Affordable Housing in St. Louis, MO

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County — not generic Section 8 advice. Two things to know: St. Louis City has a Right to Counsel program (HELP-STL) that provides free legal representation for tenants facing eviction, and SLHA's Elderly-Only waitlist stays open year-round even when other lists are closed. The City of St. Louis and St. Louis County have separate housing authorities. The named resources below are where to start.

Emergency Help Tonight in St. Louis

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

• Peter & Paul Community Services — emergency shelter for men in South City, plus permanent supportive housing programs. ppcsinc.org
• St. Patrick Center — Catholic Charities-affiliated provider of supportive housing, emergency assistance, and case management for adults experiencing homelessness
• Gateway 180 / Gateway Homeless Services — emergency shelter for families with children in St. Louis
• Sts. Joachim & Ann Care Service — emergency shelter and stabilization for families, plus rental assistance referrals
• Salvation Army Midland Division — St. Louis — emergency shelter (Family Haven) and rental assistance at multiple corps
• St. Louis Crisis Nursery — emergency short-term care for children of families in crisis
• Humanitri — emergency and transitional housing for the working poor
• ALIVE (Alternatives to Living in Violent Environments) — domestic violence shelter and 24-hour crisis line: (314) 993-2777. Bilingual advocates
• Regional Response Team / St. Louis Coalition on Homelessness — central referral for the St. Louis CoC. Call 211 to access
• 211 United Way Missouri — 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 St. Louis: SLHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in St. Louis are administered by the St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) for the City of St. Louis and by separate authorities for the County and surrounding municipalities. Current status (May 2026):

• The SLHA Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher waitlists are closed as of May 2026 with no scheduled reopening. Watch slha.org/find-a-home/apply-for-housing
• The SLHA Elderly-Only waitlist remains OPEN year-round — for households where the head of household, co-head, or spouse is age 62 or older. If you qualify, apply at slha.org right now
• Housing Authority of St. Louis County (County Housing) — separate authority covering municipalities outside the City of St. Louis. Has had 0 open Section 8 lists as of April 2026. Check status at countyhousing.org/wait-list-info
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) lists at specific properties may be open
• Other special programs: Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV), HUD-VASH for veterans, Mainstream vouchers for non-elderly people with disabilities — separate referral processes
• Apply to neighboring authorities too: Housing Authority of the City of St. Charles, Jefferson County, and the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC, statewide) run separate lists
• Status check: call SLHA at (314) 531-4770 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 St. Louis (Named Programs)

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

• City of St. Louis Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA) — one-time payment to cover overdue rent and prevent eviction. Important: if you've already been evicted or get evicted while your application is in review, you won't be eligible. Apply quickly. stlouis-mo.gov
• HELP-STL (Housing Eviction Law Program / Right to Counsel) — the City of St. Louis's Right to Counsel for eviction. Connects tenants facing eviction with free legal representation from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and partners. Call the Department of Human Services at (314) 657-1671 or (314) 657-1654. Apply at stlouis-mo.gov/help-stl/request-help-stl
• Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) — primary RtC provider; free representation for low-income tenants in the City of St. Louis. lsem.org
• Start Here STL — central referral portal for housing and human services in the St. Louis region. startherestl.org/housing
• Regional Response Team — Eviction Prevention — coordinated regional initiative across St. Louis, St. Louis County, and East St. Louis. regionalresponseteam.org/community-campaigns/eviction-prevention
• Catholic Charities of St. Louis — emergency financial assistance, food, immigration legal services, and case management. Spanish-language services available
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Louis — one-time emergency rental and utility help through local parish conferences
• Salvation Army Midland Division — eviction prevention and utility assistance
• Beyond Housing — rental assistance, supportive housing, and community development in 24 communities in north St. Louis County

Federal pandemic-era ERA has ended

The federal pandemic Emergency Rental Assistance funds that flowed through Missouri's SAFHR (State Assistance for Housing Relief) and through St. Louis directly have closed. The City of St. Louis ERA program continues with local CDBG and other funding, but at lower levels. Don't waste time on old SAFHR or 2021–2023 portals.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP

Missouri's LIHEAP has two components: Energy Assistance (one-time bill help) and Energy Crisis Intervention. In St. Louis, you apply through Heat Up St. Louis, Cool Down St. Louis, or the Family & Workforce Centers of America. Apply through these agencies or call 211.

Tenant Rights in St. Louis & Missouri

Missouri has a landlord-friendly framework with relatively few statutory tenant protections, but the City of St. Louis has built up local programs to compensate:

• HELP-STL (Housing Eviction Law Program) — City of St. Louis Right to Counsel: the City funds free legal representation for tenants facing eviction or equivalent proceedings. Eligible City residents get an attorney through Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and partners. Call (314) 657-1671 or apply at stlouis-mo.gov/help-stl. This is one of the strongest tenant defenses available in Missouri
• No statewide source-of-income protection: Missouri does not have a statewide law preventing landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers. The City of St. Louis has had source-of-income language in its civil rights ordinance — coverage and enforcement vary; the Missouri state legislature has at times restricted local rules. Verify with the St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency before relying on this
• Demand for rent process: Missouri's eviction process is fast. Generally, the landlord must demand the rent and then file in Rent and Possession court (City of St. Louis) or the relevant Associate Circuit court. Court can be scheduled quickly after filing — contact HELP-STL immediately if you're served
• Notice to end month-to-month: one month from either party
• Security deposit cap: Missouri caps the deposit at 2 months' rent (RSMo §535.300). Must be returned within 30 days of move-out with itemized deductions
• Warranty of habitability: recognized by Missouri case law; the City of St. Louis enforces habitability through Building Division code inspections
• Limited statutory retaliation protections: Missouri's explicit anti-retaliation protections are narrower than many states. Federal Fair Housing Act protections still apply if the retaliation is for protected reporting
• Self-help eviction is illegal: Missouri prohibits lockouts and utility shutoffs to force a tenant out — the landlord must use court
• Fair housing: discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability is illegal under federal law and the Missouri Human Rights Act. The City of St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency handles local intakes

For free legal help: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) through HELP-STL is the primary RtC provider for City of St. Louis residents. Mid-Missouri Legal Services and Legal Aid of Western Missouri serve other parts of the state. For state-level details, see our Missouri housing resources. If you experience discrimination, see how to file a housing discrimination complaint.

Other Housing Programs in St. Louis

• Public housing: SLHA owns and manages public-housing communities across the City of St. Louis. Application is separate from Section 8 — site-specific waitlists may have different statuses
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): St. Louis has substantial LIHTC inventory, with strong development by Mission St. Louis, Beyond Housing, and other CDCs. Search HUD's LIHTC database for properties in St. Louis City and County. See how to find LIHTC housing
• HUD-VASH (veterans): combines a voucher with VA case management. St. Louis-area veterans are referred through the VA St. Louis Health Care System. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through the St. Louis CoC. Access via 211 or Coordinated Entry
• Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) programs — homebuyer assistance, MO Mortgage Credit Certificate, and statewide rental development. mhdc.com
• Affordable Housing Trust Fund (City of St. Louis) — local funding for affordable housing development; income-restricted apartments come online each year
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator — Beyond Housing and Justine Petersen cover the St. Louis area

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 live in the City of St. Louis and have eviction paperwork — or even just a demand for rent — call HELP-STL at (314) 657-1671 immediately. The City's Right to Counsel program is one of Missouri's strongest tenant defenses. If you're 62+, the SLHA Elderly-Only waitlist is open year-round — apply at slha.org while you wait for other programs.