Last updated: July 14, 2026
Bottom line
If you need housing help in New Hampshire, start with the problem you face today. Call 211 for shelter and local referrals. Contact your town or city welfare office for urgent basic needs. Ask your local Community Action agency about rent, heating, electric, and weatherization programs. If you have eviction papers, contact legal aid and follow every court deadline.
New Hampshire Housing does not provide a general emergency fund for back rent, moving costs, first month’s rent, or security deposits. Its main Housing Choice Voucher program can lower rent for eligible households, but the waiting list is long. As of July 14, 2026, the application list is open and New Hampshire Housing estimates a wait of about seven to nine years for most applicants.
Use the ASMOM housing help hub for national housing paths. The New Hampshire help page covers food, cash, health, child care, and other support that may make rent easier to manage.
If you need help today
Call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger. For a housing crisis that is not an immediate emergency, dial 211 or use 211 New Hampshire. The service is available 24 hours a day and can search for family shelter, local welfare, utility help, food, and other programs near you.
If abuse, stalking, sexual violence, or trafficking is part of the housing problem, call New Hampshire’s 24-hour helpline at 1-866-644-3574. The statewide crisis centers offer free and confidential support. Use a safer phone or device when possible if someone may be watching your calls or internet use.
If you received an eviction notice or court papers, do not ignore them. The court landlord-tenant page has forms and process information. A call for rent help does not stop a court case by itself.
Where to start
Work on the most urgent need first. You can also apply for long-term housing while you seek short-term help.
I have nowhere safe to stay
Call 211 and say how many adults and children are with you. Ask for family shelter, coordinated entry, and the next option if no bed is open.
I am behind on rent
Call your town or city welfare office and your local Community Action agency. Ask which rent or housing funds are taking applications today.
I need lower rent
Apply for the state voucher list and check local housing authorities and subsidized properties. Each list has its own rules and timing.
I have court papers
Contact legal aid quickly. Read each date on the papers and attend the hearing unless a court tells you otherwise.
Before you apply, use the ASMOM documents checklist to build one folder for IDs, income, household records, notices, bills, and application numbers.
Quick reference table
| Your need | Start here | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency shelter | 211 and local homeless services | Open beds change. Ask what to do if the first shelter is full. |
| Back rent or deposit | Town welfare and Community Action | Funds and rules vary by town and agency. |
| Long-term rent help | Voucher and property waitlists | The state voucher wait may be seven to nine years. |
| Heat or electric bill | Community Action energy programs | Income, household, utility, and funding rules apply. |
| Eviction papers | Court information and legal aid | Deadlines can move quickly. Do not wait for a rent decision. |
| Unsafe relationship | Statewide crisis helpline | Use a safe contact method when possible. |
Rent, deposits, and eviction help
Start with the New Hampshire Housing renter resource page. It directs people with urgent rent or legal problems to 211, town welfare, Community Action, and legal aid. New Hampshire Housing does not offer a general emergency payment for first month’s rent, security deposits, moving costs, or overdue rent.
The New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program, called NHERAP, is not an active application path. The official NHERAP closure update says the program stopped accepting applications and would not reopen after its direct rental funds were used.
Do not assume there is no help because NHERAP closed. Town welfare, Community Action agencies, shelters, charities, and limited local funds may still help with part of a housing crisis. Ask what is open now, what expense it covers, and whether payment goes to you or directly to the landlord or vendor.
Use the ASMOM rent and eviction guide for more ways to look for rent help without relying on old pandemic programs.
Eviction help has two tracks
Seek money help and legal help at the same time. The eviction process guide explains common New Hampshire steps. You can also apply for legal aid if you need advice about your own case. Help is not guaranteed, but applying early gives the office more time to review the request.
Town welfare and Community Action
Town or city welfare
Every New Hampshire town and city has a local welfare program for residents who cannot meet basic needs. The program may consider rent, shelter, utilities, food, medicine, and other necessary costs. The office reviews household income, available money, and allowed expenses under its written rules.
Ask the town or city hall for the welfare official and a written application. The high-trust town welfare guide says you have the right to apply even if a staff member first says you may not qualify. In an urgent case, tell the office about any rent, shutoff, shelter, or court deadline.
Town help is usually short term. Payment may go to a landlord, motel, utility, or other vendor. The town may ask for repayment or place a lien in some situations. Read the written decision and ask about appeal rights before signing anything you do not understand.
Community Action agencies
New Hampshire has five regional Community Action agencies. Use the CAP town lookup to find the agency serving your community. Programs differ, but agencies may help with housing navigation, fuel, electric bills, weatherization, food, Head Start, and other services.
Read the ASMOM Community Action guide before calling. Ask whether the office has a housing fund, whether appointments are required, and what it can offer if rent money is not available.
Section 8, public housing, and affordable apartments
The Housing Choice Voucher program is often called Section 8. An eligible household pays part of the rent and utilities, and the housing agency pays an approved amount to the landlord. The unit and landlord must meet program rules.
As of July 14, 2026, the New Hampshire Housing voucher application is open. Applicants generally must have income below 50% of the Area Median Income for their household size and area. New Hampshire Housing says most applicants may wait about seven to nine years, although an actual wait may be shorter or longer.
Apply even if you need housing sooner, but do not make it your only plan. Answer preference and special-program questions carefully. Keep your mailing address, phone number, email, household details, and income information current. Save your confirmation and check every notice.
The ASMOM Section 8 guide explains the basic waitlist process and common paperwork.
| Housing path | What it may offer | How to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Choice Voucher | Rent help that can move with an approved household | Apply through New Hampshire Housing |
| Local public housing | Lower-rent units run by a local authority | Contact each local housing authority |
| Project-based housing | Rent help tied to a building or unit | Apply through the property or agency list |
| Income-restricted apartments | Rent set under property income rules | Call each property and join its list |
Use New Hampshire Housing’s housing search tools to find subsidized and income-restricted properties. Call each property to confirm vacancies, deposits, household-size rules, accessibility, and application steps.
Some cities and towns have their own housing authorities. Use HUD housing contacts to find them. A closed list at one office does not mean every property or authority is closed.
New Hampshire Housing also has special voucher programs for certain eligible groups. Checking a box does not promise faster help, but it may place a qualified applicant on a related sub-list.
Emergency shelter and school help
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services directs people in a housing crisis to 211 and local welfare. Its homeless services page explains the state system and local partners.
The state shelter services page covers programs for adults, young people, and families. Shelter space can change from day to day. Call before traveling and ask what identification or household information to bring.
When speaking with 211 or a shelter, say where your family slept last night, whether you must leave soon, and whether children are with you. Also explain pregnancy, disability, medical, language, transportation, or safety needs. Ask for the next step if the first option is full.
If your family is staying in a motel, car, shelter, campground, or another person’s home because you lost housing, contact your child’s school. The school liaison guide says every district has a McKinney-Vento liaison. The liaison may help with enrollment, school stability, meals, records, and transportation rights.
For more local crisis paths, use the ASMOM local 211 guide and the New Hampshire emergency help page.
Heat, electric, and weatherization help
High heating or electric bills can put rent at risk. New Hampshire’s energy programs are handled through Community Action agencies. The energy eligibility page explains that household income, size, residence, energy responsibility, and other factors may affect eligibility.
Fuel Assistance
The Fuel Assistance Program is New Hampshire’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It may help eligible households with winter heating costs. Renters may apply, including some renters whose heat is included in rent. Contact your Community Action agency about the current application process and funding.
Electric Assistance
The Electric Assistance Program gives eligible customers a monthly electric-bill discount. It serves customers of participating regulated utilities. The discount depends on household income and size.
Weatherization
The Weatherization Program may improve an eligible home to reduce energy use. Owners and tenants may qualify, but a landlord’s approval may be needed for rental work. It is not a rent payment and may involve a wait.
Use the ASMOM New Hampshire utility help page for more shutoff and bill-help paths.
DHHS benefits and emergency housing aid
Food, cash, health, and child care benefits do not replace housing help, but they may free money for rent. Use the state NH EASY application page to apply for or manage benefits through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Families with dependent children who may qualify for Financial Assistance to Needy Families can ask about housing-related Emergency Assistance. The official Emergency Assistance rules say the program helps some families obtain or keep safe and healthy permanent housing. Eligibility is case-specific, and help is not guaranteed.
Tell the eligibility worker about any eviction, utility, shelter, or safety deadline. Ask what proof is needed and whether you must apply for another program first.
Eviction and fair housing help
This section gives general information, not legal advice. New Hampshire landlords generally must use the court process to evict a tenant. They cannot simply change locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities to force a renter out. Contact legal aid if any of these things happen.
Fair housing laws protect people from certain forms of discrimination. Protected reasons include familial status, disability, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The state housing discrimination page explains complaint and contact options.
Use the ASMOM New Hampshire safety help page when abuse or stalking affects housing. For evictions, benefits problems, discrimination, or other civil legal needs, check New Hampshire legal help.
Documents to gather
Programs ask for different papers. Do not delay an emergency call because one item is missing. Ask what else the office can accept.
| Document | Why it may help |
|---|---|
| Photo ID | Confirms who is applying. |
| Household records | Shows who lives with you, including children. |
| Income proof | May include pay stubs, benefits, unemployment, or child support. |
| Lease or rent ledger | Shows rent, address, balance, and landlord details. |
| Notice or court papers | Shows the problem and the deadline. |
| Utility bills | Shows the account, balance, and shutoff risk. |
| Bank information | May be used to review available resources. |
| Hardship proof | May show job loss, reduced hours, illness costs, or another crisis. |
| Application records | Helps track confirmation numbers, dates, and decisions. |
Keep copies of everything you submit. Do not send IDs, Social Security numbers, leases, or bank records to an unverified person on social media.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for Section 8 without seeking short-term help.
- Assuming NHERAP is still open.
- Missing a court date while a rent request is pending.
- Taking a verbal denial without asking for a written application or decision.
- Applying to only one property or housing authority.
- Failing to update contact details on a waitlist.
- Paying someone who promises a voucher or guaranteed housing.
What to do if help is denied or closed
Ask why the request was denied. A missing document, income decision, closed list, and lack of funds are different problems. Ask for the reason in writing and for any appeal, review, or reapplication steps.
Keep the notice and note every deadline. Ask whether another program can cover the same need. A town welfare office, Community Action agency, DHHS program, housing authority, and legal aid office may each have different rules.
Use the ASMOM benefits problem guide to plan your next steps. Call 211 again with the exact denial reason so the specialist can search for a different resource.
Phone scripts
Calling 211
“I live in [town] with [number] children. We need help with [shelter, rent, deposit, or utilities]. What programs are taking calls today, and what should I do if the first option is full?”
Calling town welfare
“I live in this town and need to apply for welfare help with [rent, shelter, or utilities]. How can I get the written application, and what papers should I bring?”
Calling Community Action
“Do you serve my town? I need help with [housing, heat, or electric bills]. Which programs are open, how do I apply, and what can I try if funds are not available?”
Calling a housing office
“Are any voucher, public housing, project-based, or property lists open? How do I apply and keep my contact information current?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita refugio o puede perder su vivienda, llame al 211. Pregunte por refugio familiar, bienestar de la ciudad o pueblo, ayuda con la renta y su agencia local de Community Action. Si recibió papeles de desalojo, no falte a la corte y pida ayuda legal pronto.
La lista estatal de Section 8 está abierta, pero New Hampshire Housing dice que muchas familias pueden esperar de siete a nueve años. Solicite la lista, pero siga buscando ayuda local, vivienda pública y apartamentos con renta limitada. Para calefacción o electricidad, comuníquese con Community Action.
FAQ
Can New Hampshire Housing pay emergency back rent?
New Hampshire Housing says it does not have a general emergency fund for back rent, deposits, moving costs, or first month’s rent. Call 211, town welfare, and Community Action for current local options.
Is the New Hampshire Section 8 list open?
Yes. As of July 14, 2026, New Hampshire Housing is accepting Housing Choice Voucher waitlist applications. It estimates that most applicants may wait about seven to nine years.
Can town welfare help with rent?
It may help with necessary basic costs when household income and resources are not enough. Apply in the town or city where you live and ask for a written decision and appeal information.
Is NHERAP still open?
No. The New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program stopped taking applications and did not reopen. Ask 211 and local agencies what rent or shelter programs are available now.
Can renters get heating help?
Some renters can qualify for Fuel Assistance, Electric Assistance, or Weatherization. Contact the Community Action agency serving your town for current income rules, documents, and application steps.
What should I do with eviction papers?
Read every date, attend the court hearing, and contact legal aid quickly. Also seek rent or shelter help, but do not assume a pending application will stop the court case.
Last updated: July 14, 2026 | Next review: October 14, 2026
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified July 14, 2026, next review October 14, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.