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Housing & Shelter Help

Emergency shelter tonight, rental assistance, eviction prevention, and transitional housing. Call 211 or walk into any shelter listed here.

What this covers

Emergency shelters, transitional housing, rental assistance, eviction prevention, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, housing vouchers (Section 8), and homelessness services.

Does not cover: Home repair, mortgage refinancing, or real estate services. For utility shutoff prevention, see Utilities.

Who is this for?

Anyone who is homeless, at risk of eviction, fleeing an unsafe situation, or struggling to afford rent.

How help usually works

Emergency shelters are usually walk-in or call-ahead. Rental assistance programs require an application and documentation. Housing vouchers have waitlists that vary by city.

schedule Typical timeline: Emergency shelter is usually same-day. Rental assistance applications take 1-4 weeks. Housing vouchers can have waitlists of months to years.

Best first steps

  1. If you are unsheltered tonight, call 211 or search for an emergency shelter near you — many accept walk-ins.
  2. If you're facing eviction, contact a legal aid organization immediately — there may be time to stop it.
  3. For rental assistance, gather your lease, proof of income, and a past-due notice before applying.
  4. If you're fleeing domestic violence, call the National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 — they can connect you to safe shelter.

What to bring

For shelters: photo ID if you have one, but most won't turn you away without it. For rental assistance: lease, proof of income, past-due rent notice, landlord contact info.

Emergency vs. standard help

Emergency: Call 211 or go to a shelter. Standard: Apply for rental assistance or housing vouchers through your local housing authority.

Example Housing Resources

Enter your ZIP code above to see resources near you. Here are some examples:

Show me help for:

New York area

Housing ✓ Verified

The Bowery Mission

Emergency shelter, meals, and transitional housing for men and women experiencing homelessness in NYC.

place227 Bowery, New York, NY 10002

schedule24/7 emergency shelter

English
Housing ✓ Verified

Coalition for the Homeless

Drop-in centers, crisis intervention, and advocacy for homeless New Yorkers. Direct services and referrals.

place129 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038

scheduleMon-Fri 9am-5pm, drop-in centers vary

English Español

Phoenix area

Housing ✓ Verified

UMOM New Day Centers

Arizona's largest family homeless shelter. Emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for families.

place3333 E Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008

schedule24/7 shelter intake

English Español
Housing ✓ Verified

Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)

Phoenix's largest emergency homeless shelter providing shelter, meals, case management, and employment services.

place230 S 12th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007

schedule24/7 emergency intake

English Español

Los Angeles area

Housing ✓ Verified

SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition

Neighborhood-based outreach, hygiene kits, and mutual aid for unhoused neighbors in Hollywood, Echo Park, and Silver Lake.

place2658 Griffith Park Blvd Unit 194, Los Angeles, CA 90039

scheduleWeekend outreach — check website

English Español

Dallas area

Housing ✓ Verified

The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center

Dallas's 24/7 homeless recovery center providing emergency shelter, meals, case management, and job readiness programs.

place1818 Corsicana Street, Dallas, TX 75201

schedule24/7

English Español
Housing ✓ Verified

Austin Street Center

Emergency shelter and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness in Dallas.

place1717 Jeffries Street, Dallas, TX 75226

schedule24/7 shelter

English Español

East Boston area

Housing ✓ Verified

Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston

Builds and repairs affordable homes for low-income families across Greater Boston.

place271 Marginal Street, East Boston, MA 02128

scheduleMon-Fri 9am-5pm

English

Atlanta area

Housing ✓ Verified

Action Ministries Emergency Assistance

Emergency housing assistance, eviction prevention, and transitional support for Atlanta-area families.

place2572 Shallowford Rd NE Ste 100, Atlanta, GA 30345

scheduleMon-Fri 9am-5pm

English

Detroit area

Housing ✓ Verified

COTS Detroit

Emergency shelter and supportive services for families experiencing homelessness in Detroit.

place26 Peterboro Street, Detroit, MI 48201

schedule24/7

English

Houston area

Housing ✓ Verified

BakerRipley Housing Assistance

Eviction prevention, rental assistance, and housing navigation for Houston households.

scheduleMon-Fri 8am-5pm

English Español

Philadelphia area

Housing ✓ Verified

Horizon House Philadelphia

Supportive housing and recovery services for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges.

place120 S 30th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

scheduleMon-Fri 9am-5pm

English

Miami area

Housing ✓ Verified

211 Miami-Dade — Housing Assistance

Call 211 for emergency shelter, rental assistance, and eviction prevention resources in Miami-Dade.

schedule24/7

English Español ht