House for Homeless: Find Housing Assistance & Support Programs

If you have no money, you can stay at emergency homeless shelters, which are free and do not require income. Other no-cost options include faith-based shelters, domestic violence shelters, youth shelters for those under 24, and warming or cooling centers. Dial 211 for free placement help in your area, or use the HUD Find Shelter tool to locate the nearest shelter.

The fastest way to get emergency housing is calling 211, which connects you to same-day shelter openings in your area. Walk-in emergency shelters accept people directly, often without paperwork. When shelters are full, some county social services offices and charities issue hotel or motel vouchers for short stays. If you’re fleeing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 for immediate placement.

Start by calling 211 to find an emergency shelter and free meals. Then apply for benefits you may qualify for — SNAP food assistance, Medicaid, TANF cash aid, and General Assistance. Visit a local Community Action Agency, which can connect you with housing programs, job assistance, and emergency financial help in one place. Ask to be entered into Coordinated Entry, the system that matches people to longer-term housing.

Most federal housing programs use income limits tied to Area Median Income: 80% of AMI for “low income,” 50% for “very low income,” and 30% for “extremely low income,” adjusted for household size. Applicants generally need U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status for at least one household member. Priority is often given to families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and people who are currently homeless. Each housing assistance program sets its own rules.

Emergency shelters provide free, short-term beds — often night by night — with few entry requirements and a focus on immediate safety. Transitional housing offers a private or semi-private unit for 6 to 24 months along with case management, job support, and help finding permanent housing; residents usually agree to program rules and may pay a small portion of their income. Both are typically reached through 211 or your local Coordinated Entry system.

Programs that can help you get an apartment include the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, public housing through your local housing authority, rapid rehousing programs that cover deposits and initial rent, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) apartments with below-market rents, and HUD-VASH for veterans. Permanent supportive housing serves people with disabilities or chronic homelessness.

Look into programs that cover upfront housing costs: rapid rehousing programs pay security deposits and first month’s rent, Community Action Agencies offer relocation assistance, and charities like Salvation Army and Catholic Charities provide move-in grants. Rental assistance programs in many counties also cover deposits. Subsidized housing and room-shares can lower your starting costs significantly.

It depends on the program. Emergency shelter placement can happen the same day. Rapid rehousing and emergency rental assistance usually take two to eight weeks from application to payment. Section 8 and public housing have waiting lists that range from several months to several years, and many lists are closed to new applicants, so apply to every housing authority within commuting distance. Our overview of the types of housing assistance explains which programs move fastest.

There is no single national maximum — rent assistance limits depend on the program. Section 8 vouchers cover the gap between 30% of your income and the local payment standard, with no fixed dollar cap. Emergency rental assistance programs often cover several months of rent, while one-time charity grants typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

No. You will not lose SSI benefits because you are homeless. You can receive SSI without a permanent address — Social Security allows payments through direct deposit, a Direct Express card, or mail sent to a shelter, relative, or local Social Security office. Tell SSA about your situation so your payments continue without interruption.