Churches That Help with Rent in Hillsborough County

In Hillsborough County, Florida, various major religious organizations, church-affiliated charities, and community-based non-profits offer emergency assistance for rent, mortgage, or utility payments. Since the availability of direct funds can vary depending on funding cycles, it is recommended to verify the current status or contact the organizations’ helplines directly.

Faith-Based & Church-Affiliated Assistance Programs

The Salvation Army (Tampa/Hillsborough Area Command)

The Salvation Army Tampa/Hillsborough Area Command offers emergency financial assistance for rent, mortgage payments, and utilities to eligible individuals and families facing sudden financial hardship.

As funding relies on intermittent grants and donations, allocation levels and availability fluctuate frequently based on specific zip codes.

Program details and policies

Intake procedure: Walk-ins are not accepted. You must first contact the organization by phone or email to receive specific application instructions and verify fund availability for your area.

Phone contact: Call (813) 549-0641 (ext. 1) during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed Saturdays and Sundays).

Main locations:

Area Command Office: 1603 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

Tampa Corps Office: 1100 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604

Official portal: Check for program updates on the Salvation Army Tampa Area Command’s rent and utility assistance webpage.

What to prepare before contacting us

While required documentation varies depending on the specific type of financial crisis, emergency rent assistance programs typically request:

• Valid photo ID for adult household members.
• Proof of all household income.
• A copy of the current lease agreement.
• An official late payment notice, a 3-day notice to pay, or an eviction warning from the landlord.

Catholic Charities (Diocese of St. Petersburg)

Catholic Charities (Diocese of St. Petersburg) offers short-term financial assistance, rental aid, and rapid re-housing programs to eligible individuals and families throughout Hillsborough County, regardless of religious affiliation.

Because direct aid is tied to specific grant cycles and limited funding, availability opens and closes intermittently.

Program details and policies

Funding availability status: You must check the Catholic Charities Hillsborough financial assistance portal to verify if there are active, open grant cycles before submitting an application.

Phone contact: Call (813) 631-4370 and listen to the instructions to select the financial assistance option.

Scope of assistance: When funds are available, programs may cover past-due rent, late fees, security or utility deposits, or short-term rental subsidies (3 to 12 months) combined with mandatory case management.

Specialized housing programs: They also manage affordable family housing options in the region (such as Bella Vista in Hillsborough County and Las Villas in Ruskin), as well as supportive housing programs or housing vouchers for eligible vulnerable populations (e.g., individuals living with HIV/AIDS).

What to prepare

When the application portal opens, you will generally need to submit:

• Official photo identification for adult household members.
• Documentation verifying all household income sources.
• Your current lease agreement or record of rent payments.
• An official past-due notice, a 3-day eviction notice, or a notice of threatened eviction.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP Tampa)

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP Tampa) offers volunteer-managed emergency financial support—including assistance with rent, utilities, and food—through local parish conferences. Given that aid is decentralized, financial support and available funds are allocated strictly according to parish geographical boundaries and postal codes.

How SVdP Financial Assistance Works

Parish-level management: Instead of a single central office managing all rental assistance, individual Catholic church conferences administer their own funds for residents living within their assigned zip codes.

General referral line: If your local parish conference is not listed or you are unsure which conference covers your address, you can call the SVdP referral line at (813) 971-7685 or dial 2-1-1.

Payment method: Once approved, financial assistance is paid directly to the provider (e.g., your landlord, property management company, or TECO) rather than being given to individuals as cash. Assistance is generally limited to once per 12- to 18-month period per address, in order to help as many families as possible. Examples of local church conferences in Hillsborough and covered zip codes

Sacred Heart Catholic Church Conference

Covered zip codes: 33602, 33603, 33606

Contact: (813) 229-1595

Christ the King Catholic Church Conference

Covered zip codes: 33609, 33629

Contact: (813) 434-0201

St. Patrick Catholic Church Conference

Covered zip codes: 33611, 33616

Contact: (813) 839-5337

Corpus Christi / Temple Terrace Area

Covered zip codes: 33617, 33637

Contact: (813) 899-4603

St. Timothy Catholic Church Conference (Lutz/West Hillsborough)

Covered zip codes: 33556, 33558, 33618, 33624

Contact: (813) 968-1077 (ext. 261)

(Note: For county-wide outreach programs aimed at preventing homelessness and rapidly rehousing veterans, you may contact the regional entity SVdP CARES by calling (813) 999-8973 for non-veterans or (813) 443-8296 for veterans.)

What to Prepare

When contacting an SVdP conference, volunteers typically conduct a brief phone interview or a home visit to assess the situation. Be prepared to provide:

• Your exact address and zip code to verify parish boundaries.
• A copy of your lease agreement.
• An official past-due rent notice, a 3-day notice, or an eviction demand notice.
• Your landlord’s contact details and W-9 information (often required for the church to issue a direct check).

Metropolitan Ministries

Metropolitan Ministries offers emergency rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families in Hillsborough County, operating primarily through its Family Support Centers.

Due to high demand, preventive financial assistance is managed through a mandatory, structured in-person orientation process.

Intake Process and Policies

Mandatory in-person orientation: To be considered for financial assistance in Hillsborough County, you must first book and attend an in-person financial orientation session. These sessions cover eligibility criteria, fund availability, and the specific steps for application approval.

Booking an appointment: Booking schedules open on a rolling basis for limited spots up to 7 days in advance. You can check available dates and register via the Metropolitan Ministries Hillsborough financial assistance booking page. If a date cannot be selected on the calendar, it means all spots are filled.

General inquiry line: For other questions or program details, you can contact Metropolitan Ministries at (813) 209-1000 or view general information on the Metropolitan Ministries “Get Help” portal.

Main Tampa center address: 2002 N. Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

Basic eligibility requirements and documentation

Income limit: Financial prevention services generally assist households with income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Proof of financial hardship: Applications require verifiable documentation demonstrating a sudden financial hardship, such as a documented reduction in work hours, a temporary layoff (furlough), job loss, approval for unemployment benefits, or a mandatory medical quarantine.

Household limit: Assistance is strictly limited to one application per household (addresses are rigorously verified).

Additional community and county resources

If church-affiliated programs have exhausted their funds or do not serve your specific area, you can consult government and county portals:

211 Tampa Bay Cares: Dial 2-1-1 from any phone to reach a 24/7 helpline that monitors the real-time availability of funds from local non-profits and churches.

Hillsborough County Human Services: Check housing protection measures, tenant resources, and county-level assistance programs via the “Help Me, Hillsborough” portal.