Catholic Charities Security Deposit Assistance: How Local Agencies Help You Move In

How Catholic Charities security deposit assistance works

Catholic Charities is a network of independent local agencies. Most are tied to a Catholic diocese, and each has its own board, budget, phone number, and list of services. The national office, Catholic Charities USA, supports the network and runs an online agency finder, but it does not take applications or send deposit money to anyone.

That means the answer to "Does Catholic Charities help with security deposits?" depends on where you live. In one county the local agency may have a full move-in program with a caseworker. Fifty miles away, the agency may only offer food and counseling. The same agency can also change what it offers from one funding year to the next.

When a deposit program exists, it usually works like this:

1. You contact the agency, or a central line such as 211, and do a short phone screening.
2. If you seem to fit, you get an intake appointment or an online application.
3. A caseworker checks your income, your household, the new unit, and the rent.
4. The agency confirms details with the landlord, often asking for a W-9 tax form from the landlord.
5. If approved, the agency pays the landlord, and you sign the lease and move in.

Deposit help is about getting you into a home you can afford. For help with rent you already owe, see our separate guide to Catholic Charities help with rent.

Where the deposit money comes from

Knowing the source of the money explains most of the rules you will run into. Local agencies use a mix of these:

• Federal homelessness grants. The Emergency Solutions Grants program, run by HUD, lets agencies pay security deposits for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Under the federal rule at 24 CFR 576.105, an ESG-funded deposit can be no more than two months' rent. Programs using this money must follow federal income and eligibility rules.
• State welfare (TANF) money. Some states contract with Catholic Charities to hand out short-term help to families with children. These programs tend to have higher limits but only serve households with a child or a pregnancy.
• County and city grants, including federal HOME-ARP and local housing funds, which usually serve only residents of that county or city.
• Private donations, such as parish collections and holiday appeals. These are the most flexible but often the smallest pot.

So if one agency asks for proof that you are homeless and another only asks for proof of income, it is usually because the money comes from different places, not because one office is being unfair.

Three local programs and their rules

These three examples show how different local Catholic Charities deposit help can be. We checked each one on the agency's own website on November 6, 2026. Rules and funding change, so confirm with the agency before you rely on them.

Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi: Hawaiʻi Relief Program

Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi runs the Hawaiʻi Relief Program statewide with the state Department of Human Services, using TANF funds. It is for families facing a short-term crisis, such as a job loss that was not their fault, a big medical bill, a disaster, or losing public benefits. To qualify, the household must include a parent or relative caring for a child under 18, or a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy. Everyone must live in Hawaiʻi, at least one member must be a U.S. citizen, qualified non-citizen, or COFA citizen living in Hawaiʻi lawfully, and income must be below the program's limits.

The agency lists a one-time housing deposit of up to $6,000 (the actual amount), plus utility deposits of up to $3,000 per utility and rent help of up to $6,000 over as many as four months. When we checked, the page said applications were being accepted through an online form. Island phone numbers include O'ahu at 808-521-4357 and Hawaiʻi Island at 808-961-7050.

Catholic Charities East Bay: Alameda and Contra Costa counties, California

Catholic Charities East Bay helps people at risk of homelessness stay housed by paying back rent, overdue utility bills, or security deposits. The way in depends on your county. In Contra Costa County, the agency says a referral from 211 is required to apply for its rental help, so you start by dialing 2-1-1 and may be sent to Catholic Charities or another provider. In Alameda County, you call the agency at 510-768-3100 to talk about your situation, eligibility, and whether funds are available. The same page lists other local resources, including a disability-focused agency that helps with deposits.

Catholic Charities of Northwest California: Sonoma and Napa counties

This agency, formerly Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, is an example of what happens when a funding stream runs out. Its Financial Stability page says its waitlist for HOME-ARP financial assistance closed as of December 11, 2025, and it points people to 211 Sonoma and other local aid instead. The main line is 707-528-8712. If you live in an area like this, the agency may still help with case management or referrals even when it cannot pay a deposit.

The three programs side by side

The lesson from the table: one agency's rules tell you nothing about another's. Always ask your own agency what it offers today.

Who usually qualifies for deposit help

Each agency sets its own test, but these conditions come up again and again:

• A housing need you can explain. You are homeless, in a shelter, being evicted, fleeing violence, or living somewhere unsafe or overcrowded.
• A unit already lined up. Many agencies will not pay until a landlord has approved you, because the money has to go to a specific address.
• Rent you can carry. Caseworkers often check that the monthly rent fits your income, so the move does not end in another crisis a few months later.
• Income under a limit. Programs paid with government money use income caps, often tied to area median income or the federal poverty guidelines.
• Living in the service area. County or city money can only help people who live there or are moving there.
• Priority groups. Families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans may be served first, depending on the funder.

You do not have to be Catholic, attend Mass, or join any program of faith to get help.

Papers to gather before you call

Deposit requests move faster when the paperwork for both you and the new unit is ready. Agencies usually ask for:

• Photo ID for adults, and Social Security numbers or cards if the program requires them.
• Proof of income for the last 30 days, or a benefits letter.
• The new lease, or a letter from the landlord showing the address, monthly rent, deposit amount, and move-in date.
• The landlord's contact details and, often, a W-9 form so the agency can pay them.
• Proof of your current situation, such as an eviction notice, shelter letter, or notice to move.

Ask your agency for its exact list. Our document checklist covers the general items most programs ask for.

Limits you should expect

Even when a program is open, deposit help has limits. Plan for these so you are not caught short:

• Partial payments. Some agencies cover only part of the deposit and expect you or another charity to pay the rest.
• Caps tied to rent. Federally funded programs cannot pay more than two months' rent as a deposit.
• Once-only rules. Many programs help a household once a year, or once ever.
• Waiting time. Checking a unit and paying a landlord can take days or weeks. Tell the landlord early that an agency is involved.
• Other move-in costs. First month's rent, application fees, and utility deposits may or may not be covered. Ask about each one.

For a broader look at paying first month's rent, application fees, and moving costs together, see our guide to move-in cost assistance.

Working with your new landlord

A deposit program only works if the landlord agrees to take payment from an agency. Most do, but it helps to prepare them:

• Tell the landlord early that a Catholic Charities agency may pay the deposit, and give them the caseworker's name and number.
• Ask whether they will hold the unit for a few days while the payment is approved, and get that in writing if you can.
• Make sure the deposit amount in the lease matches what you told the agency.
• Ask how the deposit will be returned at move-out. In some programs, a returned deposit goes back to the agency rather than to you; ask your caseworker.
• Walk through the unit before move-in and take dated photos, so you have a record of its condition.

Never pay a deposit to someone who will not show you the unit or asks for payment by gift card, wire, or a payment app before you see a lease. Agencies pay real landlords, and a caseworker can help you spot a rental scam.

What if my Catholic Charities office has no deposit funds?

It is common to call during a month when the money is gone. Ask the agency three things: when funding is expected to reopen, whether it keeps a waitlist, and which other local groups have deposit money right now. Then try these:

• 211. Dial 2-1-1 or search 211.org for deposit and move-in programs near you. In some counties, 211 is the required front door.
• Your county's homeless or housing services office, which may run its own deposit program with federal money.
• The Salvation Army. Many local corps help with move-in costs; our guide to Salvation Army security deposit assistance explains how.
• St. Vincent de Paul conferences at local parishes, which sometimes pay part of a deposit.
• Veteran programs. Veterans and their families can ask a local SSVF provider, which can help with deposits.
• The landlord. Ask about splitting the deposit over two or three months or a lower deposit with a co-signer.

Asking for deposit help, step by step

1. Find your local agency on the Catholic Charities USA finder, or dial 2-1-1 and ask who handles deposit help in your county.
2. Ask the screening question first: "Do you have security deposit funds open right now, and what are the rules?"
3. Line up a unit you can afford, and get the rent and deposit in writing from the landlord.
4. Gather your papers and the landlord's details before your appointment.
5. Apply with more than one source if your agency can only pay part of the deposit.
6. Keep in touch with both the caseworker and landlord until the payment clears.

Related guides

• Churches that help with security deposit
• Charities that help with deposit for rent
• Catholic Charities emergency assistance
• Catholic Charities help with rent

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Each Catholic Charities agency sets its own rules, amounts, and funding status. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with Catholic Charities or any government agency.