Housing Resources
If you are in search of assistance with home repair and weatherization, rental assistance, homelessness resources, legal aid, housing disability needs, or help with utilities, RHLS has compiled housing resources by county. Please click on the name of your county to download the information.
Check back frequently, more counties are being added all the time.
Recursos de vivienda en español
Returning Citizens
Due to entrenched social and legal obstacles, formerly incarcerated individuals encounter significant challenges in accessing and obtaining affordable housing. Changes benefitting those returning home from jail and prison have been made in recent years. RHLS has published a report detailing how supportive housing, landlord screening practices, and incentives for landlords can be utilized to remedy the challenges facing returning citizens’ need for affordable housing. These examples hope to demonstrate how jurisdictions across Pennsylvania can implement initiatives to help the re-entry population become thriving community members.
Download the tenant flyer with tips on how to apply for a rental despite a criminal record.
Landlords can safely rent to applicants with a criminal record, find out more here.
Resources for LIHTC Tenants
The Low Income Housing Tax Credit rental housing structure is complex with many rules and guidelines. Navigating this can be daunting for tenants searching for affordable housing, especially those tenants with special or challenging circumstances. The comprehensive tenants’ guide to *Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rentals explains the ins and outs of this important but not well-understood program. The guide is written for advocates and tenants who are searching for affordable rental housing as well as for current residents of LIHTC properties.
Click to download Renting a LIHTC* home: Everything you need to know in English.
Click to download Alquiler de una casa de LIHTC*: Todo lo que necesita saber en Espanol.
Click here to download the short guide to Renting a LIHTC home.
Haga clic para descargar la guia corta de Arrendar un Hogar LIHTC.
Tenant Debt
RHLS has prepared tenant debt resource material. This includes a tenant debt toolkit, and a fair housing and tenant screening best practices memo for housing developers and property managers. The toolkit’s goal is to help individuals and advocates create an advocacy plan to make both small and big changes to the way housing is created, preserved and kept affordable throughout the state. The strategies outlined in this toolkit aim to show readers ways to support their neighbors within and outside of the political systems.
Download the Tenant Debt Guide here.
Evictions in Pennsylvania
If you are facing eviction in Pennsylvania, you can contact the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, click on this link to apply for legal assistance.
If you are facing eviction in Philadelphia, please contact the Tenant Union Representative Network or the Community Legal Services Housing unit for assistance.
Other Helpful Resources
Additional utility resources are also available.
List of homeless services program contacts in Pennsylvania.
For a statewide list of helpful social service resources, visit PA Navigate at https://www.pa-navigate.org/
For help and other resources, call 211 or visit www.211.org.