If you are behind on rent in Wichita and facing eviction, help is available right now. Churches, faith-based nonprofits, and community organizations across Sedgwick County provide emergency rental assistance — paying directly to your landlord to stop the eviction process before it reaches court.
Wichita is the largest city in Kansas and the economic center of the state — but rising rents, energy costs, and economic volatility have put thousands of Sedgwick County households at risk of eviction each year. The organizations below are the frontline of Wichita’s emergency housing response, serving 8 surrounding counties alongside Sedgwick County itself.
You do not need to be religious to receive help from any organization on this list. You do not need to be a church member. You need a lease, a notice, and a phone call.
Wichita Rent Help — Quick Answer
Call 211 (free, 24/7) for same-day referrals. Or contact these organizations directly:
| Organization | Phone | What They Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Center of Hope | (316) 267-0222 | Rent, utilities — 9 county coverage |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Wichita | (316) 264-8344 | Rent, rapid rehousing, case management |
| Salvation Army Wichita | (316) 267-2177 | Rent, utilities, food, clothing |
| Blessed Sacrament — SVdP | Contact through 316-267-0222 | Rent, utilities, neighborhood-based |
| NewSpring Church / Love In Action | (316) 928-7800 | Rent, food, furniture, household items |
| Community Action Partnership | (316) 462-3700 | Referrals, housing, community services |
| 211 Kansas | Dial 211 | Live referrals to all programs |
Churches and Faith-Based Organizations That Help With Rent in Wichita
1. Center of Hope
Center of Hope is the most important emergency rent and utility assistance organization in Wichita — and the first call for anyone facing eviction in Sedgwick County or any of the surrounding counties. Their Emergency Assistance program provides rent and utility help to households in danger of being evicted or having utilities shut off across 8 counties in south-central Kansas.
Address: 1100 E. 1st Street, Wichita, KS 67202 Mailing Address: 400 N. Emporia, Wichita, KS 67202 Phone: (316) 267-0222 Website: centerofhopeinc.org Intake Hours: Calls taken 9 AM–Noon, Monday–Friday
Critical note about calling: Call volume at Center of Hope is consistently very high. You must call during the 9 AM–Noon window and be persistent — keep calling if you do not get through immediately. Walk-in slots exist but the line can form as early as 4 AM. If you cannot wait in a walk-in line (single parent, young children, medical needs), call persistently during the phone window.
Coverage area: Sedgwick County, Butler County, Cowley County, Harper County, Harvey County, Kingman County, Reno County, and Sumner County — 8 counties total.
What they provide: Emergency rent assistance to prevent eviction. Utility assistance to prevent disconnection. Bilingual staff — English and Spanish speaking.
Required documents: Photo ID. Social Security cards for all household members. Eviction notice and lease agreement. All utility bills. Receipts for rent. DCF vision card if receiving cash assistance or food stamps. Documentation of the cause for the crisis (medical bills, termination notice, auto repair invoice, etc.).
Membership requirement: None. Typical assistance: Emergency rent payment to prevent eviction. Amount based on available funding and household need. Frequency typically limited to once per program cycle.
2. Catholic Charities Diocese of Wichita
Catholic Charities Diocese of Wichita provides emergency financial assistance, rapid rehousing for households experiencing homelessness, and comprehensive social services across south-central and southeast Kansas. Their approach combines immediate emergency help with case management and longer-term housing stability planning.
Main Address: St. Joseph Pastoral Center, 437 N. Topeka St., Wichita, KS 67202 Phone: (316) 264-8344 Rapid Rehousing (Sedgwick County): (316) 264-8344, ext. 4109 Website: catholiccharitieswichita.org Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Rapid Rehousing Program: Catholic Charities’ Rapid Rehousing program is funded by a HUD Continuum of Care grant and provides short- to medium-term rental assistance and deposit assistance for households who are already homeless (as defined by HUD). This is not an eviction prevention program — it is a housing-first program for people who have already lost stable housing and need help securing a new permanent home.
Rapid Rehousing provides: short- to medium-term rent assistance and deposit help. Judgment-free case management and housing search support. Connections to employment and community resources. No preconditions for entry — sobriety, employment, or a clean criminal record are not required.
To access Rapid Rehousing: call 211 for a referral from a homeless service provider. A provider referral is required — you cannot self-refer.
Emergency financial assistance: Catholic Charities also provides emergency financial assistance for individuals and families in crisis — including help with rent, utilities, and prescriptions. Call the main number at (316) 264-8344 to ask about current availability and eligibility.
Membership requirement: None. Catholic Charities serves everyone regardless of faith or background.
3. Salvation Army Wichita
The Salvation Army Wichita provides emergency rent and utility assistance as part of its comprehensive social services program. The Salvation Army is one of the most widely known and trusted resources for temporary crisis assistance in Sedgwick County.
Address: 350 N. Market Street, Wichita, KS 67202 Phone: (316) 267-2177 Website: salvationarmyusa.org Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–4 PM (appointment required for rent assistance)
Note: The Salvation Army Wichita’s rent assistance program is specifically listed as serving veterans through a veteran-specific rental assistance track. Veterans should identify themselves immediately when calling — dedicated veteran rental assistance may have different eligibility and funding availability than general emergency assistance.
What they provide: Emergency rent and utility assistance, food pantry, clothing vouchers, toy and holiday assistance. For veterans: dedicated veteran rental assistance and connections to VA benefit programs.
Membership requirement: None. Typical assistance: Emergency rent payment to prevent eviction. Direct landlord payment.
4. Blessed Sacrament — St. Vincent de Paul Conference
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church maintains an active St. Vincent de Paul conference in Wichita providing neighborhood-based emergency rent and utility assistance. SVdP conferences serve within defined geographic boundaries — and Blessed Sacrament is one of the most active in the Wichita area.
Contact: Through Center of Hope at (316) 267-0222 or directly through Blessed Sacrament Parish at (316) 685-3422 Address: 124 N. Edgemoor, Wichita, KS 67208 Hours: Call for current conference hours and appointment availability
Other Wichita SVdP conference: St. Thomas More Parish — contact at (316) 722-4944. Ask for the SVdP conference contact when calling.
What they provide: Emergency rent and utility assistance on a case-by-case basis through the neighborhood conference model. Amount varies based on conference funding and need.
Membership requirement: None. SVdP serves all faiths and backgrounds.
5. NewSpring Church — His Helping Hands / Love In Action
NewSpring Church partners with the organization His Helping Hands/Love In Action to provide financial assistance, food, clothing, furniture, and household items to Wichita-area residents in financial hardship.
Phone: (316) 928-7800 Website: newspring.org/financial-hardship-assistance Hours: Call for current assistance hours
What they provide: Financial assistance for rent and bills, food, clothing, furniture, and household items for individuals and families facing financial hardship. His Helping Hands/Love In Action extends the reach of NewSpring’s community ministry into direct financial crisis intervention.
Membership requirement: None. Assistance is provided to the broader Wichita community.
6. Community Action Partnership of Wichita/Sedgwick County
The Community Action Partnership provides housing and community services including referrals to rent assistance programs, connections to other community agencies, and support building on each household’s unique strengths.
Phone: (316) 462-3700 Website: wichita.gov/1284/About-Us Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM
What they provide: Referrals to rent assistance programs across Sedgwick County. Connections to community resources including food, employment, childcare, and housing programs. Case management to help households access the full range of available support. Community Action Partnerships are federally designated anti-poverty organizations with access to both government and private funding streams.
Membership requirement: None.
7. Kansas Legal Services — Eviction Defense
When eviction is already in progress, legal help can make the difference between staying housed and displacement. Kansas Legal Services provides free legal assistance to low-income Wichita residents facing eviction.
Phone: 1-800-723-6953 Website: kansaslegalservices.org Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5 PM
What they provide: Free legal representation and advice for low-income tenants facing eviction in Sedgwick County. Legal aid can request continuances (delays), assert tenant defenses, and negotiate with landlords — buying time for rental assistance payments to be processed.
Membership requirement: None. Income-based eligibility.
8. Habitat for Humanity — Wichita Area
Habitat for Humanity Greater Wichita provides affordable homeownership opportunities and home repair assistance — and maintains connections to the broader housing assistance network in Sedgwick County.
Phone: (316) 942-4848 Website: habitatwichita.org Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM
What they provide: Affordable homeownership and home repair. For renters, Habitat’s ReStore and community connections can point toward available rent assistance programs. If your long-term goal is homeownership after stabilizing your rental situation, Habitat is the right long-term partner.
Membership requirement: None.
9. Grace Fellowship Church — Benevolence Fund
Grace Fellowship Church provides emergency financial assistance through a benevolence fund for Wichita-area residents in need.
Address: 7100 E. 45th Street N., Wichita, KS 67226 Phone: (316) 634-9700 Website: graceict.com Hours: Call during office hours for current assistance availability
What they provide: Emergency financial assistance on a case-by-case basis for Wichita residents in housing or financial crisis.
Membership requirement: None. Church benevolence funds are open to community members, not just congregation members.
10. Calvary Baptist Church — Community Assistance
Calvary Baptist Church in Wichita provides community assistance services including financial help for housing needs for individuals and families in crisis.
Phone: (316) 684-5213 Website: calvaryict.org Hours: Call during office hours for assistance availability
What they provide: Emergency assistance for housing and basic needs through church outreach ministry. Referrals to community programs for needs beyond what the church can directly address.
Membership requirement: None.
Government Programs for Rent Help in Wichita and Sedgwick County
Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) — Tenant Based Rental Assistance
KHRC provides tenant-based rental assistance (up to two years of subsidy) to low-income families, single parents, the elderly, DV survivors, and persons with disabilities in Kansas — including security and utility deposit assistance.
Phone: (785) 217-2001 Website: kshousingcorp.org Eligibility: Income-based; households generally pay less than 30% of income toward rent; voucher covers the rest.
Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA)
Kansas’s state Emergency Rental Assistance program provides rent and utility assistance to qualifying Kansas households experiencing financial hardship.
Website: kshousingcorp.org or dial 211 for current program status Eligibility: Households at or below 80% of Area Median Income
Wichita Housing Authority — Housing Choice Voucher
The Wichita Housing Authority administers Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher program for Sedgwick County. Wait lists exist but Housing Choice Vouchers significantly reduce long-term rent burden.
Phone: (316) 462-3700 Website: wichita.gov/WHA
Kansas DCF (Department for Children and Families) — TANF
Kansas’s TANF program provides financial assistance to qualifying families with children.
Apply: kees.ks.gov Phone: 1-888-369-4777
211 Kansas
Phone: Dial 211 (free, 24/7) Website: 211kansas.org
Step-by-Step: How to Get Rent Help in Wichita
Step 1: Call Center of Hope during the 9 AM–Noon window — and keep calling. Center of Hope at (316) 267-0222 is the most important single call you make. Call volume is consistently very high. Call at 9:00 AM sharp and keep trying if you don’t get through. If walk-in is an option and you can manage it, some clients arrive as early as 4 AM to secure a spot.
Step 2: Dial 211 at the same time. 211 Kansas (dial 211) has real-time data on which programs have open funding right now in Sedgwick County. Tell the operator you are facing eviction in Wichita and give your address and situation.
Step 3: Call Catholic Charities for rapid rehousing if you have already lost housing. If your eviction has already occurred or you are currently without stable housing, call Catholic Charities at (316) 264-8344 ext. 4109 and ask about Rapid Rehousing. This is a different track from eviction prevention and requires a referral from a homeless service provider — 211 can provide that referral.
Step 4: Contact the Salvation Army for veterans. If you are a veteran, call the Salvation Army at (316) 267-2177 and identify yourself as a veteran immediately. Dedicated veteran rental assistance may have different availability and eligibility than the general emergency fund.
Step 5: Apply to KHRC and Kansas ERA simultaneously. Apply to Kansas Housing Resources Corporation at kshousingcorp.org and ask about the Tenant Based Rental Assistance program. Government programs take longer but can provide up to two years of subsidy. Apply now while pursuing faith-based assistance on the same timeline.
Step 6: If eviction is already in court, call Kansas Legal Services now. Call 1-800-723-6953. Free legal representation can buy critical time — requesting a continuance while rental assistance is processed is a legitimate and frequently successful legal strategy in Sedgwick County eviction court.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Photo ID for all adults in the household. Social Security cards for all household members including children. Current lease agreement showing your address, monthly rent, and landlord contact information. Eviction notice and lease agreement. All utility bills. Rent receipts or payment history. DCF vision card if receiving cash assistance or food stamps. Documentation of the crisis event — medical bills, termination notice, auto repair invoice, or similar. Your landlord’s name, phone, and mailing address — payment goes directly to landlord.
Center of Hope specific: All of the above are required. Being missing even one document may result in rescheduling — given call volume, this can cost days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it so hard to get through to Center of Hope by phone?
Center of Hope serves 8 counties across south-central Kansas — one of the largest coverage areas of any emergency rent program in the state. Their phone intake from 9 AM to Noon fills rapidly every day. Call at 9:00 AM sharp and keep trying if the line is busy. Do not leave a voicemail and wait — call repeatedly during the window. If you have mobility or childcare limitations that prevent a walk-in, explain this to the operator when you get through.
Do I have to be a Wichita city resident, or does coverage include surrounding areas?
Center of Hope serves 8 counties: Sedgwick, Butler, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Reno, and Sumner. Catholic Charities serves Sedgwick County and 25 southeastern Kansas counties. You do not need to live within Wichita city limits — Jefferson County and surrounding area residents are covered. Call to confirm your specific county is served before driving in.
Can undocumented immigrants get rent help in Wichita?
Yes. Center of Hope, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and NewSpring/Love In Action all serve everyone regardless of immigration status. Government programs like KERA and TANF have citizenship and residency requirements — faith-based organizations do not.
What is Catholic Charities’ Rapid Rehousing and who is it for?
Rapid Rehousing through Catholic Charities is specifically for households that are already homeless — as defined by HUD. It is not an eviction prevention program. If you are currently housed but at risk of eviction, call Center of Hope first. If you have already lost housing and need help getting into a new permanent home, call Catholic Charities at (316) 264-8344 ext. 4109 and ask about Rapid Rehousing — but first get a referral from a homeless service provider through 211.
What does “veterans only” mean for the Salvation Army?
The Wichita Salvation Army has a dedicated veteran rental assistance program that is specifically tracked and funded separately from their general emergency assistance. Veterans should identify themselves when calling — this track may have different availability, different income limits, or different funding pools than the general program. Non-veterans can still apply for general emergency rent assistance at (316) 267-2177.
How many times can I get rent help in Wichita?
Most programs limit emergency rent assistance to once per household per program cycle — typically once every 12 months. Center of Hope operates on this basis. If you exhaust one program’s limit, call 211 for referrals to additional programs. Multiple organizations can assist during the same year if genuine crises recur.
Final Thoughts
Wichita’s emergency rent assistance network is anchored by Center of Hope — one of the most geographically expansive emergency rent programs in Kansas, covering 8 counties from a single Wichita operation. Catholic Charities’ Rapid Rehousing and the Salvation Army’s veterans program round out the specialized tracks.
The most important thing is persistence. Center of Hope’s phone volume is high, but they are funded, they are operating, and they want to help. Call at 9 AM sharp.
Make these three calls today:
Center of Hope: (316) 267-0222 (call at 9 AM sharp) Catholic Charities Wichita: (316) 264-8344 211 Kansas: Dial 211
← [Back to: Churches That Help With Rent — National Guide]
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Center of Hope Inc. (centerofhopeinc.org), Catholic Charities Diocese of Wichita (catholiccharitieswichita.org), Salvation Army Wichita, Community Action Partnership Wichita (wichita.gov), Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (kshousingcorp.org), Kansas Corporation Commission utility assistance directory (kcc.ks.gov), Thrive Therapy of Kansas housing resources guide (thrivetherapyofks.com), 211 Kansas (211kansas.org)
Program availability, funding levels, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always call ahead to confirm current availability before visiting. Funding is first-come, first-served.