Rent assistance in Mississippi is easy to find if you know where to look! We’ve scoured every website and resource directory we could find to bring you the most comprehensive guide to rent relief in this state.
Statewide Rent Assistance in Mississippi
There are some Mississippi rent assistance programs that serve people all across the state. No matter where you live in the state, you may be able to get assistance from these programs.
Rental Assistance for Mississippians Program (RAMP)
The RAMP program is the official COVID-19 program for rent assistance in Mississippi. This program helps with up to 15 months of rent and utilities for those who were financially impacted by the pandemic.
In order to be eligible for this program, you must meet the following requirements;
- You must be a renter in the state of Mississippi.
- You must have an income that is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income.
- You must have someone in your household who was financially impacted by COVID-19. This could mean that they were eligible for unemployment, experienced a reduction in income, incurred extra costs, or had some other hardship.
- You must have someone in your household who would be at risk of homelessness or housing instability if they do not receive assistance.
Priority service is given to those who have been unemployed for 90 days prior to their application or those with incomes below 50% of the area median income.
You can apply online with the official Rental Assistance for Mississippians Program (RAMP) Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) website.
AIDS Services Coalition
If a member of your household is HIV-positive, then you may be able to receive short-term rent and utilities assistance from the AIDS Services Coalition.
This program provides assistance to households affected by HIV in 73 of Mississippi’s 82 counties. It is NOT available in Copiah, DeSoto, Hinds, Madison, Marshall, Rankin, Tate or Tunica counties.
Community Action Agencies
Community Action Agencies provide life-changing resources to those who need help. These agencies often have rental assistance funding available. At the very least, they can often help you connect with all sorts of resources in your community.
Mississippi is served by 17 separate Community Action Agencies. Each one serves a specific geographic area.
- AJFC Community Action Agency serves Adams, Claiborne, Copiah, Jefferson, Fraklin, Lawrence and Lincoln Counties.
- Bolivar County Community Action Agency Inc. serves Bolivar County.
- Central Mississippi Inc. serves Attala, Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Leflore, Montgomery and Yalobusha Counties.
- Coahoma Opportunities Inc serves Coahoma County.
- Hinds County Human Resource Agency serves Hinds County.
- Community Action of South Mississippi serves George County, Harrison County, and Jackson County.
- LIFT Incorporated serves Calhoun, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, and Union Counties.
- Madison County Community Service Agency serves Madison County.
- Mid-State Opportunity serves DeSoto, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate and Tunica Counties.
- Multi-County CSA Inc. serves Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Newton, Scott, Smith and Wayne Counties.
- Northeast Mississippi Community Service Agency is listed as a current Mississippi Community Action partner but I could not find information about their service area.
- Pearl River Valley Opportunities Inc. serves Covington, Forrest, Greene, Hancock, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Pearl River and Stone Counties.
- Prairie Opportunity Inc. serves Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Clay, Grenada, Holmes, Leake, Leflore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Noxubee, Leake, Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Webster, Winston and Yalobusha counties.
- Southwest Mississippi Opportunity serves Amite, Pike, Walthall and Wilkinson Counties.
- Sunflower-Humphreys Counties Progress Inc. serves Sunflower and Humphreys Counties.
- South Central Community Action Agency serves Madison, Rankin, Simpson, and Walthall Counties.
- Warren-Washington-Issaquena-Sharkey Community Action Agency serves Issaquena, Sharkey, Warren, Washington, and Yazoo Counties.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a great resource for rent assistance in Mississippi. Although services vary by location, we’ve found Salvation Army locations all across the United States that provide help with rent. The United Way resource list also indicates that many Mississippi locations, including the Hattiesburg and Corinth locations, also assist with rent, as well as food, utilities, holiday gifts and more.
Nationwide Rent Relief Program
Don’t forget to check our nationwide rent relief list for even more programs that may be able to help you! We’ve found many specialty grant programs that may be able to assist you with your rent, no matter where you live in the United States! Check out the full list here.
Local Rent Assistance in Mississippi
There are even more programs that can help with your housing costs, but these operate on a local level. The agencies in this list are geographically limited to certain cities, counties, zip codes or other areas. Be sure to check with the agency for details!
Benton County
Sacred Heart Southern Missions
This incredible ministry provides many services, including rent assistance in Mississippi. They offer direct aid with rent, utilities, food, clothing and gasoline to those with a verified need. They can also assist with applications for state/federal benefits, GED preparation, adult continuing education programs, parenting classes and more. They also have a community garden, HIV/AIDS ministry and so much more.
The Sacred Heart Southern Missions serves Benton, DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tunica Counties.
Bolivar County
St. Gabriel Mercy Center
The St. Gabriel Mercy Center has many programs that can help. These include an Emergency Assistance program that can provide help with rent, utilities, medical and food. They also have a GED Program, computer instruction program, senior outreach program and more.
DeSoto County
Sacred Heart Southern Missions
This incredible ministry provides many services. They offer direct aid with rent, utilities, food, clothing and gasoline to those with a verified need. They can also assist with applications for state/federal benefits, GED preparation, adult continuing education programs, parenting classes and more. They also have a community garden, HIV/AIDS ministry and so much more.
Hancock County
Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Gulf is a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. As such, they have a relief program that can provide emergency assistance in Mississippi with rent, utilities and other essential needs. It appears that their help is limited to a tri-parish area.
Harrison County
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church
The Most Holy Trinity offers a number of outreach ministries. One of these is an Emergency Assistance program that provides financial assistance with food, rent, electricity, water and other essential expenses to those in their local communities.
Hinds County
Clinton Community Christian Corporation (Clinton)
If you live within the Clinton School District boundaries, then you may be able to receive assistance from Clinton Community Christian Corporation. This organization provides emergency financial assistance with rent, utilities, prescription medications, food, clothing, furniture, and other items. They also offer a Thanksgiving and Christmas program, and assistance with weatherization and housing repairs.
Hinds County Rental Aid
The Hinds County Rental Aid Portal provides emergency rent assistance in Mississippi to those who reside in Hinds County. This is the county’s COVID-19 relief program. You can apply online here.
Voice of Calvary Ministries (Jackson Metro Area)
The Voice of Calvary Ministries offers a food bank, parenting program, homebuyer education programs, down payment assistance programs and more. It appears that they also have a special housing program for those who are aging out of foster care.
Lafayette County
Interfaith Compassion Ministry
The Interfaith Compassion Ministry is a cooperative effort by local churches to provide assistance with rent, utilities, prescription medications and more. They also offer school supplies, Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas assistance, homeless aid, foster children assistance, a legal clinic, GED assistance programs and more.
Lauderdale County
Wesley House Community Center (Meridian)
The Wesley House assists with rent, utilities, and prescription medications. They also offer clothing, food, Thanksgiving food and Christmas gifts through their Christian Relief program.
Lowndes County
Helping Hands Ministry of Columbus
The Helping Hands Ministry offers rent assistance, as well as help with mortgage payments, prescription medications, utilities, and food. They may also have disaster relief available.
Marshall County
Sacred Heart Southern Missions
This incredible ministry provides many services, including rent assistance in Mississippi. They offer direct aid with rent, utilities, food, clothing and gasoline to those with a verified need. They can also assist with applications for state/federal benefits, GED preparation, adult continuing education programs, parenting classes and more. They also have a community garden, HIV/AIDS ministry and so much more.
Tate County
Sacred Heart Southern Missions
This incredible ministry provides many services. They offer direct aid with rent, utilities, food, clothing and gasoline to those with a verified need. They can also assist with applications for state/federal benefits, GED preparation, adult continuing education programs, parenting classes and more. They also have a community garden, HIV/AIDS ministry and so much more.
Tunica County
Sacred Heart Southern Missions
This incredible ministry provides many services. They offer direct aid with rent, utilities, food, clothing and gasoline to those with a verified need. They can also assist with applications for state/federal benefits, GED preparation, adult continuing education programs, parenting classes and more. They also have a community garden, HIV/AIDS ministry and so much more.
I’m in need of assistance with my rent, I’m 9 months passed due, threatening eviction. Please help, I have homeless people living in my household.
Hi Lakia. If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything else in your area.