During times of financial hardship, many families and individuals across the country need help making their rental payments. If you are currently living in Kansas, you might already be aware that the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program has closed. However, there are still other ways you can access the support and resources you need. Let’s go over some of the main rental assistance programs available to Kansas residents in 2024.

Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA)

The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program, run by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, started in March 2021 and ended in February 2023. At the time of its closure, sufficient funding was no longer available to continue offering assistance to every household that applied.

Throughout its 1.5 year duration, the program provided more than $290 million in relief for over 82,000 Kansas residents. It also prevented evictions in an estimated 32,000 households across the state.

Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)

The Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program is another program offered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation that is still active. Through TBRA, income-eligible households can access financial resources to help pay for rent, security deposits, and utility deposits.

Different agencies provide funding for various locations across the state. You can submit your application to a corresponding agency depending on the county or city in which you currently live. You can find a full list of agencies and the counties or cities they serve as well as any documents and forms necessary for the application process on the TBRA home page.

Kansas City

If you’re looking for an emergency rental assistance program in Kansas City, there is no shortage of supportive organizations. The Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) Housing Authority lists many of them along with their phone numbers on their website:

Mount Carmel Community Outreach (913-621-4111): Rental assistance.
Catholic Charities Of Wyandotte County (913- 621-3445): Rent and utility assistance.
Village Presbyterian Church (913- 262-4200): Utility assistance.
Metro Lutheran Ministries (913-341-8333): Rent, utility, and food assistance.
USD 500 (913-551-3200): Rent and utility assistance for student families.
Wyandot Center, Kim Wilson Housing (913-328-4600): Rental and mental health assistance.

The KCK Housing Authority also offers public housing with rental rates that adjust based on your current income. So, if your income goes down, your rent will as well. Some residents may be able to qualify for a flat rental rate instead.

Johnson County

Low-income households in Johnson County may qualify to receive limited rental assistance. To be eligible for support, you must:

Be a Johnson County resident.
Provide proof that your household is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Provide photo IDs for members of the household who are 18 or older.
Provide Social Security cards for all members of the household.
Provide a past-due notice or an eviction notice from the landlord.

In this case, rental assistance does not apply to rental deposits. Those who are currently in a subsidized housing program cannot apply for support through this program either.

Additional Kansas Housing Resources

Often, one hardship can lead to another, leaving families unsure about how to move forward. If your household needs additional assistance with more than rent or utility payments, here is a list of various types of resources available to Kansas residents.

211 of Kansas

211 of Kansas is a statewide service offered through United Way that connects Kansas residents with specialized support. No matter where you live in the state, you can dial 211 to reach a specialist who will help you find the resources you need.

In addition to housing support, 211 of Kansas provides resources for:

Health and dental care.
Mental health and addiction.
Transportation.
Employment and education.
Legal and money management.
Seniors and disability.

You can also find information by visiting the 211 online directory and selecting your zip code, city, or county.

Kansas Association of Community Action Programs (KACAP)

The Kansas Association of Community Action Programs (KACAP) aims to help low-income households across the state find support throughout many different kinds of hardships. They provide connections to local programs that offer rental or utility assistance along with job search support, access to food pantries, and much more.

To connect with resources in your area, visit the KACAP network page and click on your county.

Find the Support You Need

No household should have to face hardships alone. If you and your loved ones need access to Kansas emergency rental assistance programs or support from anywhere else in the country, Affordable Housing Hub offers a comprehensive overview of both federal and state programs that can help you find the resources you need.