Struggling to pay your bills is a nightmare, and finding that you can’t pay the rent for your home or apartment might just be the worst. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to find emergency rental assistance in Washington State.

What is Emergency Rental Assistance and How Do I Qualify?

Emergency rental assistance is a term that describes any program, whether run by Washington State or by a private organization, that helps renters pay their bills in a crisis. If you are facing eviction notices, these programs can help you. If you qualify, they will offer funding to temporarily alleviate your situation so you can focus on the next steps.

Qualifying for emergency rental assistance will depend on the individual organization’s rules and regulations. Programs will be more likely to provide aid to the elderly, families with children, the disabled, and anyone in an immediate crisis. To know whether or not you qualify for rental assistance, check out the website for the program you are interested in.

Where Do I Find Emergency Rental Assistance?

In Washington State, finding emergency rental assistance is pretty easy. From state-run programs to local charities and churches, there is always a program that can help.

Many of these programs run on an application basis, meaning you have to send in an application and they will determine whether or not you qualify for assistance and whether they have enough funding to meet everyone’s needs. With that said, we recommend applying to several different programs in case the one you are interested in has limited funding.

Rental Assistance by Region in WA

The best way to find rental assistance in Washington State is to search online for both state-wide and local organizations to apply for funding from. For ease, here are some of the Washington State programs by region.

Western Washington: Emergency Rental Assistance in Vancouver, WA

If you live in or near Vancouver, WA, here are some great local programs for emergency rental assistance:

Housing Solutions Center - This organization offers rent assistance on an individual basis. Contact their hotline to find out if funding is available.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - This charity has limited funding, and they begin taking applications on most Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. See their website for details.

211info - For those in southwest Washington, this nonprofit organization connects you with rent payment assistance programs near you. Each program will have its application and requirements, so check out the website of the one you’re interested in to learn more.

Central Washington: Emergency Rental Assistance in Tri-Cities, WA

For residents in the Tri-Cities area of Washington, below are some programs that can help:

Richland And/OR Tri-Cities Consortium Funds - This program is for people living in Richland, Pasco, or Kennewick, WA, and requiring rental assistance because of COVID-19. If this fits your situation, you may qualify for funding from Richland’s CDBG COVID-19 and/or Tri-Cities Consortium TBRA HOME Funds.

Benton Franklin Community Action Committee - This organization provides emergency assistance to those who lack both sufficient financial resources and support networks to retain housing. Head to their website for contact information.

Tri-Cities Housing Resources - This handy document provides you with a complete list of housing resources in the Tri-Cities area. Check out the organizations listed to see if they can help.

Eastern Washington: Emergency Rental Assistance in Spokane, WA

It’s simple to find emergency rental assistance in Spokane, WA or the eastern WA region. Here are a few different programs for residents in these areas:

City of Spokane - This resource from the City of Spokane connects residents within city limits and those in the county with organizations offering emergency rental assistance. The Spokane Housing Authority, Resource Center of Spokane, Carl Maxey Center, and more may be available to help.

Family Promise of Spokane - This charitable organization provides housing support for families. In addition to emergency housing and eviction prevention, they provide emergency rental assistance. To qualify for their programs, however, you must be an adult who is caring for a child. If that’s you, get in touch with them to see if they can help.

New Hope Resource Center - For residents in Spokane and the surrounding areas, this charity offers a range of assistance programs, with emergency housing and rental assistance being just one of them. If you require help, you can just fill out the application and take it to their office.

State-Wide Emergency Rental Assistance in WA

In addition to regional and local organizations, there are state-wide emergency rental assistance programs. These are usually far less limited in funding than local organizations, but they may require more documentation when submitting an application for assistance.

211 - This community service connects residents in Washington State with emergency assistance of all kinds. With their easy-to-use portal, you can find dozens of rental assistance programs throughout the state. Check it out here.

DSHS Emergency Programs - Within the DSHS, the Economic Services Administration of Washington State runs an Emergency Cash Assistance program that can help you with your rent. To qualify, you need to meet the requirements for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, State Family Assistance, or Refugee Cash Assistance, as well as have an emergency housing need, and have a good reason that you had insufficient funds to pay your rent. See the website for details.

Treasury Rent Assistance Program - Set up as an aid for those at risk of eviction because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this program is run by the federal government and the State of Washington. It offers emergency rental assistance to those who qualify. See our resource for more information.

Additional Resources

For those in need of emergency rental assistance, Washington State offers many different options, both public and private. Want to know more about emergency rental assistance? See our resource here.

If you are struggling to pay rent, we outline several different options that can help.