Salvation Army Security Deposit Assistance: How It Works and Other Places to Get Deposit Help

How Salvation Army security deposit assistance works

The Salvation Army is organized into local units called corps. Each one decides which services to offer based on local needs, donations, and the grants it receives. That is why one city may pay deposits while the next city over does not.

When a corps does help with move-in costs, the money usually goes straight to the landlord, not to you. It often comes from a larger program, such as:

• Rapid re-housing: for people who are homeless now, to move them quickly into a permanent home.
• Homelessness prevention: for people about to lose housing. This sometimes covers a deposit for a move to a cheaper unit, though many programs use it mostly for back rent.
• Case management programs: for families working with a caseworker on a longer plan.
• Emergency assistance: small, one-time help paid from local donations, when funds allow.

Help often comes with conditions. You may need to meet with a caseworker, make a budget, or show that you can pay the rent after the first month.

Federal rules behind most deposit help

Much of the deposit help offered by the Salvation Army and other nonprofits is paid through HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program. The federal rule at 24 CFR 576.105 lists what ESG can pay to landlords and utility companies:

These are the most a program may pay, not what every program will pay. Each local agency sets its own limits within these rules, and funding runs out. Under the homelessness prevention rule, households generally must have income below 30% of the area median income to qualify.

Who tends to qualify

Each office has its own rules, but most deposit programs look for these things:

• A housing crisis: you are homeless, in a shelter, or at real risk of losing your home.
• Low income: grant-funded programs have income limits, often tied to area median income.
• A unit lined up: many programs need a landlord who will accept the payment and a lease or move-in letter.
• Affordable rent: many caseworkers want to see that you can keep paying after the first month, though some barrier-free programs accept people with little or no income.
• Local residency: most serve only their city or county.
• Not helped recently: many limit how often a household can get help.

Some programs focus on certain groups, such as families with children, women leaving shelters, or survivors of domestic violence. If you do not fit one program, ask what else is available.

Examples from local Salvation Army offices

These examples come from local Salvation Army pages checked on October 25, 2026. They show how much programs differ. Your office may work very differently, and programs can change or close.

The Grand Rapids page notes that even when you qualify, help may not be available right away. That is common. Ask to be put on a list and keep looking at other sources at the same time.

Getting started with your local corps

Use the Salvation Army location finder to find the corps nearest you. Call the social services or family services number, not a thrift store. When you call:

1. Say whether you are homeless now or about to lose your home.
2. Ask if they help with security deposits or first month’s rent right now.
3. Ask whether you must be referred through 211 or coordinated entry.
4. Ask what papers to bring and whether you need a lease before applying.
5. Ask how long decisions take, since landlords may not hold a unit for long.

Many communities use one shared intake system, called coordinated entry, for all homeless services. In those places, the Salvation Army may only accept referrals from that system. Dialing 211 is often the fastest way in. You can also read about the wider range of help in our guide to Salvation Army rental assistance.

Deposit help for veterans

Veterans have strong options beyond the Salvation Army.

• SSVF: Supportive Services for Veteran Families serves low-income veteran families who are homeless or at imminent risk. Under the SSVF rules, grantees can pay a security deposit once in a 2-year period and a utility deposit once in a 2-year period, along with rent and moving help.
• HUD-VASH: HUD-VASH pairs a HUD housing voucher with VA case management for homeless veterans who need ongoing support. The VA page does not describe deposit payments, so ask your case manager whether SSVF or another source can cover move-in costs.

Veterans can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. It is free, confidential, and open 24 hours a day.

Other sources of deposit money

If your Salvation Army office cannot help, these are the next places to try. Many can be reached through 211.

Combining help is common. One group may pay part of the deposit and another may cover the rest. Our guides on first month rent and deposit help and Catholic Charities security deposit assistance cover more options.

Working with your landlord

Most deposit programs pay the landlord directly and need the landlord to fill out forms. Before you apply, it helps to:

• Ask the landlord if they will accept payment from a nonprofit or government program.
• Get the rent, deposit amount, and move-in date in writing.
• Ask whether the deposit can be paid in parts if a program covers only some of it.
• Ask how long they can hold the unit while your application is reviewed.

Be careful with any listing that asks for a deposit before you have seen the unit, or asks you to pay by gift card or wire transfer. Those are signs of a rental scam.

Protecting your deposit after you move in

A deposit paid by a program is still tied to your lease. When you move out, the landlord may return it to you, keep part for damage, or follow the program’s rules on refunds. Ask the program what happens to the deposit later. To protect it:

• Take dated photos of every room on move-in day.
• Fill out and keep a copy of any move-in checklist.
• Report repairs in writing.
• Give proper notice before you move out and leave a forwarding address.

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.

Your step-by-step plan

1. Dial 211 and ask about coordinated entry and deposit help.
2. Call your Salvation Army corps and ask about rapid re-housing or move-in funds.
3. Veterans: call 877-424-3838 about SSVF.
4. Line up a unit and get the rent and deposit amount in writing.
5. Bring your papers to every appointment.
6. Apply to more than one source in case one runs out of funds.

Related guides

• Help with a security deposit for rent
• Churches that help with security deposits
• Salvation Army housing assistance
• Salvation Army transitional housing program

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Program rules and funding vary by location and change over time. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with The Salvation Army, HUD, the VA, or any government agency.