• Programs are available to help pay rent.house image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
  
  When difficult financial times hit, a person may find himself struggling to keep a roof over his head and food on the table. Although much focus is placed on assistance for homeowners, some agencies provide assistance to renters in need. Finding a legitimate program is key, and while it is difficult to tell the real offers from the scams, it is possible for renters to get help with paying their rent in order to keep a roof over their heads.
  
  

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is best known for providing assistance to homeowners; however, a variety of options are available for rental assistance. HUD works with individuals or landlords to provide affordable rental options for low-income families. Individuals may receive HUD assistance in one of three ways. The first is directly through an apartment complex, in which the HUD office works directly with the apartment owners to offset rental costs in order to lower rent costs for tenants. HUD also offers the opportunity to live in public housing units, in which the rents are generally lower than traditional rental properties. Renters may also obtain HUD rent vouchers that can be applied to the rent at the property of their choice, as long as the landlord accepts the vouchers.
  
  Qualifications for HUD housing assistance vary by state.
  
  

Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program

• In 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which included $1.5 billion in funding for a homeless prevention program. The funds are available for several uses, including helping with rent payments, paying the required deposits for the rental property and utilities, moving costs, vouchers for hotel stays, and eviction prevention.
  
  Proceeds from the act are dispersed directly to each individual state, which then determines how to disperse the funds. The program is designed for individuals and families who are either currently homeless or who are facing eviction. Qualifications may vary by state.
  
  

USDA Rural Development

• The rental assistance program provided by the USDA Rural Development department is designed to ensure that low-income families are paying no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. The program also provides funding to finance the construction of additional low-income rental properties. In addition to providing assistance to low-income families, the USDA Rural Development program also provides assistance to the disabled and the elderly. Housing is located primarily in rural areas and is designed to be safe, affordable and nice.
  
  Program requirements vary by state as funds are dispersed under the discretion of each individual state government.