What should I do first when I cannot pay rent?

Contact your landlord before you miss the payment. Explain the situation plainly, say what you can pay right now, and propose a specific plan. Get any agreement in writing, even a text message or email confirmation.

Can my landlord evict me immediately for missing rent?

No. In every U.S. state, eviction requires a legal process with written notice and a court order. A landlord cannot change the locks, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings without going through the courts. Notice periods vary by state.

What is mortgage forbearance?

Forbearance is a temporary reduction or pause in mortgage payments. For federally backed loans, servicers are required to offer forbearance when you request it due to hardship. The missed payments still need to be repaid, but there are multiple repayment options.

Where can I find emergency rental assistance?

Call 211 or visit 211.org to find programs in your area. Check your state and county government websites. Some programs can pay several months of back rent directly to your landlord, and many have funds that go unused because people do not apply.

Disruptions Checklist

Rent or Mortgage Trouble Checklist. Contact the person you owe before you miss the payment.

You cannot make the rent or mortgage payment. That is a real problem with a real protocol. This checklist covers the call you need to make today, the financial picture you need by day three, what to apply for this month, and the areas most likely to be affected next.

Day 1

make the call

72 hrs

to build the financial picture

120 days

before foreclosure can begin (federal rule)

211

for local housing assistance

Phase 1

First 24 Hours.

Whether you rent or own, the protocol starts the same way: contact the person or company you owe before you miss the payment.

Make Contact

Contact your landlord or mortgage servicer before you miss a payment
Propose a specific payment plan and get it in writing

Know Your Terms

Read the late payment and grace period terms in your lease or mortgage
Know your rights: eviction requires a court order in every state

Phase 2

First 72 Hours.

These three days are about understanding the full financial picture and finding every available resource.

Money and Assistance

Write down exactly what you owe, including any back rent or arrears
Build the bare-bones budget
Call 211 and check for emergency housing assistance in your area

Counseling and Records

Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor (free for homeowners)
Start a written record of every communication about housing

Applications

Apply for emergency rental assistance through your county or state

Phase 3

First 30 Days.

Follow through on your plan, apply for every program you qualify for, and address the underlying cause.

Follow Through

Follow through on whatever payment plan you proposed
Apply for every assistance program you may qualify for

Root Cause

Address the root cause, not just the missed payment

Servicer Response

Respond to every communication from your mortgage servicer

Phase 4

What This Could Break Next.

Housing trouble cascades. Each of these is preventable with one action taken early.

Budget Pressure

Call utility companies about payment plans before a shutoff
Apply for SNAP and locate food banks before the pantry runs low

Household Stability

Keep children's routines stable
Set a wake-up time, eat regular meals, and get outside

My Readiness

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