Rent, Eviction and Housing Help in Etowah County, AL

Homeless Coalition of Northeast Alabama

Entry point for homeless housing and shelter referrals.

Who

People who are homeless or at risk

The Salvation Army - Gadsden

Salvation Army Etowah County

Emergency and overnight shelter (including a winter warming shelter), food pantry (Tuesdays, or by appointment), and help with rent, utilities, clothing and furniture as funds allow.

Who

Etowah County residents in need; bring ID and proof of income

Where

114 N 11th St, Gadsden 35901

Good to know

Warming shelter ran Dec 2024-Feb 2025; call to confirm it is open.

Greater Gadsden Housing Authority

AL049

Public housing (rent about 30% of income) plus Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (about 194 per HUD). Office hours not listed; call ahead.

Who

Low-income households under HUD income limits, including older adults and people with disabilities; screening and waiting lists apply.

Where

422 Chestnut St, Gadsden 35901

Email

gprice@ggha.org

Good to know

Fax (256) 549-1626. HUD PHA code AL049; HUD program type: Combined.

Housing Authority of the City of Attalla

AL009

Public housing apartments with rent set at about 30% of household income; HUD lists no Section 8 vouchers. Office hours not listed; call ahead.

Who

Low-income households under HUD income limits, including older adults and people with disabilities; screening and waiting lists apply.

Where

904 9th St SW, Attalla 35954

Email

sheila@attallahousing.net

Good to know

Fax (256) 538-9366. HUD PHA code AL009; HUD program type: Low-Rent.

Catholic Center of Concern - Gadsden

Food pantry Thursdays 10am-2pm; also help with power bills and rent.

Who

Etowah County residents in need

Catholic Center of Concern - Gadsden

Rent and utility help, prescriptions, food pantry, gas vouchers; Mon-Thu 9-11:30am & 1-2:30pm.

Who

Low-income individuals and families regardless of religion; call for intake.

Where

612 Chestnut St, Gadsden 35901

Good to know

Food pantry line (256) 546-7883; hours per WhyHunger listing.

Etowah Baptist Missions Center

Food, clothing and linens, plus help with utility cutoff or eviction notices; open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9am-4pm (closed 12-1) and Wed 9-11:30am.

Who

Etowah County residents

Good to know

Directories differ on the address (215 Wall St or 853 Walnut St, Gadsden) and phone (alt 256-547-1691); call first.

The Salvation Army Gadsden Corps

Emergency assistance and Project SHARE power-bill help; Mon-Thu 9am-4pm.

Who

Low-income households in crisis in the service area; ID, proof of address/income and the past-due bill or lease usually required; aid depends on available funds.

Where

120 N 11th St, Gadsden 35901

Good to know

Counties from Salvation Army ALM division location directory (salvationarmyusa.org/usa-southern-territory/alabama-louisiana-and-mississippi/location-directory/). Project SHARE lists 114 N 11th St.

Alabama Department of Senior Services - Legal Assistance Program

ADSS Senior Legal / AgeLine

Statewide free legal help for adults 60+ through local Area Agencies on Aging: housing/eviction, benefits (SS, Medicare, Medicaid), elder abuse/exploitation, POA, wills, guardianship, debt.

Who

Age 60+ (no income test; non-fee-generating cases)

Where

201 Monroe Street, Suite 350, Montgomery, AL 36104

Email

ageline@adss.alabama.gov

Good to know

1-800-AGE-LINE routes to the caller's local AAA/ADRC, which contracts the regional senior legal provider.

Cumberland Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic (Samford Cumberland School of Law)

C-VETS

Free civil and some criminal-record legal help for veterans and families: landlord-tenant, consumer debt, contracts, uncontested family law, wills, expungement, driver's license, fines/court costs; by phone/email only.

Who

Veterans, spouses/surviving spouses and eligible dependents in the 8 listed counties who can't afford a lawyer

Where

800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229

Email

cvets@samford.edu

Good to know

Leave a message; a student calls back to take the application. No walk-ins, no VA benefits/discharge upgrades, no emergencies. Online application on the C-VETS page.

Legal Services Alabama - Anniston/Gadsden Office

LSA

Free civil legal help (housing/eviction, consumer/debt, family, public benefits, elder law, foreclosure); apply through the statewide call center Mon-Fri 8:30a-4:30p or online.

Who

Low-income households (income-screened); some grants such as elder grants for age 60+ are not income-based

Where

1302 Noble St., Ste. 2A, Anniston, AL 36201

Good to know

County assignments from probono.net office listings (LSA site does not publish them). Mailing: P.O. Box 623, Heflin, AL 36264. County list INFERRED (counties not assigned to any other LSA office in probono.net listings); confirm with call center.

Alabama DHR - Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers

Time-limited (up to 3 years) Housing Choice Voucher for youth leaving foster care who are homeless or at risk, referred by DHR to the local housing authority.

Who

Youth 18 to under 25 who left foster care at 16+ (or will within 90 days) and are homeless or at risk

Email

ILP@dhr.alabama.gov

Good to know

Referral comes through DHR/ILP worker, not directly to the PHA.

Presbyterian Home for Children

Talladega campus: Moderate Care home for teen girls referred by DHR, Transition to Adult Living (women 19-24), Secure Dwellings housing for homeless children with female caregivers, Family Bridges reunification, therapeutic foster care.

Who

Teen girls in DHR care; young women 19-24; homeless mothers/female caregivers with children 0-17

Where

905 Ashland Hwy, Talladega, AL 35160

Good to know

Also has a Hoover office at 3603 Lorna Ridge Drive. Serves statewide.

United Way 2-1-1

Free, 24/7 referral line. Finds the smaller church and community funds near their address that open up week to week. Also 1-888-421-1266, or text a ZIP code to 898-211.

Who

Anyone

Alabama DHR - Independent Living Program (Chafee)

Independent living services for foster youth age 14+ in every county: life skills, transition planning, ILP funding, aftercare for youth 18-20 who left care and return to request services, D.R.E.A.M. youth council.

Who

Youth 14+ in DHR care; youth 18-20 who were in foster care on/after their 18th birthday

Where

50 N. Ripley St., Montgomery, AL 36130

Email

ILP@dhr.alabama.gov

Alabama Habitat for Humanity

Alabama Habitat for Humanity

Connects people to local Habitat affiliates for home repair and affordable homeownership.

Who

Low-income households in a local affiliate's area

Email

support@alabamahabitat.org

Alabama Free Legal Answers

American Bar Association

Post a civil legal question online and a volunteer lawyer answers.

Who

Low-income Alabama residents

Alabama Housing Finance Authority

AHFA

Homebuyer mortgages, down payment help and an affordable Apartment Finder.

Who

Homebuyers within income limits; renters looking for affordable units

Alabama Legal Help

Legal Services Alabama

Free online legal information, forms and self-help guides.

Who

Anyone

HUD Alabama field office

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Answers questions about HUD programs in Alabama and handles HUD housing complaints.

Who

Alabama residents

HUD housing counseling

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Free or low-cost counseling on renting, buying, foreclosure, reverse mortgages and homelessness.

Who

Any renter or homeowner

Legal Services Alabama

Legal Services Alabama

Free civil legal help: housing, benefits, consumer, family and elder law.

Who

Low-income households; some help for 60+ regardless of income

Public housing and Section 8 vouchers

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Find the local housing authority that takes applications for public housing and Section 8.

Who

Low-income families, elderly and people with disabilities

Volunteer Lawyers Program

Alabama State Bar

Free civil legal help from volunteer attorneys. Jefferson County residents use Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham: 205-250-5198.

Who

Low-income residents