Salvation Army Moving Assistance: What Local Offices Can Help With and Where Else to Turn

What Salvation Army moving assistance usually covers

The Salvation Army is a church and charity with offices, called corps, in communities across the country. Each one decides how to use its own funds. That means the honest answer to “Does the Salvation Army help with moving?” is: it depends on where you live, and usually only with part of the cost.

When a local office does help with a move, it is most often one of these:

• Money toward a security deposit or first month’s rent, paid directly to the landlord.
• A one-time bus ticket so you can reach family or a confirmed place to live.
• Vouchers for furniture and household items from a Salvation Army Family Store.
• Case management through housing programs that help families move from shelter into stable housing.
• Referrals to local agencies that have moving funds.

The Salvation Army’s national housing and homeless services page describes transitional housing, permanent supportive housing in some places, and case management. It does not describe a national moving program, so do not expect a truck or moving crew. Some offices may have volunteers or partner groups who help, but that is rare and you should ask rather than assume.

Finding and calling your local office

Use the Salvation Army location finder and enter your ZIP code. Call the social services or family services line, not the thrift store. If you cannot get through, dial 211 and ask for Salvation Army or other moving and deposit help near you.

When you call, keep it short and clear:

• Say why you need to move: eviction, unsafe housing, a new job, leaving a shelter, or fleeing violence.
• Say whether you already have a new place lined up and what it costs.
• Ask exactly what they can help with right now: deposit, rent, bus ticket, furniture, or referrals.
• Ask how to apply and which documents to bring.
• Ask if the help is paid to you or to the landlord. It is usually paid to the landlord or vendor.

Funds can run out early in the month. If the answer is no, ask when to call back and who else they refer people to.

Deposits, rent, and furniture for the new place

For many people, the hardest part of a move is not the truck. It is the deposit and first month’s rent. Some Salvation Army offices help with these when you have a signed lease or a landlord’s written offer and can show you will be able to pay rent going forward. Read our full guide to Salvation Army security deposit assistance.

Once you are in, an empty apartment can be the next problem. Many offices give vouchers for beds, tables, and household goods at their Family Stores. See our guide to Salvation Army furniture vouchers for how that usually works.

Bus tickets and relocation to family

Some Salvation Army offices give a one-time bus ticket to people who are homeless or stranded and have a confirmed place to go, such as a relative who agrees to take them in. Offices often ask for a phone number for the person at the other end so they can confirm the plan. Rules vary, and some offices only give local bus passes for job or medical trips.

Shelters, homeless outreach teams, and some city programs also offer reunification tickets. Our guide to Greyhound bus tickets for homeless people covers other places to ask.

Rapid re-housing and ESG moving costs

If you are homeless or about to lose your housing, the Emergency Solutions Grants program (ESG) is one of the few programs that can pay for an actual move. HUD gives ESG money to states, cities, and counties, which pass it to local agencies, often including the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and community action agencies.

Under federal rules at 24 CFR 576.105, ESG funds can pay:

• Moving costs, such as truck rental or hiring a moving company.
• Temporary storage fees for up to 3 months before you move into permanent housing (not storage owed from before you joined the program).
• Rental application fees.
• A security deposit of up to 2 months’ rent.
• Last month’s rent, when needed to get the unit.
• Utility deposits, and utility payments within program limits.

Payments go to the landlord, mover, or utility, not to you. You usually reach ESG through your area’s coordinated entry system for homeless services. Dial 211 and ask for coordinated entry, rapid re-housing, or homelessness prevention. Each local agency sets its own income and priority rules, and funding is limited.

Moving help for veterans through SSVF

Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless can ask about Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). SSVF is run by local nonprofits with VA grants. Under 38 CFR 62.34, SSVF can pay reasonable moving costs, such as truck rental, a moving company, or short-term storage for up to 3 months, once in any 3-year period. Payments go directly to the vendor. SSVF can also help with rent and deposits. Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838, available 24/7, to be connected with a local provider.

Leaving a nursing home with Money Follows the Person

If you or a family member is moving out of a nursing home or other institution back into the community and is on Medicaid, ask about Money Follows the Person. Medicaid.gov says the program funds transition coordination and one-time transition costs, along with home changes and medical equipment. Many states have used it, but names, rules, and dollar limits vary by state. Ask the facility social worker or your state Medicaid agency whether it is available and what it covers.

Moving for a new job

If you are moving for work, ask your new employer about a relocation package or a signing bonus before you accept. Some employers pay part of the move even for hourly jobs. Your local American Job Center can tell you about any state or local programs for workers who relocate. Members of the Armed Forces on active duty who move because of military orders have their own moving benefits through the military.

Programs that can pay moving costs compared

Avoiding moving and rental scams

People who need to move quickly are prime targets for scams. Watch for these red flags:

• A mover gives a very low quote by phone without seeing your things, then raises the price and holds your belongings until you pay.
• A mover wants a large cash deposit before the move. For moves across state lines, check that the company has a USDOT number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• A “landlord” asks for a deposit before you have seen the unit or signed a lease, or asks for payment by gift card, wire, or payment app.
• Someone says they can get you Salvation Army or government moving money for a fee. Applying is always free.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

How to get moving help, step by step

1. Line up the new place first, if you can. Most programs want a lease, a landlord’s letter, or a confirmed address.
2. Call your local Salvation Army office and ask what moving, deposit, bus, or furniture help is open now.
3. Dial 211 and ask for rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, and other moving funds.
4. Veterans: call 877-424-3838 to reach SSVF.
5. Get two or three written quotes for a truck or mover, since agencies often ask for them.
6. Keep every receipt and give copies to your caseworker.
7. Apply for SNAP and other benefits at your new address so your budget can carry the new rent.

For more ways to cover the move itself, see our guides to emergency moving assistance and free help moving.

Related guides

• Moving grants for low-income families
• Salvation Army rental assistance
• Salvation Army housing assistance
• Free moving services for low-income families

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Local Salvation Army services and program funding change often. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with The Salvation Army or any government agency.