Help With Rent and Housing

Medicare is health insurance, so it does not pay rent. Call 211 for rent help and shelters, and legal aid for a free lawyer if you face eviction. If a landlord's notice has you scared, start with these steps.

If you might lose your home this month, do this first

1. Read the paper you got, and write down every date. A notice from your landlord is a warning with a deadline, but court papers mean a case has started.
2. Call legal aid today, because its free lawyers help tenants with low incomes. Find one at LawHelp.org or with the Legal Services Corporation legal aid finder.
3. Do not move out before a court orders it. Too many renters give up before they get to court, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says. Go to every court date, because that's where you can tell your side.
4. Call 211 to ask about emergency rent money, back rent and moving costs. Have your lease, the notice and proof of income ready.
5. Ask your landlord for a payment plan, in writing, and keep a copy. It's very rare for a landlord to want an eviction over getting paid, CFPB says.

You may qualify for help if

• You're behind on rent, got a notice, or are being taken to court.
• Your income is low for your area (under half of what's typical for Section 202).
• Someone in your home is 62 or older, which opens up senior buildings.
• You have no safe place to stay tonight.

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because the housing agency makes the call and some of your income may not count. If you would rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can make the calls with you.

Where to get help with rent and housing

Does Medicare pay rent?

Original Medicare does not pay rent. But some Medicare Advantage plans give members with certain long-term health problems money for rent, utilities or food. If you have one, ask your plan.

What happens after an eviction notice?

If you don't do what an eviction notice says, the landlord can file a case. You'll get court papers with a deadline, and you can file a written answer even without a lawyer, CFPB says. Ask the court clerk how long you have and when your court date is. If you lose, an officer such as a sheriff or marshal usually gives you notice before you must leave. You can ask the judge for time while rent help comes through.

How do I get Section 8 or senior housing?

To get Section 8, get on more than one list. Voucher waiting lists are long, HUD says, and you can apply at more than one housing agency, even outside your town. Lists close when they get too full. Keep your address and phone number up to date, or you can be dropped.

Section 202 has no single list, so HUD says to apply at each building. Find them with the HUD Resource Locator under "Find Affordable Elderly and Special Needs Housing."

Where can I go if I have nowhere to sleep tonight?

For a shelter bed tonight, call 211, or call 911 if you're in danger. Areas that get HUD homeless money must use one intake process, called coordinated entry, to match people to shelter and housing. Ask 211 how to get on it. If you're in the hospital with nowhere to go, tell the social worker before you leave (see after a hospital stay).

Can Medicaid help with housing?

Medicaid can pay for housing help for certain members in states that use special federal approvals, called waivers. In March 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) withdrew its guidance that encouraged this. CMS is the federal agency that runs Medicare, and it now looks at each state's request on its own. Ask your Medicaid plan or caseworker what your state offers. If you have both programs, see Medicare and Medicaid together.

What a Pair Team advocate does

When someone calls us about rent, it's rarely the only problem. A power bill, a Medicaid renewal or a missed doctor visit often comes with it. This is what we do:

• Look at the notice or court papers with you, and connect you to legal aid quickly.
• Call 211 and local programs with you to find rent help, then fill out the forms together.
• Help you apply to Section 8, public housing and senior building lists.
• Help with what usually comes with it: food, utility bills, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and rides.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

Can my landlord lock me out to make me leave?

Your landlord cannot lock you out in California or New York. In both, only an officer can carry out an eviction, after a court case. In New York, this covers anyone who has lived there over 30 days. Elsewhere, call legal aid right away.

My home is unsafe. What can I do?

If your home is unsafe, ask for repairs in writing and keep a copy. Then call your city's code office or legal aid. In some states, Medicaid pays for fixes like grab bars or mold removal.

How long is the wait for Section 8?

The wait for a voucher depends on how many open up, when you applied and any preferences you have, HUD says. Ask where you are on the list.

I got a voucher. How long do I have to find a place?

The agency gives you 60 to 120 days to find a place, HUD says. If you need more time, ask for an extension before it runs out.

Can a landlord refuse my voucher?

Some states and cities ban landlords from refusing a voucher, HUD says. California and New York ban it statewide. Elsewhere, ask legal aid.

Find the rules for your state

• California: Medicaid plans help with housing and deposits.
• New York: New York City gives tenants in Housing Court a free lawyer or legal advice. The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) can freeze rent for tenants 62 and older.
• Nevada: you have 7 court days to answer a notice to pay rent or leave. In the Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas courts, tenants 62 and older can get rent help and a lawyer.

Anywhere else, dial 211 or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. For free Medicare advice, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-877-839-2675 (shiphelp.org).

Sources

• Housing Choice Voucher Tenants, HUD
• Public Housing Program, HUD
• Descriptions of Multifamily Programs: Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, HUD
• Coordinated Entry, HUD Exchange
• What to do if you're facing eviction, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Avoid eviction, USAGov
• Rescission of Guidance on Health-Related Social Needs, CMS
• I Need Legal Help, Legal Services Corporation
• Eldercare Locator, Administration for Community Living
• Call 211, United Way 211
• Find free legal help, LawHelp.org
• Executive Law Section 296, New York State Senate
• Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Premiums and Benefits, KFF