The short version for November 15, 2026: there’s no citywide or countywide rent relief program taking applications. The City of Los Angeles’s emergency renters program is closed [1], and LA County’s Emergency Rent Relief Program last took applications from February 9 to March 11, 2026 [2]. What still works is free legal help if you’re facing eviction, back-rent money from nonprofits that serve specific parts of the county, and the County’s aid programs for families already on CalWORKs or General Relief [3][4][5].
Status on November 15, 2026
- Closed
- City of LA Emergency Renters Assistance program [1]
- Closed
- LA County Emergency Rent Relief, Round 2 (Feb. 9 to March 11, 2026) [2]
- Open: free eviction help
- Stay Housed LA, 1-888-694-0040 [3]
- City of LA tenants
- Right to Counsel: apply within 30 days of an eviction lawsuit [4]
- Back rent from nonprofits
- By area of the county; see the table below [5]
- Always on
- 211 LA: dial 2-1-1, 24/7 [6]
What closed
- City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program. LAHD’s page says the application period has closed [1].
- LA County Emergency Rent Relief Program. Its second round took applications from tenants and landlords from February 9 to March 11, 2026, for unpaid rent tied to emergencies such as the 2025 wildfires, up to $15,000 per unit [2]. Check lacountyrentrelief.com for any new round.
Free legal help if you’re facing eviction
Stay Housed LA is a partnership of Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles and local legal and community groups that gives free legal services to eligible tenants facing eviction, plus workshops on tenant rights [3][7]. Apply at stayhousedla.org or call the hotline at 1-888-694-0040 [3]. Because it can’t represent every tenant, tenants in more vulnerable ZIP codes are offered a lawyer first, and a lawyer who takes your case may request rental assistance for you if you’re eligible, though your landlord may not accept it [5].
City of Los Angeles Right to Counsel
The City’s Right to Counsel ordinance took effect August 20, 2025 [4]. You may qualify for legal services through Stay Housed LA if [4]:
- you live in the City of Los Angeles, inside the covered area;
- your household income is under 80% of the area median income;
- you don’t live in the same unit as your landlord; and
- you apply within 30 days of being served with an eviction lawsuit (and aren’t in default), or of a Section 8 termination notice.
Landlords in the city must give tenants a Notice of Right to Counsel at the start of a tenancy and attach one to any eviction notice [4]. LAHD’s advice: apply for legal help immediately after you receive eviction court papers, whatever your income [4].
| Household size | Yearly income at or below |
|---|---|
| 1 | $93,300 |
| 2 | $106,600 |
| 3 | $119,950 |
| 4 | $133,250 |
| 5 | $143,900 |
| 6 | $154,600 |
Back rent from nonprofits, by area
Stay Housed LA lists these outside programs for tenants who owe rent. Most require income at or below 80% of AMI, not being homeless now, and a financial crisis in the past 12 months [5].
| Program | Who it serves | What it pays | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATH | Residents of SPA 4 (Metro LA) and SPA 5 (West LA) | Back rent and security deposits | Apply in person, 3323 W. Washington Blvd.; pathprevention@epath.org |
| HOPICS | Residents of SPA 6 (South LA, Compton, Lynwood, Paramount) | Security deposit, first month's rent, back rent | (323) 432-4399 |
| CHIRLA | City of LA residents, including undocumented households or those affected by immigration raids | Back rent and security deposits | (888) 624-4752 |
| Little Tokyo Service Center program | LA County renters at or below 80% AMI with a housing emergency in the past 12 months | Emergency financial help and case management | (213) 473-3030; apply through a partner case manager |
| Interval House | LA County domestic violence survivors | Back rent and security deposits | (562) 594-9492 |
| SCAN Independence at Home | LA County residents over 55 | Case management and rental assistance | (866) 421-1964 |
| Better Angels / Step Fund | Tenants with an eviction notice dated in the last 30 days | Back rent and security deposits | info@betterangels.la |
| JFLA | Adults in LA, Ventura or Santa Barbara County who can repay, with a guarantor | Zero-interest loans for back rent, deposits, moving | (310) 735-4911 |
Compton Courthouse area. A County eviction diversion pilot offers free mediation and up to $10,000 per household for unpaid back rent, when the landlord and tenant both agree to mediate, the dispute is over back rent, and the rental is in a ZIP code served by the Compton courthouse. Those include South LA ZIP codes 90002, 90003, 90044, 90059 and 90061 [5]. Call (855) 582-3979 [5].
If you already get County aid
- CalWORKs families can get help with back rent, deposits, utilities, moving costs and motel vouchers through the CalWORKs Housing Support Program: (310) 258-7400 [5].
- General Relief recipients can get help with deposits, utility deposits and move-in costs through the General Relief Housing Subsidy Program, same number [5].
Renters’ rights help in the City of Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) takes complaints when a landlord may be breaking the city’s health and safety code, its Rent Stabilization or Just Cause ordinances, or related laws. Call 1-866-557-7368 [8].
211 LA
Dial 2-1-1 to reach 211 LA, available 24/7 in multiple languages [6]. Ask what rent, utility and eviction prevention help is open for your ZIP code.
If you’re behind on rent today
- Keep every notice from your landlord and write down when you got it.
- If you’ve been served with court papers, apply to Stay Housed LA the same day: 1-888-694-0040 [3]. The Right to Counsel window is 30 days, but the answer deadline is much shorter [4].
- Call the program for your area in the table above [5].
- Dial 2-1-1 for anything that has opened since this update [6].
- Go to every court date, even while you wait to hear back.
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation.
Sources
- Los Angeles Housing Department: City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Program
- County of Los Angeles: LA County Emergency Rent Relief Program to Relaunch February 9; Phase II Accepts Tenant Applications (January 29, 2026)
- Stay Housed LA: Home and Apply for Legal Help
- Los Angeles Housing Department: Tenants' Right To Counsel Program
- Stay Housed LA: Rental Assistance
- 211 LA
- Stay Housed LA: About
- Los Angeles Housing Department: Renters
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Is there rental assistance in Los Angeles right now?
Not a general city or county program, as of November 15, 2026. The City's COVID-era Emergency Renters Assistance program is closed, and LA County's Emergency Rent Relief Program last took applications from February 9 to March 11, 2026. Several nonprofits still pay back rent for eligible households in specific parts of the county; Stay Housed LA lists them.
Can I get a free eviction lawyer in Los Angeles?
Possibly. Under the City's Right to Counsel program, tenants in the covered area with household income under 80% of the area median who apply to Stay Housed LA within 30 days of being served can get legal help. Call Stay Housed LA at 1-888-694-0040 or apply at stayhousedla.org. LAHD says to apply right away whatever your income.
What is 80% of area median income in Los Angeles for 2026?
The Los Angeles Housing Department's 2026 low-income (80% of AMI) limits, effective July 1, 2026, are $93,300 for one person, $106,600 for two, $119,950 for three and $133,250 for four.
Who do I call about my rights as a renter in the City of Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles Housing Department hotline, 1-866-557-7368. LAHD handles complaints under the city's Rent Stabilization and Just Cause ordinances and its health and safety code.