Helping You Stay Housed.
Los Angeles County renters, homeowners, seniors, families and fire survivors can access free homeless prevention programs and services including rental assistance, mortgage relief, utility assistance, legal aid and housing navigation. Get started by browsing available programs below. Contact the provider or visit their website to learn more and apply for assistance.
Need help right now?
If you are facing eviction today or have nowhere to sleep tonight, call or text 2-1-1 to reach LA County’s 24/7 information and referral line. Help is free and confidential.
What kind of help do you need?
Choose a category to see programs that can support you.
Tenant Protections & Landlord-Tenant Conflicts
Mortgage Assistance & Avoiding Foreclosure
Housing Habitability Issues
Legal Assistance & Avoiding Eviction
Benefits & Basic Needs
Utility & Bill Assistance
Access to Benefits & Basic Needs
Move-In, Rental & Cash Assistance
Programs to help you stay housed.
Resources, programs and services that can help you stay in your home or find safe housing.
Legal Assistance and Avoiding Eviction
Stay Housed LA Eviction Defense Program
Stay Housed LA
Free legal services, tenant education workshops and connections to rental assistance for renters at-risk of eviction.
Who qualifiesRenters living in LA County who have received an eviction notice or fear eviction.
Tenant Protections and Landlord-Tenant Conflicts
Rent Stabilization Program
LA County Consumer & Business Affairs
Information for tenants and mobilehome space renters on their rights and protections from improper rent increases, reductions in housing services, habitability issues, evictions, and landlord harassment and retaliation under LA County’s Rent Stabilization Ordinances.
Who qualifiesTenants living in residential rental units and space renters residing in mobilehome parks within the unincorporated areas of LA County.
Mortgage Assistance and Avoiding Foreclosure
Foreclosure Prevention Program
LA County Consumer & Business Affairs
Free one-on-one counseling with expert foreclosure prevention counselors from the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to help you understand the foreclosure process and explore all available options to avoid foreclosure where possible. Available by phone or in-person.
Who qualifiesHomeowners and landlords in LA County who are having trouble paying their mortgage, are at risk of default, or are facing foreclosure.
Utility and Bill Assistance
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Get help paying electricity, gas, and heating bills, plus assistance when service is at risk of shut-off.
Who qualifiesHouseholds living in the city of Los Angeles at or below income limits with a current or past-due utility bill.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
General Relief
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides assistance to individuals who do not qualify for other State or federal cash assistance programs. Includes a monthly cash grant of $221 for a single person and access to supportive services, including assistance to prevent eviction/homelessness, utility shut-off or restoration.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must: Be 18 years or older; Reside in Los Angeles County for at least 15 calendar days; Not be in violation of parole or probation; Not be fleeing to avoid prosecution or custody/confinement after a felony conviction; Meet the income and resource limits.
Access to Benefits and Basic Needs
Countywide Benefits Entitlement Services Team
LA County Homeless Services & Housing
Helps individuals at risk of homelessness, veterans, and formerly incarcerated people with a documented disability or who are 65 years old apply for Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants. Dedicated benefit advocates, clinicians, and legal service partners are available to support successful disability benefit applications.
Who qualifiesIndividuals at risk of homelessness, veterans, and formerly incarcerated people with a documented disability who are 65 year old.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides cash assistance and services to families who need assistance covering essential costs such as housing, food, utilities, clothing, or medical care. This includes access to education, employment, and training programs.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, families must have or be expecting at least one child; and children in the family must not be receiving parental support due to absence, a disability, under or unemployment, or death of either parent. Applicants must meet the program requirements, such as citizenship, age, income, resources, assets and other factors.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
CalWORKs Diversion Program
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides one-time payments to eligible CalWORKs applicants to cover a specific need, such as an eviction notice or a car repair, that may help them keep or obtain employment.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must: Qualify for CalWORKs; Have a steady work history or strong earning potential and likelihood of obtaining employment; Have a one-time, unexpected problem preventing the applicant from keeping or obtaining a job; Have stable housing and child care (unless that is what the applicant needs support with); and not have significant barriers to employment, such as substance use.
Tenant Protections and Landlord-Tenant Conflicts
Tenant Protections Hotline (Tenant Counseling and Support)
LA County Consumer & Business Affairs
Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, review rent increases, and help with eviction related matters and landlord disputes regarding the County’s Rent Stabilization Ordinances and other housing related policies.
Who qualifiesResidents located in unincorporated LA County. Counselors are available Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Tenant Protections and Landlord-Tenant Conflicts
Tenant-Landlord Mediation Services
LA County Consumer & Business Affairs
Free mediation services to tenants and landlords to resolve landlord/tenant related disputes.
Who qualifiesResidents located in Los Angeles County.
Housing Habitability Issues
Rental Housing Habitability Program
Department of Public Health
Inspection program to ensure rental units in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County meet health and safety standards.
Who qualifiesTenants living in rental units in unincorporated LA County.
Housing navigation & mediation
Housing Navigation & Mediation
LA County Homeless Services & Housing
Help finding units, completing applications, and resolving tenant-landlord disputes early through free mediation.
Who qualifiesResidents at risk of housing instability or experiencing conflict with a landlord.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Housing Locator
Los Angeles County Housing Resource Center
Helping people list and locate housing in Los Angeles County, including affordable, special needs, emergency housing and more.
Who qualifiesEligibility depends on the type of housing required. Listings and searches are free.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Moving Assistance Program
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides up to $2,500.00 for moving expenses and up to $405 can be used to buy a stove and/or refrigerator if the rental unit does not have one.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, CalWORKs applicants must: Have exhausted, or not be eligible for the State’s Homeless Assistance Program; Be actively participating in an approved GAIN Welfare-to-Work (WtW) activity or Post-Time Limit (PTL) services; Be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to a financial crisis (proof is required); Secure permanent housing where the family’s share of rent does not exceed 80% of the Total Monthly Household Income (TMHI).
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Permanent Homeless Assistance Arrearages
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides a payment to eligible CalWORKs families facing eviction. Can pay up to two months of rental arrearages to prevent an eviction.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must: Be receiving CalWORKs and reside in permanent housing where the share of the rent amount does not exceed 80% of the family’s income.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Homeless Prevention for Families
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Provides short-term assistance for low-income families who are at-risk of homelessness, to resolve a crisis that would otherwise lead to a loss of housing, including short-term financial assistance, housing-conflict resolution and mediation, housing stabilization planning, legal assistance, and/or planning for exit from the program.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must be: Families with minor children; At risk of homelessness and/or Category 4 (Fleeing DV); At, or below 50% AMI, and/or if a participant is in subsidized housing AND currently, or formerly under a homeless housing assistance program (i.e., Homeless Section 8) with income up to 80% of area median income (AMI), they can also qualify.
Legal Assistance and Avoiding Eviction
Free Tenant Legal Defense
Neighborhood Legal Services LA
Connect with attorneys who represent tenants in eviction court, review lease disputes and respond to illegal landlord actions.
Who qualifiesLow-income tenants facing an eviction lawsuit or landlord harassment.
Legal Assistance and Avoiding Eviction
Compton Courthouse Eviction Diversion Pilot Program
Community Legal Aid SoCal
Free voluntary mediation and case management services for eligible landlords and tenants. Up to $10,000 in rental assistance per household is available to help avoid potential eviction related to unpaid back rent.
Who qualifiesLandlords or tenants facing a dispute related to unpaid back rent. Either the landlord or tenant household annual income is at or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI). NOTE: The rental property involved in the dispute must be located within the eligible zip codes served by the Compton Courthouse.
Housing Habitability Issues
Rent Escrow Account Program
LA County Consumer & Business Affairs
An enforcement tool designed to facilitate compliance with State and Local laws and regulations that establish habitability standards for rental housing in unincorporated Los Angeles County.
Who qualifiesTenants living in rental units in unincorporated LA County.
Benefits and Basic Needs
CalFresh Food Benefits
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Receive monthly funds on a card to buy groceries.
Who qualifiesIncome-eligible individuals and families, including many immigrant households.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency Emergency Rental and Flexible Financial Assistance Programs
Financial assistance for housing-related expenses to help stabilize households experiencing an immediate housing crisis and at-risk of losing housing.
Who qualifiesLA County residents whose annual household income is at or below 80% of the local median income, renters, and have experienced an emergency, crisis, or unexpected event within the previous 12 months that puts the household at risk of losing their housing.
Utility and Bill Assistance
Energy Savings Assistance Program
Southern California Edison
Get help paying electricity, gas, and heating bills, plus assistance when service is at risk of shut-off.
Who qualifiesHomeowners or renters who receive electric serviecs through a residential meter, reside in a single-family home or mobile home, and are an existing Southern California Edison customer.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
General Relief Housing Subsidy
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides a rental subsidy for individuals or couple cases. The GR participant must contribute $100 from their GR grant for a total rental subsidy of $575 for a single person and $1,150 for a couple case. The payments are paid directly to the landlord once housing is secured.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must be: GR participants who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless and are either disabled individuals who are in pursuit of securing an approval for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or are employable individuals participating in the START program.
Benefits and Basic Needs
Medi-Cal
State of CA – Department of Health Care Services
Offers affordable health care to individuals and families with limited income and resources. Covers a wide range of medical services, including doctor visits, hospital care, prescription medications, dental and vision care, immunizations, pregnancy-related services, and long-term care. Also provides support services such as home modifications, medical equipment, transportation to appointments, and assistance for caregivers.
Who qualifiesEligibility is based on several factors, including: age, income, disability status and other criteria. If eligible, Covered CA will support a warm hand-off to LA County DPSS to process your Medi-Cal application.
Benefits and Basic Needs
In-Home Supportive Services
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Helps pay for services provided to eligible aged, blind, and/or disabled adults and children so they may live safely in their own homes. The program pays for personal care and domestic services, which is an alternative to costly out-of-home care, such as a nursing home or board and care facility.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must: Be evaluated for Medi-Cal, which is a mandatory eligibility criteria for the program and have a Health Care Certification completed by a licensed health care provider; Be a California resident (residing in the U.S.) and live in their own home (not a nursing home or licensed care facility).
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Housing Assistance Program
LA County Department of Mental Health
Provides move-in support such as rental and utility deposits, ongoing rental assistance, and eviction prevention resources for tenants who live with a serious mental illness.
Who qualifiesPeople at risk of eviction and receiving services from DMH.
Tenant Protections and Landlord-Tenant Conflicts
Homeless Prevention for Adults and Youth
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
Provides short-term assistance for low-income participants who are imminently at risk of homelessness. Most common prevention activities include: short-term financial assistance; housing-conflict resolution and mediation with landlords and/or property managers; housing stabilization planning; legal assistance, and/or planning for exit from the program.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must be: Adults or Transition Age Youth; At risk of homelessness and/or Category 4 (Fleeing DV); At, or below 50% AMI, or be in subsidized housing AND currently, or formerly under a homeless housing assistance program (i.e., Homeless Section 8) with income up to 80% of area median income (AMI).
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Emergency Assistance to Prevent Eviction
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides up to $5,000 to pay for late rent and/or utilities.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must: Be CalWORKs approved and have exhausted or not be eligible for the State’s Permanent Homeless Assistance Arrearages payment; Be actively participating in an approved GAIN WtW activity or Post-Time Limit (PTL) services; Have a verifiable (and provide proof of a) financial hardship resulting from circumstances beyond the family’s control that caused the nonpayment of rent and/or utilities.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Provides monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment due solely to their immigration status.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must: Be a non-citizen and meet the immigration status criteria in effect for SSI/SSP as of 08/21/96; Be 65+, blind or disabled; Be ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to their immigration status; Reside in California; Have an income less than the CAPI income standard.
Move-In, Rental, and Cash Assistance
CalWORKs Non-Recurring Special Needs
LA County Department of Public Social Services
Non-Recurring Special Need payments are issued to CalWORKs participants for household emergencies resulting from sudden and unusual circumstances beyond their control, including homelessness while looking for permanent housing.
Who qualifiesTo be eligible, applicants must: Have less than $100 in non-exempt liquid resources (ex: cash on hand); Have an emergency as a result of an unexpected circumstance such as sudden loss or damage to home or household belongings.