Affordable Housing in Mesa, AZ

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Mesa and Maricopa County — not generic Section 8 advice. If you need shelter tonight, want to know whether the waitlist is open, or are looking for an organization that can help with this month's rent, the named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in Mesa

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• House of Refuge — safe transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness in Mesa. houseofrefuge.org
• Catholic Charities Community Services — East Valley — shelter, affordable housing, immigration services, and support for survivors of domestic violence
• Maricopa County Coordinated Entry — single intake system for homeless services across the Phoenix-Mesa metro. Call 211 to access
• 211 Arizona — free 24/7 information line for shelters, food, financial assistance, and social services

For a full walkthrough of finding shelter the first night, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Mesa: CMHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Mesa are administered by the City of Mesa Housing Authority (CMHA). Current status:

• The waitlist is closed as of May 2026. The most recent opening was February 4, 2026, for a single day. Openings are rare and short — check mesaaz.gov frequently
• Average wait once on the list: 14 months before receiving a voucher in Mesa. Plan accordingly
• Other CMHA programs that may be available: Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV), Security Deposit and Utility Assistance Program, Project-Based Vouchers (PBV)
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: you are not limited to Mesa. The housing authorities of Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, Chandler, and the Arizona Department of Housing (state) run separate lists with their own openings
• Status check: call CMHA at 480-644-3536 if you've already applied and need to verify your position on the list

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide and how to find your PHA.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Mesa (Named Programs)

If you're behind on rent or can't pay this month, these are the local programs currently operating in Mesa. Funding shifts month to month — always call to confirm current availability:

• Mesa CAN (Community Action Network) — Rental and Utility Assistance — operated by A New Leaf. Appointments are scheduled by calling (480) 750-9228. The line only opens the first Thursday of each month between 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Have your income information and eviction notice ready when you call
• CMHA Security Deposit and Utility Assistance Program — helps with the refundable portion of deposits. Important: you must apply before signing the lease or moving in — they can't help once you've signed
• CMHA Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) — special federal vouchers for people experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or domestic violence survivors. Ask CMHA directly if you qualify
• Catholic Charities of Phoenix and Mesa — emergency financial assistance, budget and debt help, housing, food. Spanish-language and immigration services also
• St. Vincent de Paul (Phoenix-Mesa) — one-time emergency rental and utility help
• Salvation Army East Valley — eviction prevention and utility assistance programs
• Arizona Rental Assistance Program (ARAP) through the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) — statewide program. Check availability at des.az.gov/ARAP

The City of Mesa ERAP program has ended

The Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program (ERAP) created by the city in 2020 — the one that distributed federal funds during the pandemic — has closed. All funds are spent. If anyone tells you to "apply to Mesa's ERAP," that information is out of date. The current programs are Mesa CAN and the CMHA options listed above.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Arizona helps with heating and cooling bills — essential in desert heat. Lowering your electric bill frees up cash for rent. Apply through Arizona DES or call 211 to find your local agency that administers LIHEAP.

Tenant Rights in Arizona

The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act gives you several important rights in Mesa:

• No source-of-income protection: Arizona does not have a state law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers. Mesa has no local ordinance either. That means part of the work with a voucher is finding landlords who already accept Section 8 — CMHA can provide a list of participating landlords
• Warranty of habitability: your landlord must keep the unit habitable — working heating/cooling (critical in Arizona), running water, electricity, and structural safety
• Eviction notice for nonpayment: 5 days in Arizona — shorter than many states. Act fast if you receive one
• Notice to end month-to-month: 30 days
• Security deposit: Arizona caps the deposit at 1.5 months' rent, and the landlord must return it within 14 business days of move-out
• Retaliatory eviction is illegal: a landlord cannot evict you for filing a complaint about conditions or for organizing other tenants
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under federal and Arizona law
• Self-help eviction is illegal: your landlord cannot change locks, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings. They must go through court

For state-level details, see our Arizona housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in Mesa

• Public housing: government-owned affordable apartments operated by CMHA. The public housing waitlist is separate from the Section 8 list
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): privately owned income-restricted apartments. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in Maricopa County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. Eligible veterans can be referred through the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing: short-term rental assistance and case management to move people from homelessness to permanent housing. Access through Coordinated Entry (call 211)
• Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) — for people eligible under federal ORR, includes initial housing support, medical coordination, employment, and intensive case management
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions about your situation — emergency vs. long-term, family vs. individual, employed vs. on benefits — and routes you to the right combination of programs. It takes about two minutes.

If you're already on the CMHA waitlist and just need to verify your position, the fastest path is calling 480-644-3536.