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Right now: who to call
| Situation | Call or text |
|---|---|
| Immediate danger or medical emergency | 911 |
| Need shelter anywhere in the U.S. | 211 (or text your ZIP code to 898-211) |
| Veteran, or family of a veteran, at risk of homelessness | 877-424-3838 (24/7, VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans) |
| Young person (roughly 12–21) who ran away, was kicked out, or is thinking about leaving | 800-786-2929 (National Runaway Safeline) |
| Fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking | 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 (National Domestic Violence Hotline) |
| Sexual assault | 800-656-4673 (RAINN) |
| Human trafficking | 888-373-7888 or text 233733 |
| Mental health or suicidal crisis | 988 |
What to say when you call 211
Be specific. For example:
“I need emergency shelter tonight for me and my two kids, ages 4 and 9. We’re in [city/ZIP]. We have to leave where we’re staying by [date]. My son uses an inhaler, and I don’t have a car. What shelters have space, and how do I get assessed for coordinated entry?”
Tell them:
- Where you are now (city, ZIP, or cross streets)
- Who needs shelter: number of people, ages, and relationships
- When you must leave your current place, or where you slept last night
- Safety concerns: abuse, threats, or danger
- Needs: disability, medical, mobility, medication, language, pets or service animals
- Transportation: whether you can get to a shelter
Understand coordinated entry
Most communities use coordinated entry: a single assessment process that connects people to shelter, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. A shelter bed tonight and a coordinated entry assessment are often separate steps—ask for both. See coordinated entry explained.
Types of emergency places to stay
- Emergency shelters: overnight or 24-hour; congregate (shared rooms) or non-congregate
- Family shelters: for parents or caregivers with children
- Youth shelters: for unaccompanied youth, often under 18 or 18–24
- Domestic violence shelters: confidential locations with safety planning
- Veteran programs: VA-funded contract beds and Grant and Per Diem housing
- Seasonal shelters: warming centers, cooling centers, and winter overflow
- Motel vouchers: used by some counties and charities when shelters are full or unsuitable
- Recuperative (medical respite) care: for people too sick to recover on the street but not needing hospitalization
If shelters are full
- Ask for the next option: overflow, a waitlist callback, or another provider.
- Ask about motel vouchers from the county, charities, or churches.
- Get assessed through coordinated entry anyway.
- Contact street outreach teams, who can connect you to shelter and services directly.
- Look for safe-parking programs if you have a vehicle.
- In extreme weather, ask about warming or cooling centers.
- Call back. Bed availability changes daily; many shelters fill in the afternoon or early evening.
Specialized help
Families with children: tell the school district’s homeless liaison. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, children can stay in their school, get transportation, and enroll immediately without documents. See McKinney-Vento rights.
Survivors of violence: domestic violence programs keep locations confidential. Don’t post your location online, and consider turning off location sharing on your phone. See domestic violence housing rights.
Veterans: the VA can arrange emergency housing, HUD-VASH, and Supportive Services for Veteran Families. Veterans with other-than-honorable discharges may still be eligible for some services. See veteran housing help.
People with disabilities: you can request reasonable accommodations, such as a lower bunk, accessible bathroom, space for medical equipment, or a quieter area. Service animals must be allowed.
Older adults: Area Agencies on Aging (Eldercare Locator: 800-677-1116) may help with emergency placement and services.
What to bring (if you can safely)
- ID, Social Security cards, birth certificates
- Medications and prescriptions
- Phone and charger
- Benefit letters, income documents, and eviction papers
- Children’s school and medical records
- A few days of clothing
- Important contacts written on paper
Don’t delay leaving a dangerous situation to gather documents. Shelters and case managers can help replace them.
After the first night
Ask your shelter or case manager about:
- Coordinated entry assessment for housing programs
- Rapid rehousing and other rental assistance. See rapid rehousing
- Benefits: SNAP, Medicaid, SSI/SSDI, TANF, unemployment
- Documents: replacing ID and Social Security cards
- Employment and income support
- Housing applications: Section 8, public housing, subsidized apartments
- Storage for belongings
Keep a written log of every call and referral: date, organization, contact, and next step.
Frequently asked questions
What if every shelter is full?
Ask 211 or the shelter for overflow sites, warming or cooling centers, church-based rotating shelters, and motel vouchers. Ask to be assessed through coordinated entry so you’re in line for housing programs. Some areas have safe-parking lots for people living in vehicles.
Do I need ID to get into a shelter?
Many shelters admit people without ID and help them replace documents. Some require ID or a background check. Ask when you call; don’t let missing ID stop you from seeking a safe place.
Can my whole family stay together?
Family shelters serve parents with children, but definitions vary. Shelters funded through HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants and Continuum of Care programs generally may not deny admission to, or separate, a family because of the age of a child under 18. Tell the intake worker every household member and ask how the family will be kept together.
Is there shelter for people with pets?
Some shelters accept pets or partner with kennels, and domestic violence programs increasingly accommodate pets. Service animals must be allowed in shelters as a disability accommodation. Ask 211 for pet-friendly options.
What if I’m about to lose my housing but haven’t yet?
Call 211 now and ask for homelessness prevention and diversion. Help is much easier to get before you leave. If you have an eviction case, contact legal aid immediately.
Sources and verification
Use these sources to check program rules. Funding, openings, and local procedures must be confirmed with the agency handling your application.
- Find shelterU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Emergency housingUSAGov
- 211United Way Worldwide
- National Call Center for Homeless VeteransU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- National Runaway SafelineNational Runaway Safeline
- National Domestic Violence HotlineNational Domestic Violence Hotline
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