On November 15, 2026, there’s no open, general rent program in Columbus that anyone behind on rent can apply to. What is working: Franklin County’s PRC emergency help for families with children, IMPACT Community Action’s limited help for tenants who already have an eviction summons, help for veterans, and free eviction lawyers for the lowest-income Columbus families [1][2][3][4].
Status on November 15, 2026
- Families with a child or pregnancy
- Franklin County PRC: up to $2,000, income at or below 175% of poverty [2]
- Tenants with an eviction summons
- IMPACT Community Action: limited rent help, 20 applicants a day [1]
- Veterans
- Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana: rent and utility help [1]
- At risk of homelessness
- Resilient Housing Initiative, extremely low-income Columbus residents [1]
- Free eviction lawyer
- Columbus families at or below 100% of poverty with a child: Access to Counsel [4][5]
- Everyone else in eviction court
- Free mediation at the courthouse [4]
Franklin County PRC emergency assistance
Franklin County Job and Family Services runs Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) emergency assistance. It’s one-time help for a specific emergency, including overdue rent, a security deposit or utilities, paid directly to the landlord or company, not to you [2].
Who qualifies [2]:
- your household includes a child under 18 or someone medically verified as pregnant;
- gross household income is at or below 175% of the federal poverty guideline;
- you live in Franklin County;
- you haven’t had PRC emergency assistance in the last 12 months;
- for rent, the rent is overdue or you have an eviction notice.
| Household size | Yearly income at or below | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $37,870 | $3,156 |
| 3 | $47,810 | $3,984 |
| 4 | $57,750 | $4,813 |
| 5 | $67,690 | $5,641 |
| 6 | $77,630 | $6,469 |
How much. Up to $2,000, and no more than four months’ worth of expenses [2]. The help, alone or with other money, has to fix the problem [2].
The rent test. For rent or mortgage help, the county checks that you can keep paying afterward. It compares your monthly rent with the gross income you expect over the next 30 days; if the rent is more than 75% of that income, the rent request is denied. If no one in the household has income, you instead need 6 months of work or unemployment benefits in the past year and must be looking for work, have a job lined up, or have lost a job in the last 60 days [2].
Your landlord’s part. A landlord who agrees in writing to take PRC payment can’t evict you for nonpayment of rent for the period the payment covers [2].
How to apply. Download the PRC application from Franklin County’s website, then send it with proof of who lives with you, all household income, and IDs and Social Security numbers [3]:
- Email: franklin-cdjfs-agencyprc@jfs.ohio.gov
- Fax: 614-233-2694
- In person or by mail, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Northland Opportunity Center, 1721 Northland Park Ave. (24-hour drop box outside the main entrance); East Opportunity Center, 1055 Mt. Vernon Ave.; or West Opportunity Center, 314 N. Wilson Rd.
- Questions: PRC Inbound Center, 614-233-2999
Other help listed on Rentful614
- IMPACT Community Action: utility help for Franklin County tenants and homeowners, and limited rent help only for households with an active eviction summons, up to 20 applicants a day [1]. Main office: 711 Southwood Ave.; 614-252-2799, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. [6]
- Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana: rent and utility help for Franklin County veterans [1].
- Resilient Housing Initiative: for extremely low-income Columbus residents at risk of literal homelessness [1].
For heating bills, Ohio’s HEAP Winter Crisis Program runs through the winter; see BestOhio’s Ohio HEAP Winter Crisis Program 2026–27 guide. Paying down a utility bill can free up money for rent.
Free eviction lawyers: Columbus Access to Counsel
The City of Columbus funds an Access to Counsel program. Through it, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) gives free legal representation in eviction court to Columbus households at or below 100% of the federal poverty level with at least one child in the home [4][5].
| Household size | Income at or below |
|---|---|
| 2 | $21,640 |
| 3 | $27,320 |
| 4 | $33,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 |
| 6 | $44,360 |
Apply: online at lasco.org/apply, or call LASCO’s intake line, (888) 246-4420, weekdays; mornings have the most availability [5]. LASCO’s Tenant Advocacy Project also represents other income-eligible tenants in Franklin County; its office is at 1108 City Park Ave., 614-221-7201 [7].
Not eligible? The City funds Community Mediation Services to mediate with landlords on-site at the courthouse for households facing eviction [4]. The Franklin County Municipal Court’s Self Help Center, on the 16th floor of 375 S. High St., explains court steps online or in person but doesn’t represent you [8].
If you’re behind on rent today
- Read every notice and write down the dates. In Ohio, a landlord has to give written notice before filing; BestOhio’s Ohio eviction process guide walks through each step in Franklin County.
- Have children at home? Apply for PRC now, and check whether you qualify for a free LASCO lawyer [2][5].
- Got a summons? Call IMPACT about its limited rent help and LASCO about representation [1][5].
- Go to your hearing, even if you’re still waiting on a program. Mediation is available at the courthouse [4].
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation.
Sources
- Rentful614 (City of Columbus, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, United Way of Central Ohio and partners)
- Franklin County Job and Family Services: Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) Plan, effective October 8, 2025
- Franklin County: PRC and How to Apply
- City of Columbus Public Health: Greater Columbus Community Health Improvement Plan 2026-2029 (Access to Counsel)
- Ohio Legal Help: Right to Counsel Columbus, free eviction help
- IMPACT Community Action
- Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio: Keeping People Housed in Franklin County
- Franklin County Municipal Court: Small Claims (Self Help Center location)
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Is there rental assistance in Columbus right now?
Yes, but it's narrow. Franklin County Job and Family Services' PRC emergency assistance can pay overdue rent for families with a child or a pregnant household member at or below 175% of the poverty guideline, up to $2,000. IMPACT Community Action offers limited rental help only to households with an active eviction summons, 20 applicants a day. Volunteers of America helps Franklin County veterans.
How do I apply for Franklin County PRC rent help?
Download the PRC application from Franklin County's website and send it with your documents by email to franklin-cdjfs-agencyprc@jfs.ohio.gov, by fax to 614-233-2694, by mail, or in person at the Northland, East or West Opportunity Center, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Questions: 614-233-2999.
Can I get a free lawyer for an eviction in Columbus?
Columbus households at or below 100% of the federal poverty level with at least one child in the home can get free representation in eviction court through the City's Access to Counsel program, run by Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO). Apply at lasco.org/apply or call (888) 246-4420. Others can use the free mediation the City funds at the courthouse.
How much can Franklin County PRC pay toward rent?
Emergency assistance is capped at $2,000 and four months' worth of expenses, paid directly to the landlord, generally once in 12 months. The rent has to be overdue or you need an eviction notice, and the county checks that you can keep up with rent afterward.