Emergency Hotel Voucher for Tonight: Who to Call and What to Expect

The first calls to make tonight

When you need a place to sleep tonight, the order of your calls matters. Agencies close, and rooms fill as the evening goes on. Work through this list, and keep your phone charged if you can.

1. If you are in danger right now, call 911.
2. Dial 211. 211 is a free, confidential referral line. Many local 211 centers answer 24 hours a day. Tell them you are homeless tonight and ask for emergency shelter, the coordinated entry line, and any motel voucher programs.
3. Call the coordinated entry or shelter hotline 211 gives you. Most communities route shelter and motel placements through one central system so that people with the most urgent needs are served first.
4. Call your local Salvation Army and Catholic Charities while their offices are open. Find them through the Salvation Army location finder and the Catholic Charities help finder.
5. Call your county human services office if you have children or receive benefits. Some states pay for a short motel stay for families on cash aid.

If you are calling after 5 p.m., expect most charity offices to be closed. The 24-hour lines in the hotlines section below are your best bet then.

Who issues an emergency hotel voucher for tonight

There is no single national hotel voucher program. Vouchers come from a mix of local groups, each with its own funds and rules.

Much local shelter and motel help is paid for with federal Emergency Solutions Grants that HUD gives to states and cities, along with charity funds. That is why rules and availability change from one county to the next.

A state example: California CalWORKs

Some states pay for motels directly through cash aid programs. In California, the CalWORKs Homeless Assistance program pays $85 a day for temporary shelter for a family of four or fewer, plus $15 for each additional person, up to $145 a day. It covers up to 16 days, generally once every 12 months. It is for CalWORKs families and applicants who appear to qualify. Ask your county whether your state has something similar.

For more detail on how voucher programs work, see our guides to immediate hotel vouchers for homeless people and motel vouchers.

What to say when you call

Intake workers hear many calls each evening. Clear, short answers help them match you to the right program quickly. Be ready to share:

• That you need a place to sleep tonight, and where you are now.
• Who is with you: children and their ages, a partner, a pet, or a service animal.
• Whether you are fleeing violence or feel unsafe.
• Any disability, medical condition, pregnancy, or recent hospital stay.
• Whether you are a veteran or under 25.
• Whether you have any income or benefits, and whether you have ID.

Be honest about why a shelter will not work for you, if that is the case. A shelter that cannot take your teenage son, your medical equipment, or your service animal is a real reason, and saying so can move you toward a motel option. Ask: "If no shelter bed fits my family, is there a motel voucher or overflow option?"

Who usually gets a motel room first

Because vouchers are scarce, most programs save them for people a shelter cannot safely serve. Each community sets its own priorities, but these groups are often placed first:

• Families with children, especially infants, when family shelter is full.
• People fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking.
• People with serious medical needs or disabilities, or who were just discharged from a hospital.
• Older adults and pregnant women.
• Anyone on a night when outdoor conditions are dangerous.

If you are a single adult without these factors, a shelter bed is the more likely offer. The Salvation Army says it runs 287 emergency shelters across the U.S. and that no one needs a job or treatment history first to get a bed for the night, according to its shelter page. Most centers require registration, and some have age or gender rules.

Hotlines by situation

These lines are free. Most work around the clock, which matters when local offices are closed.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline says it does not hand out hotel vouchers itself, but its advocates can connect you with local shelters and programs that may. The VA's call center also takes calls from family members and friends helping a veteran. Our guide to emergency shelters for women and children covers more options for mothers and kids.

After a fire or disaster

The Red Cross opens shelters during disasters and can help families after a home fire. You can check for an open shelter on the Red Cross shelter finder. It is not a general homelessness program, so if you are not displaced by a disaster, start with 211 instead.

Cold weather and code blue nights

Many cities and counties open extra beds when temperatures drop below a set level. These are often called code blue, white flag, or cold weather shelters. Some open warming centers in libraries, churches, or recreation centers. During extreme heat, some areas open cooling centers the same way.

The temperature that triggers these nights, and the locations, are set locally. Ask 211 whether a code blue or cold weather shelter is open tonight. On these nights, some programs relax usual rules, like sobriety or ID requirements, and a few add motel rooms for people who cannot use a group shelter.

What if no voucher is available tonight?

It is common to hear "we're full" or "funds are out until next month." That is hard, but it does not mean you are out of options. Ask to be put on the waitlist or call-back list, and ask what time to call back. Then work on the safest option you can reach for tonight:

• Go to a shelter or overflow site, even if it is not ideal, and ask about a motel transfer tomorrow.
• Ask a church that helps people experiencing homelessness whether it has a night shelter or a small motel fund.
• Stay with a friend or relative for a night or two, even if it is crowded.
• Go to a 24-hour public place that is safe and lit, like a hospital waiting area, if you have no other option.
• Call 911 if anyone is in danger or has a medical emergency.

Be careful of anyone who asks you for money to get a voucher. Real emergency vouchers from agencies and charities are free.

How long a voucher lasts

Most emergency vouchers cover one to a few nights, sometimes a week. They are meant as a bridge to a shelter bed or a housing plan, not as long-term housing. Programs often ask you to meet with a case manager, look for housing, or apply for benefits while you stay.

Motels may still ask for ID at check-in and may want a deposit or card for damages, even when the room is paid. Ask the agency what the motel will require before you go. Follow the motel's rules, because a broken rule can end the stay and affect future help.

Next steps tomorrow morning

1. Call back early. Agencies often have the most openings first thing in the day.
2. Finish coordinated entry intake so you are on the list for shelter and housing programs.
3. Apply for SNAP with your state. People with very little money may get expedited benefits within 7 days, and applying is free.
4. Ask about rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention programs, which can help with a deposit or first month's rent.
5. Replace missing ID if you lost it. Many programs, motels, and landlords will ask for it.

Related guides

• Churches that help with motel vouchers near me
• American Red Cross hotel vouchers
• Need help paying for a hotel room
• Churches that help the homeless

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Shelter and voucher programs are run by local agencies and charities, which set their own rules and funding. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, the Red Cross, or any government agency.