How to apply for Homeless Assistance Program (HAP)

Who it's for

HAP helps Pennsylvanians who are losing their housing or have already lost it. Your county HAP provider can help pay rent, a mortgage, a security deposit or utilities if you are in danger of being evicted, and can work with your landlord to help you stay put or move somewhere more affordable. HAP also offers case management, bridge housing between a shelter and permanent housing, emergency shelter, and innovative supportive housing. It can help if you lost your home to a fire, a natural disaster or a condemned building. Call the Homeless Assistance Program in your county to ask for help.

Where to apply

Step by step

1. Call the HAP provider in your county to ask for help and find out what your county requires. Income limits, available funding, and exact criteria vary by county.
2. Ask the county HAP provider what documents or information you need to bring or submit. No single statewide document list applies — your county provider will tell you what is needed.
3. Note that income eligibility for HAP falls between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, but each county sets its own cutoff within that range. If your situation involves a disaster or domestic violence, ask the provider whether certain criteria can be waived.
4. Apply online through Pennsylvania's official application channel. Your county HAP provider can guide you to the right place if you are unsure where to start.
5. Follow up with your county HAP provider after submitting. Because help is limited by each county's funding and is not an entitlement, ask the provider for an estimate of next steps and timing.

What to expect: After you apply, the county HAP provider reviews your situation and decides whether assistance is available. HAP can help with rent, a mortgage, a security deposit, or utilities, and may work directly with your landlord to help you stay in your home or move somewhere more affordable. If you have already lost your housing — including due to a fire, natural disaster, or condemned building — the provider can discuss options such as emergency shelter, bridge housing, or supportive housing. Because funding is limited and not guaranteed, processing times vary; ask your county provider for an estimate of how long a decision may take. HAP does not have a standard statewide renewal schedule, so check with your county provider about whether ongoing assistance requires any follow-up steps.