Free, Verified Help for Renters in Palm Beach County
Legal aid, rental assistance, utility help, food, crisis lines, fair housing, and tenant rights under Florida law — in one place. If you live in Palm Beach County and rent your home, you don't have to figure it out alone. Bookmark this page or download the printable guide below.
Legal Aid & Tenant Rights
Florida tenant rights are governed by Chapter 83 of the Florida Statutes (the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). If you are facing eviction, repair issues, or a security deposit dispute, these are the offices to call before rent-withholding or self-help moves — many tenant remedies have to be done in a specific order to be legally protected.
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
(561) 655-8944What they help with: Eviction defense (Rapid Response Eviction Assistance Project), housing discrimination, repair/habitability disputes, fair housing complaints, immigration-related housing issues, domestic violence injunctions.
When to call: The moment you receive a 3-day notice, eviction summons, or any written threat from your landlord. The earlier the better — eviction timelines move fast in Florida.
PBC Clerk — Self Service Center
(561) 355-7048What they help with: Procedural questions about responding to an eviction summons, filing answers, court forms, small claims for security deposit disputes. Located on the 6th floor of the PBC Courthouse.
When to call: Once you've been served with an eviction summons — you have 5 business days to respond. They cannot give legal advice; only procedural help.
PBC Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service
(561) 687-3266What they help with: If your income is above Legal Aid limits, this service connects you with a vetted PBC attorney. Initial 30-minute consultation is typically $30 (much lower than standard attorney rates).
When to call: When you need legal advice but don't qualify for free Legal Aid services. Tenant/landlord, fair housing, security deposit disputes.
The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service
1-800-342-8011What they help with: Statewide attorney referrals for any practice area, including landlord/tenant. Useful if you also need help with related issues like consumer debt, family law, or immigration.
When to call: When the local PBC referral can't match you, or when you have multiple legal needs to address at once.
Rental & Housing Assistance
If you're behind on rent or facing eviction, the fastest single number to call is 211. They keep a real-time list of which Palm Beach County programs currently have funds available, and they can warm-transfer you. Bring documentation: ID, lease, late notice or pay stub, and proof of income.
211 Palm Beach & Treasure Coast Helpline
Dial 2-1-1What they help with: Free, confidential 24/7 helpline that matches you to current rental, utility, food, medical, mental health, and crisis programs. They know which agencies still have money left this month.
When to call: Before you fall behind, when you receive a 3-day notice, or anytime you don't know where to start. The 211 line is the most efficient first call in Palm Beach County.
PBC Department of Housing & Economic Sustainability
(561) 233-3600What they help with: County-administered rental assistance programs, homebuyer assistance, foreclosure prevention counseling, community development funds.
When to call: When you need a longer-term housing solution, want to apply for a county program, or are trying to move from renting toward homeownership.
Palm Beach County Housing Authority (PBCHA)
(561) 684-2160What they help with: Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8), public housing, family self-sufficiency programs. The voucher waitlist is often closed — check the PBCHA website for current lottery openings.
When to call: When you need long-term subsidized housing. Voucher placement can take years — apply as early as eligible. If you already have a voucher and need to find a participating landlord, ask about the landlord locator service.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach
(561) 775-9560What they help with: Emergency rental assistance, utility assistance, food, refugee/immigration services. Open to all faiths. Funds are limited and seasonal — call early in the month.
When to call: When you have a one-time crisis (lost job, medical bill, car repair) that's putting rent at risk and you can demonstrate ability to stay current going forward.
The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County
(561) 686-3530What they help with: Emergency financial assistance, rent and utility help, food, shelter referrals, holiday assistance, social services case management.
When to call: Eviction risk, utility shutoff notice, or housing crisis. Often pairs with other agencies to fully cover need.
Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches
(561) 253-1361What they help with: Homelessness prevention for families with children, rapid re-housing, supportive housing for working families with kids, case management.
When to call: If you have minor children at home and are facing imminent homelessness or are currently doubled-up/sleeping in your car.
Utility, Energy & Food Assistance
Florida summers are expensive on the electric bill. There are multiple programs to help if you're falling behind — some federally funded (LIHEAP), some utility-funded (FPL Care to Share), some private (faith-based and food banks). Most require proof of income and a recent utility bill.
PBC Community Action Program (LIHEAP)
(561) 355-4792What they help with: Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) one-time payments toward your electric bill. Crisis component available for shutoff situations.
When to call: When your FPL bill exceeds what you can pay this month, especially after a high-A/C-usage summer. Crisis applications take priority over regular ones.
FPL Care to Share Bill Assistance
1-800-226-3545What they help with: FPL-funded program administered through partner agencies (Salvation Army, Catholic Charities) that pays bill credits for qualifying families. Different from LIHEAP — you can use both.
When to call: When you have a one-time hardship causing a high bill (medical, job loss, family emergency) and you can demonstrate you'll be able to pay forward.
FL Department of Children and Families — ACCESS
(850) 300-4323What they help with: SNAP food stamps, Medicaid, TANF cash assistance. Online application via MyACCESS portal is fastest.
When to call: When you need ongoing monthly food benefits (not one-time). Apply online at myflfamilies.com/access — faster than phone.
Palm Beach County Food Bank
(561) 670-2518What they help with: Emergency food distribution through a network of pantries across PBC. Partner pantries listed on website by zip code; no appointment needed at most locations.
When to call: Anytime food is tight. No income verification at most pantries — the goal is to feed people, not gatekeep.
Feeding South Florida
(954) 518-1818What they help with: Food distribution across South Florida including PBC. Mobile food pantries, partner agency network, summer meal programs for kids.
When to call: Use the website's pantry finder by zip code; mobile distributions list updated weekly.
PBC Department of Health — WIC Program
(561) 840-4500What they help with: Women, Infants & Children nutrition program: food benefits, breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling for pregnant women and children under 5.
When to call: If you're pregnant, postpartum, or have a child under 5 and meet income limits (WIC is more generous than SNAP for this population).
Crisis Lines & Mental Health
Housing stress, financial stress, and mental health are tightly connected. If you're struggling, please reach out — these lines are confidential and free. You don't have to be in immediate danger to call.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988What they help with: 24/7 free and confidential support for anyone in emotional distress, including suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and overwhelm. Calls in PBC are answered by 211 Palm Beach Treasure Coast trained counselors.
When to call: Anytime you're feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or unsafe. Also for someone you're concerned about. Text 988 also works.
PBC Department of Health
(561) 840-4500What they help with: Public health clinics, communicable disease, immunizations, sexual health services, environmental health, mental health referrals.
When to call: When you need medical or public health care without insurance, or referrals into the public mental health system.
Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988, then press 1What they help with: Confidential 24/7 crisis support for U.S. military veterans, service members, and their families. Connects to VA homelessness resources and housing programs.
When to call: Veteran in crisis or housing instability. Veterans qualify for additional housing programs through the VA's HUD-VASH voucher.
Safety & Domestic Violence
Florida law (Section 83.683) gives domestic violence survivors specific rights to terminate a lease early without penalty when certain conditions are met. These agencies can help you safely plan, file injunctions, and find emergency shelter.
AVDA — Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (24/7)
1-800-355-8547What they help with: 24-hour crisis hotline, 64-bed emergency shelter, transitional housing up to 2 years, court accompaniment, injunction filing assistance, economic empowerment program (Anne's STEPS).
When to call: Anytime you feel unsafe in your home or relationship. Services are free and confidential. Available in English, Spanish, and ASL.
YWCA Mary Rubloff Harmony House
(561) 640-9844What they help with: Certified domestic violence emergency shelter and supportive services for women and children fleeing abuse.
When to call: When you need an alternative shelter to AVDA, particularly in central Palm Beach County.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233What they help with: 24/7 confidential support, safety planning, local resource referrals across all 50 states. Available in 200+ languages via interpreter.
When to call: When you want a trained advocate to help you think through your options before deciding what to do.
Legal Aid Society DV Project & Injunction Initiation
(561) 655-8944, ext. 238What they help with: Free legal representation in restraining order hearings (no income limit for DV services), help filing the injunction petition. Family law representation for survivors.
When to call: When you need a court-ordered protection injunction (sometimes called a restraining order) or legal help in family court because of abuse.
Fair Housing & Discrimination
Federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. Florida and Palm Beach County add some additional protected classes. If you suspect discrimination, document everything and report it — complaints are free.
HUD Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity
1-800-669-9777What they help with: File a federal Fair Housing Act complaint against a landlord, property manager, lender, or housing provider. Investigations are free; no attorney needed to file.
When to call: When you've been denied housing, treated differently in screening, refused a reasonable accommodation for a disability, or steered toward/away from a property based on a protected characteristic.
Palm Beach County Office of Equal Opportunity
(561) 233-0680What they help with: Local fair housing complaints in Palm Beach County, mediation, and education. Has a county ordinance that protects additional classes beyond federal law.
When to call: When you want a local-level investigation alongside or instead of HUD. Often faster than federal process.
Legal Aid Society Fair Housing Project
(561) 655-8944What they help with: Free legal representation in fair housing complaints, education on tenant rights, advocacy for reasonable accommodations.
When to call: When you need representation rather than just complaint intake. Especially important for accommodation requests under the FHA and ADA.
Florida AG Consumer Protection
1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226)What they help with: Reporting rental scams (fake listings, deposit scams), deceptive landlord practices, contractor fraud at your rental.
When to call: If you've been asked to pay before seeing a property, sent money for a "deposit" via gift cards or wire, or signed a lease for a property the "landlord" doesn't actually own.
Transit, Family & Other Services
Other resources tenants regularly need: transit, child care subsidies, school enrollment, and immigration assistance.
Palm Tran (PBC Bus System)
(561) 841-4287What they help with: Fixed-route bus service, schedule and route planning, reduced fare programs for seniors and disability, Palm Tran Connection paratransit for ADA-eligible riders.
When to call: Need a route, want a reduced-fare card, or qualify for Connection paratransit door-to-door service.
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County
(561) 514-3300What they help with: School Readiness childcare subsidy for working parents, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) free for all 4-year-olds in Florida, child care provider locator.
When to call: When you need childcare to work or attend school and meet income guidelines, or to enroll your 4-year-old in free VPK.
School District of Palm Beach County
(561) 434-8000What they help with: School enrollment, transportation, free/reduced lunch, ESOL, McKinney-Vento services for students experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
When to call: Moving into a new school zone, child experiencing housing instability, free/reduced lunch enrollment, or McKinney-Vento protections to keep a child in their home school despite a move.
Legal Aid Immigration Advocacy Project
(561) 655-8944What they help with: VAWA self-petitions, U-Visas for crime victims, naturalization, fair housing for immigrant families. Tenant rights apply regardless of immigration status.
When to call: Immigration-related housing or family law issues. Important: A landlord cannot legally threaten to report a tenant to immigration as a way to force them out — this can be illegal retaliation.
Where to Find Help in Person
Most of these agencies prefer a phone call or online intake first, but if you need to walk in, here are the main offices in West Palm Beach.
Legal Aid Society of PBC
423 Fern Street, Suite 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
PBC Courthouse — Self Service Center
205 N. Dixie Hwy, 6th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
PBC Housing Authority
3333 Forest Hill Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
PBC Housing & Economic Sustainability
100 Australian Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Most agencies prefer a phone call or online intake first — walk-ins may face long waits, especially on Mondays. Bring photo ID, lease, and any notice you've received.
Why Many Renters Prefer Professionally Managed Properties
Most of the issues on this page come from rentals managed by individual landlords without systems. A professionally managed property doesn't eliminate problems — but it changes how they're handled.
| Situation | Self-Managed Landlord | Professionally Managed (Atlis) |
|---|---|---|
| A/C breaks at 9pm in August | Owner doesn't pick up the phone. You sweat until morning. Maybe. | 24/7 maintenance line dispatches a vetted vendor. Documented response. |
| Need to pay rent or get a receipt | Cash app, Zelle, or paper check. Receipts? Maybe a text reply. | Online resident portal. Auto-pay available. Receipts and ledger always available. |
| Dispute over a repair or charge | Personal argument. He-said/she-said. Emotional escalation. | Professional written communication, lease-driven, documented for both sides. |
| Move-out and security deposit | No move-in inspection report. Disputes are common. | Documented move-in/out condition reports, itemized statutory deposit accounting. |
| Landlord sells the property | You find out from a "for sale" sign in the yard. | Lease and tenancy continue with the new owner; transition is professionally managed. |
The Palm Beach County Tenant Resource Guide (PDF)
Every number on this page in a printable two-page reference. Keep one in your kitchen drawer, one in your car, one with someone you trust. Includes Florida tenant rights summary and a what-to-do-first list when you receive a 3-day notice.
- 30+ verified PBC tenant resource numbers
- Florida tenant rights one-pager (Chapter 83 highlights)
- What to do if you receive a 3-day notice
- Security deposit return checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my landlord won't make repairs?
Florida law (Section 83.51 of the Florida Statutes) requires landlords to maintain habitable conditions. First, put the request in writing and keep a copy. If unresolved, Section 83.56 provides a 7-day notice process — but doing it incorrectly can put you at risk of eviction. Before withholding rent, call the Legal Aid Society at (561) 655-8944. Tenants in Atlis-managed properties report through the resident portal; emergencies are handled 24/7.
Where can I get free legal help with an eviction?
If you meet income guidelines (typically within 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for housing), the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County at (561) 655-8944 or 1-800-403-9353 provides free representation through their Rapid Response Eviction Assistance Project. The Clerk's Self-Service Center at (561) 355-7048 handles procedural questions. If you don't qualify for Legal Aid, the PBC Bar Lawyer Referral at (561) 687-3266 offers low-cost initial consultations.
Can my landlord raise my rent — is there rent control in Florida?
Florida does not have statewide rent control. Landlords can raise rent at lease end with proper notice (typically a minimum of 15 days for month-to-month tenancies, but check your lease). However, a landlord cannot raise rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease itself allows it. If you suspect retaliation (raising rent because you complained or asserted your rights) or discrimination, that's illegal — call Legal Aid at (561) 655-8944 or HUD Fair Housing at 1-800-669-9777.
What is the Florida security deposit law?
Under Section 83.49 of the Florida Statutes, after move-out the landlord has 15 days to return the full deposit if no claim is being made, or 30 days to send written notice listing each deduction. If you dispute the deductions in writing within 15 days of receiving the notice, the landlord must file a claim in court rather than just keeping the deposit. Tenants who believe a deposit was wrongly withheld can call Legal Aid at (561) 655-8944 or pursue small claims court at the PBC Clerk.
Where can I get rental or utility assistance in Palm Beach County?
Dial 2-1-1 (or 1-866-882-2991) for the 211 Palm Beach Treasure Coast helpline. They keep a current list of which programs have funds available. Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, and the PBC Community Action Program all administer assistance funds. Bring ID, lease, late notice or bill, and proof of income.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit?
Without deductions: 15 days. With deductions: the landlord has 30 days to send written notice listing each item being claimed. Failure to send the notice within 30 days generally forfeits the landlord's right to claim against the deposit (Section 83.49 of the Florida Statutes). Always provide a forwarding address in writing when you move out.
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