Do you live in Huntsville City limits and are facing housing insecurity due to financial difficulties?

Read more below to learn how to apply online, what is required to qualify, and how to contact us if you have questions.

What is HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com?

Overdue Rent*

Do you have late rent? We support you in these times through assistance with overdue fair market rent, including late costs and court fees.

Security Deposit*

Finally get your residence but don’t have the resources to start the contract? We do our best to work with your landlord to help with this starting process of your new housing location.

Other Rent Scenarios*

Needing other rent assistance? We can work with you on your first month’s rent or even covering Utility Deposit or Utility payments due.

*HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com can only assist with the above listed expenses. We cannot provide any other assistance than the above listed opportunities. We also cannot guarantee resources to cover the above expenses unless you meet the requirements of the program. See requirements below.

Requirements

What requirements will I need to meet in order to apply* for assistance?

  • You will need to provide documentation of your current financial hardship. These documents cannot be older than 60 days from the date of your submitted complete application.

  • Find the AMI rate for Huntsville, Alabama by clicking here.

  • Your lease must be typed and be an official signed document. For example you can see the first page of an official lease when you CLICK HERE.

  • Forms of income include but are not limited to: employment pay, disability, Social Security, unemployment, or retirement resources.

  • CLICK HERE for examples of proper photo I.D.

  • Please make sure that you have a working email address that you have the ability to log in and check for communication from the Huntsville Housing Helps auditor team. If you do not have an email address one can be obtained easily with Google Gmail or Yahoo Mail.

  • Government Issued ID’s include Birth Certificate, State ID, Drives License, Social Security Cards, or Legal Guardianship.

    (Any household member found listed in multiple applications will be immediate grounds for application denial and fraud reporting to both or multiple applicants.)

  • If any documents (Rent Bill, Utilities Bill, Payment Plans, Paychecks, Bank Statements, Bills, ID. etc.) are found to be modified in any way digitally or through duplication, your application will be immediately denied, barred from future application submission, and you will be reported for fraud to law enforcement.

*Application submission does not mean approval or awarding of financial assistance. All applications go through an official audit process to be approved for financial support. All payments of any awarded financial support will be made directly to the landlord(s) or Huntsville Utilities without exception.

Frequently Asked Questions

(Click the “+” sign to expand the box for the answer to the question.)

  • We can only provide rental and utility deposit assistance for applicants who are currently unhoused. You must have a verification letter from First Stop, or another local Huntsville shelter stating you presently residing in their refuge under the director's signature.

  • This program is only obliged to help with up to three (3) months of rental assistance.

  • The Emergency Rental Assistance Program through the City of Huntsville closed December 16, 2022, due to all funds being disbursed.

  • The HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com program will provide a one time assistance to all eligible applicants as funds are available. Once all funds are exhausted no more applications or applications under review will be approved.

  • Any application that was submitted before December 15, 2022, will have to follow the requirements of the new HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com Program guidelines. The previous ERAP guidelines are no longer valid. All previously placed applications not yet reviewed are currently under review in accordance with the HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com program.

  • If you have already received any support through the ERAP or ERAP 2 program, you will not be eligible to receive support through the HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com program at this time. If you still need assistance, please contact 2-1-1.

  • Tenants residing in properties listed as AHFA are NOW ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. (officially updated as of 07/01/23)

  • Per the HuntsvilleHousingHelps.com program restrictions you are only allowed to apply one time.

  • Do not for any reason stop attempting to contribute to whatever your rental or utility obligation requires. Any countdown notices incurred by failure to pay do not increase your likelihood to qualify for financial assistance

  • Funding is restricted to residents of the City of Huntsville for utility and rental assistance whose household income does not exceed 50% of the area median income. CLICK HERE to see a map of the city of huntsville. If you live outside of Huntsville City Limits please contact 2-1-1 for available resources in your area. CLICK HERE to call 2-1-1 now.

  • While your case is being reviewed, a Case Auditor may send you an email requesting additional documents that are needed to confirm application completion. You will be permitted three (3) business days to submit those requested documents through email to your case auditor. Your application will be declined if the requested documentation is not received within the three (3) business days allowed. All documents must be sent digitally in response to the case auditor's email. (NO DOCUMENTS ARE ALLOWED TO BE DROPPED OFF IN-PERSON, THEY MUST BE EMAILED)

  • All submitted applications are currently being received within a waitlist. Our talented team of auditors will review cases as they are received in the queue. Wait times for the audit process to begin on applications can be up to 30 days after submission.

  • At this time all applications are reviewed in the order they are received.

  • You do not need to have a Social Security number or proof of immigration status to apply for help. Huntsville Housing Helps is open to all renters who meet the geographic and income requirements regardless of immigration status.

  • Now that the United States health system has vaccines and remedies readily available to any and all who seek them out and the CDC GUIDELINES have changed concerning quarantine we will only consider COVID as a reason for financial hardship if there is a documented longterm hospital stay directly caused by a severe COVID caused medical condition. The date of this impact must have taken place within the past 4 weeks from the date of your application. Please see the CDC COVID GUIDELINES for all updated information.

  • At this time, due to the federal requirements and guidelines, we cannot approve these types of income as “Sustainable Income.” If this is your only form of employment, your application will not be accepted. Please call 2-1-1 or go to FindHelp.org for other resource options.

  • As a Section 8 or public housing tenant who has lost income, you are required to contact your landlord or your Section 8 caseworker and request a recertification of your income. This process will need to be completed before you apply for resources. In the event that this step has not taken place when we are reviewing your application, it will be grounds for immediate denial.

  • You must be a Huntsville City Resident and have a history of paying utilities and rent within the city for at least 6 months to qualify in your time of financial hardship.

  • Anyone who has received federally funded rental assistance ANYWHERE in the continental United States of America or its territories since March 13th, 2020 is not eligible for assistance from the Huntsville Housing Helps program. Filing an application for assistance when you have already received federal support constitutes fraud and the penalties can be severe.

  • Please go to Equifax Work Number Report to generate a work history report from your social security number that you can submit in your paystubs place. (Go To www.theworknumber.com to get your report created.)

  • In order to get assistance you must be residing at the address and have an official lease contract.

Apply For Assistance

Have all your documents ready? Do you believe you qualify for support? Click the button below to begin your application. (Applications will open December 19th 2022)