Rental Assistance Orlando Florida: Where to Get Help With Rent Now

Rental assistance Orlando Florida programs at a glance

Money for rent in Orlando now comes in small pieces. No single office covers everyone, and each source has its own rules. This table sums up the main options we could confirm on official or agency pages.

Statuses were checked on November 10, 2026. Charity funds open and close often, so call before you travel anywhere.

What happened to the city and county rent programs

From 2021 to 2025, Orlando renters had two large programs paid for by the U.S. Treasury's Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) grants. Those federal programs have ended nationwide; the second round's spending period closed on September 30, 2025.

The City of Orlando's Rental Assistance Program page now says all funds have been distributed. The city reports paying out about $18 million and says it is no longer taking applications. Orange County's page says its ERAP2 program is closed. The county reports more than $30 million in phase one and $13.5 million in phase two.

The statewide program is gone too. OUR Florida, the state's pandemic rent program run through what is now FloridaCommerce, stopped taking applications years ago. FloridaCommerce still funds the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which Orange County's Community Action Division runs locally (407-836-9333), so a past-due power bill may be easier to fix than rent. Our LIHEAP Florida guide explains that program.

If you see a website or social media post offering "Orlando ERA" money today, be careful. Neither government is running that program. The city's remaining housing programs on its site are for homebuyers and homeowners, such as down payment help and home repairs.

That may change. The City of Orlando is adopting a 2026–2030 Consolidated Plan for its federal housing grants, which can include homelessness prevention. If a new renter program opens, the city's Housing and Community Development office (407-246-4492) would announce it.

Orange County Crisis Assistance Program

This is the main government door still open for Orlando-area renters. It is run by Orange County's Citizen Resource and Outreach Division. The county's closed ERAP page sends renters here too.

What it pays

The Crisis Assistance Program gives one-time financial help with rent, mortgage, or basic utilities (electric, gas, or water). It also offers budget counseling and referrals. The county does not publish a dollar cap. Help is one-time within a two-year eligibility period.

Who qualifies

• You are a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• You have lived in Orange County for at least 90 days. Orlando is inside Orange County, so city residents can apply.
• Something unexpected happened in the last 30 to 60 days, such as lost income or a sudden expense, and you can document it.
• Your rent or utility bill is recently past due.
• One payment would fix the problem, and you can show you can keep up after that, generally within a month.

How to request help

Call 407-836-6500 to be screened for an appointment. Appointments are first call, first served. The county lists phone hours of 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except county holidays. The county also posts a list of documents to bring to your appointment.

Charities and 211 in Central Florida

Heart of Florida United Way 211

211 is the fastest way to learn which small funds are open this week. Heart of Florida United Way's 211 is free, confidential, and answered 24 hours a day. Dial 211, call 407-839-4357, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or use its online chat. Ask specifically for "rent assistance" and "eviction prevention," and give your ZIP code.

Catholic Charities of Central Florida

The Family Stability Program lists rent help of up to $1,000 and utility help of up to $500 for people who are homeless or at risk. It serves Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and six other counties. Its page lists three basic tests: your household has income, you owe no more than one month's rent, and no eviction case has been filed in court yet. A case manager decides after an assessment, which the charity says takes about 8 to 10 business days. Call 407-658-1818 or use the intake form on its site. Help does not depend on religion. Our Catholic Charities rent guide explains how these programs work in other cities too.

Christian Service Center for Central Florida

Based at 808 W. Central Blvd. in the Parramore area, Christian Service Center lists rent and utility help, homeless prevention, and its Daily Bread meal program. Start with the "I Need Assistance" form on its site or call 407-425-2523. Some programs have eligibility rules that a staff member will explain.

The Salvation Army Orlando Area Command

The Salvation Army in Orlando offers social services that may include limited rent or utility help when donations allow. Call the local office before going in, since funding comes and goes.

Housing vouchers and longer-term rent help

One-time help fixes a short crisis. If your rent is simply more than you can afford each month, you need a subsidy, and those lists are long.

• Orlando Housing Authority (OHA). As of November 2026, OHA's apply page lists both its public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) waiting lists as closed, and it says it cannot predict when they will reopen. People already on the list must register on its new MyHousing portal. Phone: 407-895-3300.
• Orange County Housing and Community Development. The county runs its own voucher program and opens its list only now and then. Call 407-836-5150 to ask whether it is taking names.
• Project-based units. OHA's page listed a project-based voucher list for the Sanford Housing Authority as open. Lists like this attach help to a specific building rather than to you.

When a list opens, it often stays open only a few days. Signing up for city and county email alerts, and checking with 211, is the practical way to hear in time.

Getting ready before you call

Every program above asks for proof. Having it ready can save a week, which matters when a notice is on your door. Gather:

1. Photo ID for the adults in your home.
2. Your signed lease, with your name and the Orange County address.
3. The landlord's past-due notice or ledger showing exactly what you owe.
4. Proof of the emergency: a layoff letter, medical bill, car repair bill, or reduced-hours pay stub.
5. Proof of current income: recent pay stubs, Social Security, or unemployment letters.
6. Your landlord's name, phone, and mailing address, since payments usually go straight to the landlord.

Our documents checklist explains how to replace lost papers. If you lost your job, file for state reemployment benefits right away; the income helps you pass the "can you keep up" test.

How fast can a Florida landlord evict?

Florida has one of the quickest eviction processes in the country. Knowing the steps tells you how much time you really have to line up help.

The rent deposit rule is the one that catches people. Under section 83.60, if you dispute the eviction for any reason other than "I already paid," you must pay the rent the landlord claims into the court registry, or file a motion asking the judge to set the amount, within those 5 business days. If you do neither, you lose your defenses and the landlord can get a default judgment without a hearing.

Two practical points. First, if a charity agrees to pay, get the landlord to accept it in writing before the 3-day notice runs out. Second, Florida law does not let your landlord lock you out, shut off utilities, or remove your things without a court order and the sheriff. If that happens, call the police non-emergency line and a legal aid office.

Free legal help and tenant rights

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida is the legal aid office that Orange County's own rent page points to for eviction questions. It provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income residents. Call as soon as you get a 3-day notice, not after the lawsuit.

The Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, which covers Orange and Osceola counties, and the Orange County Clerk of Courts post court forms and information on eviction cases. The statewide FloridaLawHelp.org site has plain-language guides and a legal aid finder.

Also note that Florida law preempts most local landlord-tenant rules (Fla. Stat. 83.425). That means the state statute, not a city ordinance, controls notices, deposits, and evictions in Orlando.

If you are facing an eviction, our guide to emergency rental assistance for eviction covers more ways to buy time.

Related guides

• 211 emergency rent assistance
• Hillsborough County rental assistance
• Florida hardship program
• Second chance apartments that accept evictions

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Program rules are set by each agency and can change when funding changes. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the City of Orlando, Orange County, the State of Florida, or any government agency.