Access to safe, temporary shelter can be life-saving for people experiencing homelessness. This guide brings together trusted information on nationwide and local programs that offer hotel vouchers and emergency lodging. Bookmark this page and check back often for updates as new resources become available.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless People Nationwide
There are very few nationwide organizations that offer hotel vouchers for homeless people. Even though we have been able to confirm some local branches of these organizations offer this service, it is possible that it is not available in all areas. You will need to contact your local chapter or branch for details.
American Red Cross
During disasters, the Red Cross primarily operates group shelters and directs people to open shelters via its map/app. In declared disasters, FEMA may reimburse short-term lodging or pay participating hotels through Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA); details vary by disaster and eligibility. Notably, hotel vouchers are not a routine Red Cross service outside specific disaster responses.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities often provide housing support for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes. Services can include emergency shelter, rent or deposit assistance, and sometimes hotel vouchers when shelters are full. Many locations also offer case management, job help, and financial counselling to promote long-term stability. Programs vary by region, so it’s best to contact your local office for details.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has been helping homeless people for decades. They operate a network of shelters across the country. In areas where a shelter is not available, you may be able to receive a free hotel voucher from your local Salvation Army. Availability varies by location, so it’s best to contact your local branch directly for details.
St. Vincent de Paul
Some St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) chapters offer short-term motel vouchers for people in crisis, often as part of their eviction prevention or housing stabilization programs. For instance, SVDP Tacoma lists short-term motel vouchers among the basic needs they can assist with. However, keep in mind that availability varies, as each local chapter determines its own services based on community needs and resources.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families
The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helps low-income veterans and their families secure and maintain stable housing. While the primary goal is long-term housing stability, SSVF can also provide short-term hotel or motel stays through its Emergency Housing Assistance option when no shelter is available or when needed to ensure a veteran’s safety.
HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program helps veterans find and keep a stable home. It gives them long-term rental vouchers to help pay for housing and connects them with VA case managers who offer support and resources. Notably, it’s not a hotel voucher. It’s meant to help veterans move into permanent housing after they’ve been through homelessness or a crisis.
211 (United Way)
If you are looking for homeless vouchers in your area, you can call your local 211 service for assistance. (In New York City, the number is actually 311 instead.) This connects you with the staff of your local resource directory who should be able to help you find assistance.
What to say when you call 211 or an agency
- “Do you issue hotel/motel vouchers or emergency lodging right now?”
- “What are the eligibility criteria and how many nights can you cover?”
- “Do I need a referral (from shelter, DV program, police, hospital, caseworker)?”
- “Which hotels participate and what ID/docs do you need?”
Have ready (if possible)
- ID (for all adults), any available proof of homelessness/displacement, disability/DV documentation if applicable, contact info for any caseworker.
If they can’t help
- Ask for a referral to: your county human/social services, Community Action, DV programs, faith coalitions, Coordinated Entry/Continuum of Care, or other nonprofits with EFSP grants.
Organizations Near You Offering Hotel Vouchers
The best place to look for help with hotel vouchers is in your local communities. We are still expanding our list; these are the states we have researched so far.
Alabama
Christian Mission Center
The Christian Mission Center’s Benevolence Assistance Program explicitly includes “Hotel” help among other basic-needs aid; in-person intake and documentation required.
Alaska
Municipality of Anchorage
Where no shelter is available, ESG-eligible costs include hotel/motel vouchers.
Arizona
The Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program
The Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program (IHELP) is a program run by Lutheran Social Services (LSS) in Arizona that provides temporary shelter at rotating church sites for people experiencing homelessness.
California
CalWORKs Homeless Assistance
The Homeless Assistance program is administered through CalWORKs at the county level. CalWORKs Homeless Assistance covers up to 16 days of stay at a hotel/motel. Contact your local county welfare office to apply/learn more.
Colorado
Jefferson County Human Services
Jefferson County provides motel vouchers to families who are experiencing homelessness, when overnight temperatures are 32 degrees or colder and wet or 20 degrees or colder and dry.
Florida
St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul “SEHA” uses local hotels as scattered-site shelter for families (city-funded initiative).
Georgia
HOPE Atlanta
On HOPE Atlanta’s “What We Do” page, they mention “Emergency Services” as one of their core program areas (among outreach, housing, prevention) and historically include the hotel/motel program in their portfolio. Constraints in funding, capacity, or eligibility could affect availability.
Kansas
First Call for Help (Ellis County)
First Call for Help offers “transient assistance” and information/referral; their site does not spell out motel vouchers. You will need to call to confirm current options.
Maine
General Assistance
GA can cover temporary housing, utilities, food, prescriptions, burial, etc., when you can’t meet basic needs. Apply at your city/town office.
Massachusetts
Material Aid & Advocacy Program
MAAP does not provide hotel vouchers but they do provide survival supplies, such as tents, sleeping bags, yoga mats, camping packs, water stations and more. The store is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 3pm in Cambridge.
Montana
DPHHS Emergency Lodging Program
Montana runs a Temporary Emergency Lodging Program that lets licensed hotels/motels comp short stays when someone is displaced and referred by a designated charitable organization. The hotel gets a state tax credit of $30 per night, up to 5 nights per person per calendar year; there’s no cost to the individual or the referring organization.
Nebraska
Northwest Community Action Partnership (Box Butte, Cherry, Dawes, Sheridan, Sioux Counties)
The Emergency/Community Services page lists “Motel Vouchers” as on offering. Availability depends on eligibility and funding.
Nevada
Emergency Aid of Boulder City
Emergency Aid of Boulder City assists residents (and stranded travelers) with food and emergency financial help. Short-term lodging may be situational. Call to confirm.
New Mexico
ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative
This organization is funded by many churches in the area. They can assist with utilities and other emergency financial assistance needs. They can help with emergency rental assistance, short-term hotel services, gasoline cards, food assistance and so much more.
Texas
Family Gateway (Dallas)
The Family Gateway runs a family shelter and a hotel overflow program when shelters are full. Not a general “walk-up voucher” program; access is through their family homelessness response.
Vermont
Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE)
HOPE lists “emergency hotel rooms” among services for people experiencing homelessness; funding and eligibility apply.
Washington
Compass Health (Snohomish & Skagit Counties)
Compass Health provides short-term hotel vouchers for Compass Health clients; typically up to 7 days, renewable once (case-by-case).
FAQs about Hotel Vouchers
We get a lot of questions about hotel vouchers, so we wanted to expand this article with a quick FAQ section.
What are hotel vouchers?
Hotel or motel vouchers are essentially coupons or referrals issued by charities, churches, local government agencies, or social service organizations that can be redeemed for temporary lodging at participating hotels or motels. The duration varies: some cover a single night, while others may extend for several days or longer depending on available funding, eligibility, and local policies.
How do I get a hotel voucher?
You will need to contact an agency on this list in order to get your hotel voucher. It’s important to understand that even if you contact them, you may not be able to get one.
Although there are many nationwide and local organizations that offer hotel vouchers for homeless people, supplies are limited. There are more homeless people than vouchers that can assist them. It’s often difficult to find an organization that is offering this service, so be persistent!
How long will a hotel voucher last?
Hotel vouchers are often only valid for a single night, although some organizations may cover a week or even a month’s worth at a time. It just depends on where you live and what services are available in your area.
Are hotel vouchers always available?
Hotel vouchers are in high demand and are often very difficult to find. However, they are more likely to be available seasonally. For example, some charities will issue hotel vouchers when all of the homeless shelters in the area are full during extreme cold or extreme heat.
When are vouchers more likely?
Vouchers are scarce and often prioritized when:
- Shelters are full or inappropriate (e.g., domestic violence risk, medical needs).
- During extreme cold/heat or disaster displacement.
- A caseworker from DSS/CoC/dv program determines a safety need.
Important Cautions and Realities
Before relying on any hotel voucher program, it’s important to understand how they work in practice. Policies, funding, and availability change often, and there are several key limitations to keep in mind.
- Some states have been phasing out routine use of hotels/motels as family shelters (e.g., Massachusetts closed its remaining hotel shelters in summer 2025), so expect policies to swing toward shelter beds or rapid rehousing.
- Several pandemic-era state motel programs (e.g., Vermont) have been scaled back or re-scoped; policies shift with budgets and weather seasons.
- Not all hotels accept vouchers. Most programs use pre-approved hotels under contracts/partnerships. You can’t always pick.
- Disaster rules ≠ everyday homelessness. FEMA/Red Cross supports (LER/TSA, shelters) apply only in declared disasters with eligibility; they don’t run general hotel voucher programs year-round.
211 in NC sucks. I mean for the fact that you are always online reading about oh, “Just call 211″they will help, um NOPE. it’s a fake. 211 does nothing. The person who answer 24hrs a day sound uncaring, no need for that. Give 1 of the good people here a week to week job, with a bi-weekly paycheck or weekly pay and they will i bet do a better job. It is rude and disrespectful to sound that way, in this day and age.”
211 is a place where really you just “call” to get 1 or 2 listings for assistance, then when you”call the place it usually does not have any funds, or pennies/50 bucks being a “pledge” sent to your landord if you are still “not homeless/but almost being evicted, horrible to me, to even offer that” when RENT is much more than that. Pitiful 211 is. God bless you all who need help, or a place to temporarily live til permanent/or temporary job comes your way.
I’ve been homeless for quite awhile now…I’m interested in hotel vouchers
Hi. If the resources above are not helpful in your area, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything else.
I just became homeless I have four rescue animals that I’ve had for a long time we need a place to stay.. Thank you
It can be really difficult to find emergency housing with pets. Do you have anyone you can leave them with?
My husband and I are living in a tent I am pregnant and we have no food
Hi. Have you tried 211? If the resources above are not available in your area, 211 may know about other ones that are. I hope you find something soon!
I was needing help with discount hotel, motel vouchers, I’m in Indianapolis Indiana. I just left a bad domestic situation it’s me I’m 56 and my son who is 33. I’ve called sheltérs, catholic charities, 211, homeless initiative and several other places and I can’t find who helps with vouchers if we could get help with discount that would help thank you.
Hi. We don’t provide vouchers, unfortunately. We just provide information about the organizations who have been known to provide vouchers.
Hi good morning my name is Jose Franco I need help to pay the hotel because I’m actually sleeping in some tents in the SOS slot it’s really hot in here and I need a place to stay because it’s really can’t be sleeping out here because my wife gets sick throwing up and dizzy and then I also I also can you please help us
Hi. If the resources listed are not available in your area, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything local. I hope you find something!
Please help I’ve been homeless a month and a half now my home was illegally foreclosed on and I lost everything. It’s been 118 here all week I’m not going to make it much longer. I’m so sunburned and hungry
Hi. I’m so sorry. It can be really difficult out there. If you haven’t already, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of any other resources in your area.
Need hotel voucher for the night I’m homeless
Hi. If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth checking with 211 to see if they know of anything else in your local area.
Need help we r n 137room rodeway inn iam 55my daughter 22autisic with me since ten mts all we have is each other my mom passed recent heart attact 83yr of age we need two days paid for us insurance money mom left us should come 7to10days
Hi. I’m so sorry for your loss. If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything else.
I would reaḷy be grateful of I could get help with a hotel voucher until I start my new job on the 5th currently sleeping where I’m can but very difficult I’d be able to repay after ok get my first pau check or pay it forward to someone else In need
Hi Steven. You can try contacting the agencies listed above. We only provide the information, not the vouchers.
I am homeless females 26 years old no jobs no kids i live in Arkansas need help with housing
Hi Marquita. Have you looked into these resources?
https://lowincomerelief.com/get-housing-help/
Hi Susannah. Do you have anyone who can watch them while you work on things and stay in a shelter? It can be really difficult to find one that will accept animals.
Iam disabiled and homeless along wwith my niece and her 3 kids we could use a hotel voucher, But we despratly need housing asap. My niece was recently hospitalized with
Mercer in her lungs she also had valley fever and double pneumonia.
The Docter told her that her lungs are permanently damaged now and she will nerver be the sam we would be greatful if we could get help with housing and hotel vouchers
Thank You
Vernassa Buntin
Hi Vernassa. If the resources above are not helpful. it may be worth calling 211 to see if there is anything else they can suggest. I hope you find something!
I am homeless and I just got discharged from the hospital today monday January 15 2024. I really need an emergency hotel voucher for a hotel in los lunas New mexico please
Hi Johnny. If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth trying 211 to see if they know of anything else. I hope you find something!
I’m homeless.me and three others my fam I’m disabled widow senior nowhere to go had get hotel room very expensive no more money to pay for it in Ozark Arkansas homelss
Hi Marilyn. Have you called 211? They can usually guide you to local resources. I hope you find something soon!
I have a voucher from the raft program they pay first last and security deposit I just need to know of a motels that take voucher and mouthly payments
Hi. Have you called 211? They can usually guide you agencies that may know which motels accept the voucher.
You can also try asking the agency that gave you the voucher. Often, they are the best source of info.
Hi Joseph. Have you already tried 211? They might be able to suggest something.
I need a hotel voucher for 3 nights for me and my kids it is cold to be outside please help me
Hi Sharon. Have you already tried 211? They might be able to suggest something.
My name is Nicole Vukin I’m a mother of 3 children. I’m homeless. I’ve been begging people for money to stay in a motel. While my children are are safe with a friend for a short while. They don’t have room for us to stay there. My mother’s deceased, I don’t know where or who my biological father is. My older brother is deceased. I have no one. It’s getting cold and I want my babies warm and food in their stomachs. Please help me with vouchers to remain in a motel where my children are safe and warm and fed. Where can I get vouchers to stay in a motel with my children. I’ve been staying at the Super 8 motel in Merrillville Indiana. I don’t have an address if you’d please send the vouchers to my friends house in Highland, Indiana it would mean so much to me. I became sick with COVID while working at Amazon. It caused so many problems with my health. I got evicted from where I was staying. I had no money to pay and stay. I need your help more than I can possibly put into words. Please help me and my children stay warm and safe with motel vouchers. I am literally begging you for help.
I have no where else to go. And my daughter has a very very low Immune system which causes her to get sick easily. That’s why we can’t do shelters. We stayed in one for 3 days and she became very sick. Her doctor told me to find another home or motel. That’s why I beg for money to stay in motels so she doesn’t get sick v m very sick. I’m at your mercy please help me.
Hi. We don’t provide the vouchers. We only provide information about the organizations that do.
If you haven’t already, it may be worth calling 211 to see if there is anything else available in your area.
What is the fastest way to get a hotel voucher if you are homeless?
Hi Mya. Start reaching out to the organizations in your area that have them and keep trying.
I am disabled and homeless, staying off and on with family members at the moment. Where I live only received 14 day stay at hotel then they don’t offer any help after, at least not to me? Also tried applying for hardship grants, never to my availability receiving anything. I’m just a little confused where is the help, called Red cross, Salvation Army and told the same thing of no help. I even contacted the mayor’s assistants to let them know what was going on, which I was told they would contact in my behalf, but I said thanks and staying with different family at the time. Thanks
A lot of the vouchers are limited to a certain amount of days, unfortunately.
@Catherine Marucci,