Churches That Help with Rent Harrisburg, PA

In Harrisburg, PA, several churches and faith-based organizations offer emergency rental assistance to prevent evictions and homelessness. Various religious networks and churches in the Harrisburg area provide assistance for rent and eviction prevention.

Among the most active programs are HELP Ministries (of Christian Churches United), Messiah Lutheran Church, Ridgeway Community Church of the Brethren, LifePoint Church, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Since individual churches often pool their financial resources into centralized ministries to maximize their impact, the most effective way to obtain rental assistance is through the major church-backed networks and local agencies detailed below.

Christian Churches United (CCU) – HELP Ministries

This is the largest coalition of its kind, comprising over 100 local Christian congregations that pool their resources to address housing crises in Dauphin County. They administer the Rental Assistance Program (RAP), designed specifically to provide aid for rental arrears or move-in assistance (security deposits), as well as to prevent evictions and help with initial housing costs within Dauphin County.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for rental or security deposit assistance, you must meet all of the following criteria:

Residency: You must be a documented resident of Dauphin County.

Housing Status: You must be actively experiencing homelessness OR possess an official eviction notice issued by a court.

Income Verification: You must provide proof of your household income covering the past 30 to 90 days.

Sustainability: You must demonstrate that your household budget includes sufficient income to independently cover future rent and living expenses.

Move-in Requirement: If applying for security deposit assistance, you must present a written rental agreement signed by a landlord willing to rent the property to you.

Prerequisite Steps: You must first apply for and utilize all state funds for which you are eligible—such as the Emergency Shelter Allowance (ESA)—through the Dauphin County Assistance Office before the CCU can cover the remaining shortfall.

How to Apply for Assistance

The application process requires a scheduled appointment and must be completed in person at the HELP Ministries office:

Option 1: Telephone Screening

Call 717-238-2851, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A receptionist will ask you initial screening questions and record your contact details; a social worker from the RAP program will return your call within 1 to 2 business days to schedule an intake meeting.

Option 2: Walk-in Service (In-Person)

You may visit the office to register and secure an appointment for the same day (walk-in). Walk-in services are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, promptly at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Office Location & Contact Details

Address: 413 South 19th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104 (Accessible by local public transit).

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Primary Phone: 717-238-2851.

The Salvation Army – Capital City Region

The Salvation Army — Capital Region — offers emergency housing and rental assistance to eligible low-income families and individuals facing financial crises. Their housing program focuses on crisis intervention to prevent evictions, avoid utility shut-offs, and foster long-term self-sufficiency.

Program Details and Eligibility Requirements

Since their emergency fund relies heavily on local fundraising and specific seasonal grants, guidelines may vary. However, core requirements include:

Service Area: You must reside in Dauphin, Cumberland, or Perry County.

Income Limits: Generally, households must meet established poverty guidelines or demonstrate the existence of extreme mitigating financial circumstances (e.g., job loss, medical emergency).

Proof of Crisis: Typically, applicants must provide a formal notice from their landlord, an overdue utility bill with a shut-off threat, or an active eviction filing.

Required Documentation: Once the initial interview is approved, you must provide a photo ID, proof of household income (pay stubs, benefit letters), and your formal rental lease agreement.

How to Apply for Assistance

Call to Check Fund Availability: Contact the Family Services Department directly at 717-233-6755. It is recommended to call in the morning to inquire whether local rental assistance funds are currently active and available.

Schedule an Appointment: If funds are available and you pass the initial telephone screening, the receptionist will schedule an intake appointment. Walk-in availability is extremely limited; therefore, securing a scheduled appointment time in advance is strongly recommended.

Comprehensive Follow-Up: In addition to immediate emergency financial aid, social workers can connect you with personalized individual counseling (life coaching), financial literacy classes, or the local food bank to help you stabilize your monthly budget over the long term.

Office Details

Address: 506 South 29th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104

Operating Hours: Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg offers specialized housing support, shelter resources, and temporary financial guidance to residents throughout the central Pennsylvania region. Rather than operating an open, walk-in window for financial assistance, their housing aid is integrated into comprehensive case management and family shelter programs.

Housing and Stability Services

Interfaith Shelter for Homeless Families: If an eviction has already occurred, this program serves as the primary emergency shelter in the Harrisburg region, designed specifically to keep families together. On-site case managers assist families in transitioning back into permanent, affordable housing.

Housing and Rental Subsidies: Direct financial grants for paying back rent or security deposits are strictly subject to the availability of funds. These funds fluctuate based on local community donations and parish-backed collections.

Universal Eligibility: Services and financial guidance are provided strictly based on economic urgency and vulnerability, regardless of an individual’s religious background.

Specialized Housing Care: They operate specialized, long-term residential programs, such as Lourdeshouse (for pregnant women facing housing insecurity) and Evergreen House / Willow Way (affordable transitional housing for women in recovery).

How to Apply for Help and Contact

Direct Telephone Assessment: Call the administrative headquarters at 717-657-4804. Ask to speak directly with an intake worker or inquire about active cycles of discretionary financial assistance.

Email Consultation: You may also send a detailed summary of your current housing emergency to the email inbox dedicated to financial assistance coordination: bedinger@cchbg.org.

Required Documentation: If you are selected for a housing interview, you must provide written documentation verifying your crisis situation, including a copy of your current lease agreement, the eviction notice, and proof of identity for all household occupants.

Main Administrative Office

Address: 4800 Union Deposit Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17111

Primary Telephone: 717-657-4804

Transitional and Long-Term Housing Programs

If you are currently experiencing homelessness or require long-term support rather than a one-time emergency payment, these faith-based programs offer local housing solutions:

Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area

Bridge of Hope Harrisburg Area administers an intensive stability program—lasting 12 to 24 months—designed specifically for single mothers who are experiencing homelessness or facing the imminent threat of losing their housing.

Families move directly into safe, permanent housing located in a residential neighborhood within 60 days of being admitted to the program. The program provides a one-time rental assistance subsidy—which gradually decreases over a period of one to two years—while teaching participants how to engage in independent financial planning as they assume greater financial responsibility.

Applicants must be single mothers at least 18 years of age, have custody of at least one minor child, be facing a housing crisis in Dauphin, Cumberland, or York counties, and be willing to actively seek employment or pursue comprehensive career goals.

Mailing Location: PO Box 15212, Harrisburg, PA 17105

Main Office Phone: 717-635-5957

Dedicated Referral Phone Line: 717-303-9930

Brethren Housing Association

The Brethren Housing Association operates the high-impact Transitions program, which provides assistance to single-parent households (primarily mothers with children) experiencing homelessness in urban Harrisburg.

BHA owns and manages secure apartment complexes where families reside for at least one year. By eliminating the constant panic of daily survival and the insecurity regarding immediate shelter, the program offers parents the necessary respite to build a stable future.

Single parents with minor children who meet federal low-income or homelessness thresholds, and who are motivated to complete mandatory financial literacy and personal development modules.

Physical Address: 219 Hummel Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104

Office Phone: 717-233-6016

Primary Email: bha@bha-pa.org

Immediate Referral Action Steps

Since the discretionary budgets of local churches change frequently, use these two centralized platforms to check for available funding sources specific to your zip code:

Call the PA 211 Helpline: Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to receive an up-to-date directory of smaller neighborhood parishes that have emergency funds available for financial assistance.

Apply for an Emergency Shelter Allowance (ESA): Visit or contact the Dauphin County Assistance Office to determine if you qualify for state emergency housing funds; most major local church programs require that you access these funds first.