Churches That Help with Rent Wichita, KS

Several churches and faith-based organizations in Wichita, KS, offer emergency rental assistance, utility aid, and housing stability programs. The most reliable options include the Sedgwick County Salvation Army, the Center of Hope, United Methodist Open Door, and Family Promise of Greater Wichita.

St. Vincent de Paul (Multiple Catholic Parishes)

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) in Wichita operates as a network of parish-based volunteer chapters (called “Conferences”), which provide localized emergency assistance for rent and utility payments through a unique “Home Visit” model. Since each location is independently funded and managed by local church volunteers, you must contact the specific parish that covers the geographic boundaries of your neighborhood.

How the SVdP Process Works

The Initial Call: You leave a message at your local parish describing your financial crisis, your name, and your address.

The Home Visit Appointment: If funds are available, a team of two volunteers will schedule an in-person visit to your home to understand your needs and review your documentation.

Verification with Landlord: Volunteers will verify your outstanding balance directly with your landlord and ask you to sign an information release authorization form.

Direct Payment: SVdP does not provide cash to applicants. If your application is approved, they will issue a formal payment commitment or a check directly to your landlord to cover the agreed-upon amount.

If you are unsure which parish corresponds to your address, dial 2-1-1. The United Way 2-1-1 helpline maintains accurate geographic mapping of St. Vincent de Paul conferences in Wichita to direct your request to the correct parish team.

Center of Hope (St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church)

The Center of Hope is a ministry dedicated to homelessness prevention, sponsored by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ and strongly supported by St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. They provide direct emergency assistance for rent and utility payments to families facing eviction or utility shut-offs in the Wichita area and surrounding counties.

Services Offered:

• Eviction Prevention: Issues direct emergency monetary payments to landlords to halt immediate eviction proceedings. Utility Assistance: Covers overdue balances for electricity, gas, and water to prevent service disconnection.
• Case Management: Provides ongoing budget counseling and connects clients with other local organizations within the social safety net.
• DESERVE Project Coordination: Collaborates with regional energy providers, such as Evergy, to process utility assistance subsidies for low-income individuals.

Call the Intake Line: Dial 316-267-0222, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Be Persistent: Call volume is historically high; if the line is busy, hang up and call back immediately during the morning hours.

The Salvation Army of Wichita

The Salvation Army’s rent and housing assistance in Wichita is centrally administered through the South-Central Area Command. They offer direct emergency rent assistance, eviction prevention, and a specialized six-month program called “Rapid Re-Housing,” which covers a portion of the rent and provides case management for eligible families.

Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance: Provides direct financial payments to landlords to halt imminent evictions. The availability of funds depends largely on seasonal grants and monthly budgetary cycles.

Rapid Re-Housing Program: A community-based initiative offering case management and up to six consecutive months of rental subsidies. This program is designed for homeless families with children, couples, and single women.

Homelessness and Utility Prevention: Short-term assistance with utility payments, combined with housing counseling, to help families remain in their current homes.

Eligibility Criteria

To access rental assistance funds from The Salvation Army, you must complete an interview with a case manager and provide the following documentation:

Eviction Notice: A legal 3-day notice from your landlord or a court-ordered eviction petition.

Lease Agreement: A valid, current, written rental agreement signed by both you and your landlord.

Proof of Income: Pay stubs, SSI/SSDI benefit letters, or documentation from the DCF demonstrating your ability to sustain future rental payments once emergency assistance has been provided.

Landlord’s W-9 Form: Your landlord must be willing to register with The Salvation Army to receive payment via direct check.

Catholic Charities of Wichita

Catholic Charities of Wichita focuses its housing resources on helping families exit active homelessness and on stabilizing low-income veterans or survivors of domestic violence.

Housing Programs Administered by Catholic Charities

Rapid Re-Housing Program: Provides short- to medium-term rental assistance, as well as security deposit assistance for move-in costs. It is explicitly designed for families and individuals who meet HUD’s definition of “literally homeless” (those living on the street, in a car, or in an emergency shelter).

Note: This program does not cover rental arrears or outstanding rental debt for the purpose of preventing an eviction.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): A specialized program offering emergency rental assistance, coverage of moving expenses, and intensive case management for low-income military veterans who are homeless or facing imminent eviction.

The SAFE Project: A collaborative housing stabilization program providing financial assistance and safety advocacy for low-income survivors of domestic violence who have at least one minor child.

Mandatory Program Qualifications

To qualify for housing placement or rental subsidies through Catholic Charities, you must meet these strict criteria:

Income Limits: You must meet low-income thresholds based on your household size.

Geographic Restriction: You must be a verified resident of Sedgwick County or of designated counties in south-central or southeast Kansas.

Referral Requirement: The Wichita Rapid Rehousing Program operates via referrals. You must first be assessed by a local homeless service provider (part of the “Continuum of Care”) or by a shelter.

How to Apply for Assistance

For General Inquiries: Call the main office at 316-264-8344 (ext. 4109) to speak with a housing case manager regarding your specific circumstances.

For Immediate Shelter: If you are completely homeless and have minor children in your care, inquire about the intake process for their St. Anthony Family Shelter, located at the same facility.

NewSpring Church and His Helping Hands

NewSpring Church does not administer an internal emergency cash fund for the general public. Instead, NewSpring relies on a formal partnership with His Helping Hands (a ministry of Central Christian Church) to process requests for charitable assistance.

Through this collaborative agreement, NewSpring financially supports the program, while His Helping Hands manages in-person intake, case assessment, the distribution of material goods, and financial counseling during crisis situations.

Crisis Assistance Options

Love In Action Benevolence: Provides emergency financial counseling and case-by-case assistance for severe financial hardships (such as overdue rent or critical bills), subject to current funding cycles. Fresh Hope Program: A specialized, multi-month support program designed specifically to provide homeless or at-risk women with a comprehensive “helping hand” through life skills mentorship, job preparation, and housing stabilization.

Free Furniture and Household Items: If you are moving out of a shelter or furnishing an apartment following an eviction, you may be issued a warehouse voucher to obtain sofas, tables, beds, and appliances free of charge.

Emergency Clothing and Food: They operate a direct food distribution service on the first and third Tuesdays of each month (from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.); no appointment is necessary. Access to the clothing closets is available by appointment only.

Phone Line: 316-928-7800

When leaving a voicemail or speaking with a representative, you must explicitly state that you were referred by NewSpring Church so that your request is directed to the correct partner account.

Next Steps

To access local funds that become available on a daily or weekly basis, please take the following actions immediately:

Call United Way 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211 to obtain an up-to-date list of church funds in Wichita that currently have openings for interviews.

Gather your documents: Churches will require a copy of your written lease agreement, an eviction notice from your landlord (if applicable), photo identification for all adults, and proof of household income.