Washington State Rental Assistance: Where to Get Rent Help Now

How Washington State rental assistance works now

From 2020 through 2025, many Washington renters got help from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, which the state and large counties ran under names like the Eviction Rent Assistance Program. That federal money is gone. The U.S. Treasury program's final spending period ended on September 30, 2025, so any site still promising "COVID rent relief" is out of date.

What remains is smaller and more targeted. The Washington State Department of Commerce funds local homeless crisis systems through the Consolidated Homeless Grant. Commerce does not give rent help directly to the public. Instead, it pays counties and nonprofits, which decide who gets help. Commerce says people who are homeless or about to lose housing should contact their local Coordinated Entry program.

That means the answer to "where do I apply?" depends on your county. In some counties, rent help is handled by the county human services office. In others, a nonprofit like a community action agency or Catholic Charities is the lead. Washington 211 can tell you who runs it where you live.

Main sources of rent help

These are the most common places Washington renters find help with back rent, a move-in deposit, or a short-term gap:

1. Washington 211. Dial 211 or search wa211.org. A specialist can tell you which rent programs in your area have funds right now and how to reach them.
2. County Coordinated Entry and homelessness prevention. Funded by the Consolidated Homeless Grant and local document recording fees. Help may cover past-due rent, a deposit, or a few months of rent, usually paid to the landlord.
3. Community action agencies. Many run both rent and energy help. Ask about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program too, which can free up money for rent.
4. Charities and churches. The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, and local churches sometimes give one-time rent help when funds allow.
5. Housing authorities. Section 8 and other subsidies lower rent long term, but waitlists are often long or closed.

For a nationwide look at what replaced pandemic aid, see our guide to rent relief.

Who usually qualifies

Each local program sets its own rules, and the state does not publish one statewide income limit for rent help. In practice, most programs look for the following:

• Low income. Many prevention programs serve households at or below 50 percent of area median income, and some go up to 80 percent. Ask the program for its exact limit.
• Risk of losing housing. An eviction notice, a court summons, or a letter from your landlord often moves you up the list.
• A plan to keep paying. Programs want to see that, after the help, you can likely cover rent on your own.
• A landlord who will accept payment. Most programs pay the landlord directly and need their information.

Even if you are not sure you qualify, call. Funding changes during the year, and staff may know of another program that fits better.

Help by situation

Different problems call for different first stops. This table can help you start in the right place.

The 14-day notice and what it means

In Washington, a landlord who wants to evict for unpaid rent must first serve a written 14-day notice to pay rent or vacate. The form is set by RCW 59.18.057. It must list the rent, utilities, or other recurring charges owed, and it tells you that you have 14 days to pay or move.

The notice also has to tell you about rental assistance and your right to a lawyer. Any payment you make during those 14 days must go first to the amount listed on the notice. Use the time well:

• Call 211 and your county program the same day you get the notice.
• Tell your landlord, in writing, that you are applying for help. Keep a copy.
• Pay what you can by a traceable method, such as a money order, and get a receipt.
• Read the Washington Attorney General's landlord-tenant page, which has the notice in many languages and links to help.

A 14-day notice is not an eviction. Only a court can order you out, and a landlord cannot lock you out or shut off utilities to force you to leave.

Washington's statewide Eviction Resolution Pilot Program, which once required landlords to offer mediation through a dispute resolution center before filing, was set by law to expire in 2023. Some counties and dispute resolution centers still offer free or low-cost mediation, so ask 211 or your local center.

Your right to a free eviction lawyer

Washington was the first state to give low-income tenants a right to an appointed lawyer in eviction cases. Under RCW 59.18.640, the court must appoint an attorney for an "indigent" tenant, subject to funding. You count as indigent if you:

• Receive TANF, ABD cash, food benefits (Basic Food or SNAP), Medicaid, SSI, refugee assistance, or certain other public benefits, or
• Have an after-tax income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. For one person in 2026, that is about $31,920 a year.

The program is run by the Office of Civil Legal Aid. To be screened, call the Eviction Defense Screening Line at 855-657-8387 or apply online through the Northwest Justice Project. Interpreters are available, and immigration status does not affect eligibility. Call as soon as you get court papers, because eviction hearings move quickly.

OCLA also funds some legal aid groups that help tenants before a case is filed. You can learn more about the process in our guide to eviction help in Washington State.

Rent increase limits

Since 2025, Washington limits how much most landlords can raise rent. Under RCW 59.18.700, the yearly cap is 7 percent plus inflation or 10 percent, whichever is lower. The Department of Commerce set the 2026 cap at 9.683 percent, in effect January 1 through December 31, 2026.

Other key rules, according to the Attorney General's office:

• No rent increase during the first 12 months of a tenancy.
• At least 90 days' written notice before any increase.
• Manufactured home lot rent is capped at 5 percent.
• Some housing is exempt, such as buildings less than 12 years old and certain owner-occupied duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes.

If you think an increase breaks these rules, contact legal aid or the Attorney General's office before you stop paying anything.

Other ways to free up money for rent

Rent help is often a one-time payment. Other benefits can make the next month easier:

• Basic Food (SNAP). For October 2026 through September 2027, a one-person household can have gross monthly income up to $1,729, and the maximum benefit for one is $306.
• Energy help. LIHEAP serves households up to 150 percent of the poverty level or 60 percent of state median income in many cases.
• Cash help. DSHS runs TANF for families with children and other cash programs. See our guide to Washington assistance programs.
• Unemployment benefits if you lost work through no fault of your own.
• Unclaimed money. The state holds millions in forgotten deposits and refunds. A free search takes minutes.

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.

Applying for rent help, step by step

1. Dial 211 or visit wa211.org and ask which rent programs in your county have funds now.
2. Contact your county Coordinated Entry or lead agency and ask for a homelessness-prevention screening.
3. Gather your papers: ID, lease, income proof, and any notice from your landlord.
4. Tell your landlord in writing that you have applied for help, and keep a copy.
5. Call 855-657-8387 right away if you are served with eviction court papers.
6. Apply to several sources, such as charities and energy help, since one program rarely covers everything.

Related guides

• Washington rent relief
• Washington hardship relief
• Washington utility relief programs
• Fastest way to get Section 8

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rent programs, income limits, and funding are set by each county and agency and change often. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the State of Washington or any government agency.