Rental Assistance Program (RAP)

Rental Assistance Program (RAP) is sponsored by Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH). Provides one-time assistance for eligible housing expenses, including up to three months of rent, security deposits, and first month's rent.

Rental Assistance Program | dmh. mo. gov Rental Assistance Program The Rental Assistance Program (RAP) provides eligible persons assistance one-time per calendar year, as funding allows, for eligible housing expenses.

RAP pays landlords, utility companies or creditors directly. RAP is not emergency assistance; it may take a month for payment to be made after the application is approved. The case manager submitting the application will receive an email notifying them if the application has been approved and referred for payment.

One-time assistance can assist with: Rental costs: Up to three months of rent. This can include rent in arrears ("back rent"), and/or move-in costs: a security deposit (counts as one month's rent) and first month’s rent Rental application fees up to $100 total, only for applicants with zero income.

Utility deposits totaling up to $500 Past due utility bills totaling up to $600 Other costs directly related to preserving or accessing stable housing (considered on a case-by-case basis). Any eligible household may access all of the above-listed types of assistance once per year.

RAP one-time assistance cannot assist with : Costs associated with home ownership or mortgages Late fees, court costs, or legal fees Rent or move-in costs for sober living facilities (such as Oxford House) Future rent beyond the current month of the application Questions about RAP? Attend the monthly Case Manager Training on RAP Applications on the second Wednesday at 1:30 p. m.

every month. Join the monthly Case Manager Training on RAP Applications or call 1-650-479-3207. DMH Housing is not currently accepting RAP one-time assistant applications at this time due to a lack of funding.

We will not be accepting applications through the month of July 2026 . Once we know our funding status for August 2026, we will update our website. RAP is not emergency assistance.

Households actively receiving mental health services and/or substance use disorder services from a DMH-contracted provider agency and/or enrolled in a DMH Housing Unit Program. Household must be in a situation that can be stabilized by one-time assistance. Rent/utilities are less than 50% of monthly household income, unless household has a subsidy which covers those expenses.

Household has a combined household income of less than 50% of their Area Median Income. Application Submission Requirements: Complete, current versions of the RAP Application (Revised 7/2023) are accepted during the first five business days of the month via encrypted email to housing@dmh. mo.

gov when RAP is open to applications. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after that date for the month will not be reviewed or retained. Applications must come from a community support worker or other employee of a service provider involved in providing community support services .

Applications cannot be accepted directly from persons in need of assistance. Other assistance programs exist which can assist with housing instability. U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rental Assistance Finder .

Use this program finder to locate rental and utility assistance throughout the U.S. and Missouri. Check with the faith-based and non-profit relief agencies in your county. Many of them have access to funds through the CARES Act that reimburse them for relief activities associated with job loss due to COVID-19.

These may include: Catholic Charities , Salvation Army , your local Community Action Agency , and other independent non-profits. Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG): the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) oversees distribution of ESG funds to Missouri agencies. Many agencies receive funds for emergency homelessness prevention and short-term housing assistance.

See ESG funding approvals (click on "Approvals" for the current year). Missouri Housing Trust Fund (MHTF): MHDC also distributes funds from the Missouri Housing Trust fund, which provides some agencies with funds specifically for homeless prevention. See MHTF funding approvals (click on "Approvals" for the current year).

LIHEAP: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can make one-time payments to assist households to pay a current utility bill, or to avoid a utility shutoff. Ameren Missouri offers the Clean Slate Program for customers impacted by COVID-19. United Way 211 resource search site for Kansas City area and western Missouri counties.

Also see the DMH Housing Resources web page for a variety of housing resources listed by type.