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Trying to rebuild your life after a felony can be challenging. Being homeless can make it tougher, which is precisely what can happen if you fail to pay your rent and get evicted.

While getting an extra job or working additional shifts could help you come up with the cash for rent, your felony could make it difficult to find employment in the first place. That’s why it’s good to know that you can get emergency rent assistance from the government and other sources to keep a roof over your head until you get your finances in order.

Where to Get Emergency Rental Assistance as a Felon

As you try to get help from the following emergency rent assistance sources, don’t forget about the importance of steady income. You should continue to look for employment so you can avoid this issue in the future and gain some much-needed stability.

1. Section 8

A Housing Choice Voucher from the federal government is not emergency rent assistance since it can take years to obtain. Why does it get listed first? Because it can provide long-term stability and make rent affordable. And since you’ll need to contact your Public Housing Agency (PHA) to apply, they may be able to connect you with emergency assistance in the meantime.

When contacting your PHA, mention that you have a felony. Depending on what it’s for, you may not qualify.

2. 211

Dial those three numbers into your phone, and you can connect with an operator who can fill you in on forms of emergency rent assistance in your area.

If you’re worried about calling due to your felony conviction, don’t. 211 serves millions of callers each year who need emergency housing and other forms of help. Best of all, they do it discreetly.

3. Rental Assistance From Your State

Many states have safeguards in place to keep residents from becoming homeless. For instance, you could get help paying one to two months of rent, assistance with utilities, a security deposit, and even moving costs.

Help from the state is not considered to be a long-term option. Instead, most states set aside a certain amount of money for emergencies, and each person or family is limited to what they can claim within a year.

Since each state differs in what they have to offer, your best bet is to do an online search for “emergency rental assistance” within your state. From there, you should find a result that will take you to an official state page.

4. Churches in Your Area

One way to get help with the rent on short notice is to contact friends or family. If they cannot help you, they still may be able to refer you to a local church they attend. Some churches set aside part of their budget to help local citizens with emergency rental assistance, and they won’t judge you for your past.

If you don’t know anybody in the area, look up churches in the local phone book or online and start contacting them.

5. Salvation Army

You may be able to get a loan from the Salvation Army to help pay one month of your rent, plus other bills to give you some breathing room.