Where Can I Get Rent Assistance or Eviction Help in California?

LawHelpCA is the statewide finder for free legal aid. It lists legal aid offices near you. You may qualify for free help if your income is low. Website: www.lawhelpca.org.

California Courts Self-Help Centers give free legal help to people without a lawyer. Staff can tell you about your case, help you with the forms you need, and explain your legal options. They cannot give legal advice or go to court for you. How much help you can get varies from court to court. Help can be in person, by phone, or online. Find your center at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm.

The California Attorney General's tenant page explains statewide rent caps, eviction rules, repairs, deposits, and being locked out illegally, all in plain language. It has Know Your Rights guides in more than 20 languages. For help with your own case, it points you to free or low-cost legal aid at LawHelpCA.org. Website: oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/landlord-tenant-issues.

The state's official tenant guide is called California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities. The Department of Real Estate updates it every year. It is free, in English and Spanish, and covers leases, deposits, repairs, rent increases, and evictions. Download it at dre.ca.gov/publications/ResourceGuidebook.

State Bar certified Lawyer Referral Services connect you with a private lawyer if you do not qualify for legal aid. The first meeting is free or at a reduced fee. Search by county, area of law, and language at www.calbar.ca.gov (Need Legal Help, Lawyer Referral Service).

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) takes housing discrimination complaints. It covers unfair treatment because of race, disability, family status, source of income, immigration status, and more. Source of income includes things like a Section 8 voucher (a coupon that helps pay rent). You must file within 1 year of the act. It does not help with repairs, deposits, or evictions that are not about discrimination. Call 800-884-1684 or file online at calcivilrights.ca.gov.

211 California is a free, confidential phone and web service for non-legal help. It refers you to help with rent, emergency shelter, food, and utilities (water, electric, gas) in your area. It serves people of all income levels and languages. Dial 211, text your zip code to 898211, or search at www.211ca.org.

The HCD Mobilehome Assistance Center is for people who rent a space or live in a mobilehome (a manufactured home) park. It takes complaints about unsafe park conditions (sewer, water, electric, gas) and gives referrals on park rent and lease disputes. It cannot give legal advice. Call 800-952-8356 or email MHAssistance@hcd.ca.gov.

LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) can make a one-time payment toward your heating or cooling bill. This includes when your service is about to be shut off. You may qualify if your household income is low. The state Department of Community Services and Development runs it through local agencies. Call 866-675-6623 or find your local agency at www.csd.ca.gov/energybills.

HUD-approved housing counselors give free or low-cost advice on paying rent, avoiding eviction, and finding housing programs. Anyone can use them. Call 800-569-4287 or search by zip code at www.hud.gov/findacounselor.