Facing eviction
An eviction notice is frightening, but it is not the end of the road. Acting early gives you the most choices.
By the numbers
How many people face eviction, and who.
United States
Children & families
Who is affected
Notice, lawsuit, court order: what’s the difference?
Knowing where you are in the process helps you act.
In the U.S., eviction usually happens in stages. A notice is not the same as a court order. Knowing which stage you are in tells you how much time you have and what to do next.
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This is often the first step. No lawsuit has been filed yet. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests making a plan to catch up and asking your landlord about a repayment plan.
The CFPB notes that it is very rare for a landlord to prefer eviction to receiving rent.
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If you are sued, respond. The CFPB warns that too many renters give up before they have a chance to go to court. A written answer lets you explain your situation and dispute anything untrue.
The CFPB adds that a judge may delay or dismiss an eviction if you are seeking help.
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Even after a ruling, there may still be options. If you have applied for rental assistance, the CFPB suggests asking the judge or clerk whether the order can be paused while your application is processed.
Healthy People 2030 notes that evictions that go through the court can leave a record that makes future landlords less willing to rent to you. That is one more reason to get help early.
The first 48 hours
What to do as soon as a notice or court paper arrives.
Getting an eviction paper can make you want to hide it in a drawer. That is a very human reaction. Taking a few steps quickly, even shaky ones, protects your options.
Steps to take
- Breathe. Read the paper slowly, or ask someone you trust to read it with you.
- Write down every date on it: deadlines, court dates, move-out dates.
- Gather your lease, rent receipts, bank records, texts and letters with your landlord.
- Call legal aid, or search lawhelp.org, for free legal advice.
- Call 211 and ask about emergency rent help in your area.
- Call a HUD-approved housing counselor at (800) 569-4287.
- If no lawsuit has been filed yet, contact your landlord to ask about a payment plan, and follow up in writing.
Going to court
Why showing up matters, and what to ask.
Court can feel intimidating, but it is your chance to be heard. Responding and showing up keeps your options open. Missing a court date can mean the case is decided without you.
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The CFPB suggests asking
- Do I have a right to a lawyer, and where can I find one?
- Does the court offer mediation or referrals to housing counselors?
- How long do I have to file a written answer after the summons?
- Is there a court date yet?
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An answer lets you share information that could help you avoid eviction and object to anything that is not true. LawHelp.org explains how to file an answer in your state.
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What to bring
- A list of questions
- Any rental assistance application or confirmation
- Copies of your lease, receipts, letters and photos
- Someone to sit with you, if allowed
- Water and a snack
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Some courts offer mediation, where a neutral person helps you and your landlord try to agree on a plan. Ask the clerk if it is available.
Free legal help and your rights
You may qualify for a free lawyer or advice.
Legal aid offices give free civil legal help to people who can’t afford a lawyer. You can search by address on the Legal Services Corporation website (lsc.gov) or visit LawHelp.org. The CFPB says not to delay: talk with a lawyer.
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The CFPB notes that some state or local rules can delay an eviction while you get help. Housing counselors and legal aid groups can explain what applies to you.
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Servicemembers and their dependents generally can’t be evicted during military service without a court order (for rents under a set limit), and can ask a court to pause an eviction for up to 90 days. Contact your local Legal Assistance Office.
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The CFPB points domestic violence survivors to information on staying in their homes. An advocate at the National Domestic Violence Hotline can also help you plan: call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
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The Fair Housing Act bans housing discrimination because of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability. You can file a complaint with HUD online.
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Eviction is meant to go through a court. In Washington State, for example, a landlord can’t change the locks or shut off utilities to force a tenant out without a court order. Rules differ by state, so contact legal aid straight away if this happens.
Rental assistance, and spotting scams
Where money help may come from, and who to avoid.
Many pandemic-era programs have closed, but the CFPB says some state and local help with rent, utilities and housing costs may still be available. Some programs also help with moving costs, security deposits or application fees.
Places to ask
- 211: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org
- A HUD-approved housing counselor: (800) 569-4287
- Faith groups, charities and community action agencies
- Your city or county housing or social services office
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The CFPB warns that scammers are targeting people looking for rental assistance.
Be wary of anyone who
- Asks for a fee to apply or to “speed up” help
- Asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer or payment app
- Guarantees you will be approved
- Pressures you to act right now
- Says they can stop an eviction for a fee, with no lawyer involved
The feelings that come with eviction
Fear, shame and grief are normal, and they can ease.
A review of 47 studies found that people under threat of eviction had more depression, anxiety and psychological distress, and worse physical health. Just the threat, not only the move itself, can weigh heavily.
A U.S. study of mothers found that those evicted in the previous year had higher rates of depression than similar mothers who were not evicted, with some signs this lasted two years or more.
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Millions of households face eviction filings every year. It happens to working people, parents, students and older adults. It says more about rents and wages than about your worth.
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When panic rises
- Put both feet on the floor.
- Breathe out slowly, longer than you breathe in.
- Name five things you can see.
- Ask: what is one step I can take today?
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You may grieve rooms, neighbours, routines and the sense of safety the home gave you. Grief can come with anger, sadness or numbness. All of it is allowed.
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Avoiding letters can feel like relief in the moment, but deadlines keep moving. Try opening mail with a friend, or with a cup of tea and a timer for ten minutes.
Protecting children through an eviction
Keeping kids as steady and safe as you can.
About 2.9 million children a year face the threat of eviction, and the typical eviction case involves a child. Children notice stress at home, even when adults try to hide it.
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Phrases that help
- “Grown-ups are working on it. It’s not your job to worry.”
- “It’s okay to feel sad or cross. You can tell me anything.”
- “We might move, and we’ll stay together.”
- “You didn’t cause this.”
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Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, children who lose housing, including those staying with others because of economic hardship, can stay at their school of origin, get transportation and enroll right away.
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Keep what you can
- A favourite toy, blanket or pillow nearby
- Bedtime stories or songs
- Regular meals together, even simple ones
- The same wake-up and bedtime
If you have to move
Planning the next step, one piece at a time.
Sometimes, even after every effort, a move can’t be avoided. Planning, even roughly, can make it feel less chaotic.
A rough plan
- Know your move-out date, and ask legal aid if there is any chance of more time.
- List places you could stay: family, friends, shared housing, shelters.
- Ask 211 or a housing counselor about deposit or moving-cost help.
- Keep important documents in one bag: IDs, birth certificates, lease, benefits letters.
- Take photos of the home when you leave, to protect your deposit.
- Forward your mail and tell schools, work and benefits offices your new address.
If you may have nowhere to go, HUD’s Find Shelter tool (hud.gov/findshelter) and 211 can point you to shelters and housing help nearby.
How to support someone facing eviction
Practical help often means the most.
Ways to help
- Listen first. Avoid “Why didn’t you…?” questions.
- Offer to read papers together or sit with them while they make calls.
- Help them find legal aid and 211.
- Offer a lift to court, childcare on the day, or help packing.
- If you can offer a place to stay, be clear about how long and what you expect.
- Keep checking in after the crisis, too.
When and where to get help
Legal, housing and emotional support.
Practical help (U.S.)
- 211: local rent, housing and utility help. Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org.
- Free legal aid: search by address at lsc.gov, or visit lawhelp.org.
- HUD-approved housing counselors: call (800) 569-4287.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
Reach out to a clinical provider or counsellor if…
- Fear or sadness is with you most of the day
- You can’t sleep, eat or focus for weeks
- You are using alcohol or other substances to get through
- You feel hopeless or have thoughts of hurting yourself
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Crisis Text Line are free, confidential and open 24/7 for difficult moments of all kinds.
📝 Worksheets for this guide
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Sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) (2024). What to do if you’re facing eviction
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Help for renters
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (peer-reviewed) (2022). Estimating eviction prevalence across the United States (Gromis et al., PNAS 119(21): e2116169119)
- National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) (2022). New Research Finds 2.7 Million Households Receive Eviction Filings Annually
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (peer-reviewed), via PubMed Central (NIH) (2023). A comprehensive demographic profile of the US evicted population (Graetz et al., PNAS)
- Social Forces (peer-reviewed) (2015). Eviction’s Fallout: Housing, Hardship, and Health (Desmond & Kimbro, Social Forces 94(1): 295–324)
- Social Science & Medicine (peer-reviewed) (2017). The threat of home eviction and its effects on health through the equity lens: A systematic review (Vásquez-Vera et al., Social Science & Medicine 175: 199–208)
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2026). Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 (Executive Summary)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP). Housing Instability (Healthy People 2030 literature summary)
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. The Fair Housing Act
- WashingtonLawHelp.org (Northwest Justice Project). Illegal lock outs and utility shut offs
- National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE), U.S. Department of Education. McKinney-Vento Definition of Homelessness
- National Center for Homeless Education (U.S. Department of Education technical assistance center). McKinney-Vento Law Into Practice: School Selection
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Rent Relief & Eviction Resources and Housing Counseling (HUD Texas state page)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Find Shelter
- 211 (United Way Worldwide). 211: Get connected, get help
- United Way Worldwide. 211: Connecting People to Local Resources
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Get Legal Help
- Pro Bono Net with nonprofit legal aid programs. LawHelp.org: Find free legal help and information
- National Domestic Violence Hotline. The National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), U.S. Department of Justice. Whom can I talk to about an abusive relationship?
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Crisis Text Line. Crisis Text Line
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Crisis Text Line (Behavioral Health Information Series)
- Find A Helpline (ThroughLine). Find A Helpline
This guide is for education and self-care. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. Please talk to a counselor or clinical provider about your health. Reviewed October 2026.
