyer can spot problems in a notice or court filing, such as a notice with the wrong amount, improper service, or a landlord who refused rent. Even if you owe money, a lawyer can often negotiate more time to pay or move. Free help in Arizona includes:

• AZLawHelp.org, the statewide legal aid directory, with eviction guides and a way to find the legal aid office for your county.
• AZEvictionHelp.org, which explains the eviction process and lists programs that help tenants at each stage.
• Community Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm with a housing law unit, serving Maricopa County and several western counties.
• Southern Arizona Legal Aid, serving Tucson and southern counties.
• DNA-People’s Legal Services, serving northern Arizona and the Navajo Nation.

Each group has its own income rules and may not be able to take every case. Call as soon as you get a notice, not the day before court. Bring your lease, the notice, any court papers, and records of payments and messages with your landlord.

Rights that protect Arizona tenants

Even when rent is behind, a landlord must use the court process. Arizona law gives tenants some important protections:

• No lockouts or shutoffs. Under A.R.S. 33-1367, if a landlord unlawfully removes you or cuts off electric, gas, water, or another essential service, you may recover possession or end the lease and recover up to two months’ rent or twice your actual damages, whichever is greater.
• No retaliation. Under A.R.S. 33-1381, a landlord may not raise rent, cut services, or file for eviction because you complained to a housing code agency or to the landlord about required repairs. A complaint within six months before the landlord’s action creates a presumption of retaliation, though the law lists exceptions.
• Only a constable or sheriff enforces a writ. Your landlord cannot remove you or your belongings without a court order.

Phoenix residents can also ask the city’s Landlord and Tenant Program for free one-on-one education about their rights at 602-262-7210. It does not give legal advice, but it can explain notices and refer you to legal help.

If you lose the case

A judgment is serious, but it is not the end of your options.

• Use the 5 days. The writ of restitution cannot issue for 5 calendar days after judgment. Use that time to move your things, ask the landlord for a move-out date in writing, or ask legal aid whether an appeal or motion makes sense.
• Ask about shelter. Dial 2-1-1 for shelter and rapid rehousing programs, and ask your community action agency about move-in help for a new place.
• Plan your next rental. An eviction judgment can make renting harder. Our guide to second chance apartments that accept evictions explains how to find landlords who will consider your application.
• Get your deposit accounting. Your landlord still has rules to follow about your security deposit after you move out.

What documents do I need to apply?

Most delays come from missing papers. Having this packet ready before your first appointment usually saves a second trip, and the same documents work for almost every program on this page.

If you are missing something, apply anyway. Caseworkers can often verify information electronically or give you time to bring documents, and SNAP must process expedited applications within 7 days even while some papers are pending.

What to do after an eviction notice, step by step

1. Read the notice today. Write down the date you got it and the amount it says you owe.
2. Talk to your landlord in writing. Offer a specific payment plan and share proof of every application for help.
3. Apply for money the same week. Call your community action agency about STCS and LIHEAP, your city’s crisis line, and 2-1-1.
4. Call legal aid. Use azlawhelp.org, or in Phoenix call 602-262-7210, before a case is filed if you can.
5. Answer any summons and go to court. Bring your lease, receipts, approval letters, and messages.
6. Keep paying what you can, and get a receipt for every payment.

Related guides

• Help with rent in Phoenix, AZ
• Low income housing with an eviction
• Salvation Army rental assistance
• Arizona utility relief programs

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws, program funding, and rules change, and your situation may differ. Talk to a legal aid lawyer about your case. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the State of Arizona, any county or city, or any government agency.