Kansas Rent Relief: Help for Renters Now That KERA Has Closed

Is Kansas rent relief still open?

No. KERA was the state’s pandemic program. It used federal Emergency Rental Assistance money to help Kansas renters pay rent and utilities. KHRC’s KERA closure notice, dated February 1, 2023, says the program closed about a year and a half after it launched, and that the application portal is no longer accessible. KHRC said there was not enough funding to cover every application.

The federal program behind KERA has also ended. The Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance page states that the ERA2 period of performance ended September 30, 2025. City and county programs that used the same federal money have closed for the same reason.

So the answer today is a mix of smaller sources. They pay less and have narrower rules than KERA did, which is why it helps to apply to more than one at the same time.

Kansas rent relief options compared

Use this table to decide where to call first. Funding changes during the year, so confirm with the agency before you visit.

State-funded housing help through KHRC

KHRC is not a direct service provider. It passes state and federal money to local agencies, and you apply through them. Two of its programs matter most for renters in trouble.

Housing Support Program

In January 2026, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) awarded KHRC $10 million for a new Housing Support Program. It uses federal TANF funds, $5 million a year for two years, from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. KHRC describes it as help for low-income, eligible Kansas families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in all 105 counties. Full operations were expected by October 1, 2026, with families applying through case management partners: the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition, the City of Topeka, United Way of the Plains, and Metro Lutheran Ministry. Income limits and payment amounts were not published in the announcement, so ask the partner agency.

Emergency Solutions Grants

KHRC also runs the state share of HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG). ESG can pay for homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing, including rent arrears, short-term rent, and deposits, under federal ESG rules (24 CFR 576). Prevention help is generally for households below 30% of area median income who would lose housing without it. Local shelters and nonprofits run the programs, and 211 knows which one serves your county.

Local agencies, 211, and charities

Most day-to-day Kansas rent relief now comes from local groups with small, changing budgets.

• 211. Dial 211 or search on 211.org. In Kansas, 211 is run by United Way of the Plains. Ask specifically about rent arrears, deposits, and homelessness prevention.
• Community action agencies. Kansas community action agencies serve communities across the state and often run emergency help, weatherization, and referrals. 211 can give you the one for your county.
• Salvation Army. Many Kansas corps help with rent or utilities when funds allow. Search the Salvation Army location finder by ZIP code.
• Catholic Charities. Offices in the Kansas City, Wichita, Salina, and Dodge City dioceses offer emergency help in many areas. Use the Catholic Charities USA help finder.
• Churches and mutual aid. Our guide to churches that help with rent explains how to ask.

Charities rarely pay a full month on their own. Ask each one how much it can give, and tell them who else you have applied to. Agencies often work together to cover the whole amount.

Lowering other bills to cover rent

When rent help is short, reducing other bills can close the gap.

LIEAP. Kansas DCF runs the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, the state’s version of LIHEAP. It is a once-a-year benefit toward winter heating costs, paid to the utility or fuel supplier. Kansas sets its limit at 150% of the federal poverty level, and an adult in the home must be responsible for heating costs. The 2026 season ran from January 20 to March 31, 2026, according to DCF announcements; the next season’s dates had not been posted when we checked. Look up contacts on energyhelp.us, and read our LIHEAP guide for how the program works.

Food and cash help. If you have not applied for SNAP, food benefits can free up cash for rent. Families with children can ask DCF about TANF. The federal USA.gov benefit finder lists other programs you may qualify for.

Utility payment plans. Kansas utilities often offer payment arrangements and hardship funds. Ask before a shutoff notice, not after.

Kansas eviction notice rules

The Kansas Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets the notice a landlord must give. Here is what the statutes say.

• Unpaid rent: 3 days. Under K.S.A. 58-2564(b), a landlord may end the rental agreement if rent is unpaid and the tenant does not pay within three days after a written notice. The three days are counted as three consecutive 24-hour periods from delivery or posting. If the notice is mailed, the tenant gets two more days to pay.
• Other lease violations: 14 and 30 days. For a material breach other than rent, the same section requires written notice that the lease will end at least 30 days later if the problem is not fixed within 14 days.
• Month-to-month: 30 days. Under K.S.A. 58-2570, either side can end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice that ends on a rent date at least 30 days after it is received. Week-to-week tenancies need 7 days.

Some websites say Kansas has a 10-day notice for unpaid rent. The current statute text on the Kansas Revisor of Statutes site gives three days, so plan around the shorter time and act quickly.

What happens in eviction court

If you do not pay or move after the notice, the landlord can file an eviction case in district court. Under K.S.A. 61-3805, the summons sets your appearance date, which must be 3 to 14 days after the summons is issued. That is a short window, so read court papers the day you get them.

• Go to the hearing. If you miss it, the landlord usually wins by default.
• Bring proof. Rent receipts, texts, photos of repair problems, and any letters from agencies showing help is coming.
• Ask about a payment agreement. Landlords sometimes agree to dismiss the case if rent is paid, especially when an agency has approved help.
• Do not leave because of threats. Lockouts and utility shutoffs used to force you out are not a lawful eviction.

Free legal help for Kansas tenants

Kansas Legal Services is a statewide nonprofit that helps low-income Kansans with civil cases, including evictions. Its website lists 316-267-3975 for applying by phone, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and an online application that is open from Monday morning through Thursday afternoon. The site also has free guides on eviction and tenant rights, and interactive court forms.

Apply as soon as you get a notice, not the day before court. If you cannot get a lawyer, ask the court clerk whether volunteer attorneys or mediators are available on eviction days. If you already have an eviction on your record, our guide to second chance apartments that accept evictions can help with your next move.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

Getting rent help, step by step

1. Read any notice and write down the date you got it. For unpaid rent, you may have only 3 days, or 5 if it came by mail.
2. Talk to your landlord in writing and tell them you are applying for help.
3. Dial 211 and ask for homelessness prevention, the Housing Support Program, and any rent funds open now.
4. Contact your community action agency, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities the same day.
5. Apply to Kansas Legal Services if you have a notice or court papers.
6. Go to every court date and bring letters from agencies that are helping.
7. Get on voucher waiting lists at your local housing authority for longer-term help.

Related guides

• Missouri rent relief program
• Oklahoma rent relief
• Salvation Army rental assistance
• Charities that help with deposit for rent

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Program funding and rules change, so confirm details with the agency before you apply. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with KHRC, DCF, or any government agency.