Texas has one of the largest homeless populations in the United States, with more than 27,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night according to HUD’s most recent count. Emergency hotel and motel voucher programs operate across the state — in major cities like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as in smaller communities — to provide immediate temporary shelter when traditional shelter beds are full or inaccessible.
This guide from House for Homeless explains how to get an emergency hotel or motel voucher in Texas, which agencies provide them, and how to use your placement to move toward permanent housing.
Need a hotel voucher in Texas tonight? Call 211 immediately. Texas 211 is available 24 hours a day and connects you to emergency housing programs with current funding in your specific area. Veterans call 877-424-3838.
How Emergency Hotel Vouchers Work in Texas
Texas does not have a single statewide hotel voucher program. See our hotel vouchers for homeless national guide for how these programs work across all states. Emergency hotel and motel assistance is funded and administered locally — through city and county social services, Community Action Agencies, local Continuums of Care (CoC), and nonprofit organizations.
Availability, eligibility, and program length vary significantly across Texas’s 254 counties and major metropolitan areas. What is available in Houston may differ from what is available in El Paso, Lubbock, or a rural East Texas county.
The fastest route to finding what is currently available in your area is to call 211.
Who Provides Hotel Vouchers in Texas
Texas 211 and Local Referral Networks
Texas 211 is the primary gateway to emergency housing assistance statewide. Operators can connect you to hotel voucher programs, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and other resources in your specific city or county with real-time availability information.
City and County Social Services
Texas’s major cities and counties operate emergency housing assistance funds that can include hotel and motel placements:
- Houston / Harris County — Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (HCCH) coordinates emergency housing through the local CoC. The Houston Area Women’s Center and Star of Hope also maintain emergency funds. See our city guide: Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Houston
- Dallas / Dallas County — Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance coordinates CoC resources. The Salvation Army and CitySquare maintain emergency funds
- San Antonio / Bexar County — Haven for Hope and the Bexar County CoC coordinate emergency placements
- Austin / Travis County — Integral Care and the Austin/Travis County CoC coordinate emergency hotel assistance
- Fort Worth / Tarrant County — Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and Presbyterian Night Shelter coordinate resources
- El Paso County — El Paso CoC and Opportunity Center for the Homeless
- Amarillo — Amarillo Tri-County CoC and High Plains Food Bank emergency services
Community Action Agencies in Texas
Texas has a network of Community Action Agencies that receive state and federal emergency housing funds, some of which can be used for motel placements:
- Community Action Corporation of South Texas — South Texas region
- West Texas Opportunities — West Texas counties
- Panhandle Community Services — Amarillo and Panhandle area
- East Texas Human Needs Network — East Texas counties
- Texoma Council of Governments — North Texas border region
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your county.
The Salvation Army Texas
The Salvation Army operates across Texas and maintains emergency housing funds including motel vouchers in many areas. Locations include Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Lubbock, Amarillo, and more. Contact your local Salvation Army directly or through 211.
Catholic Charities Texas Dioceses
Catholic Charities organizations across Texas maintain emergency assistance funds. Dioceses covering San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, and Galveston-Houston all operate emergency assistance programs.
Texas-Specific Programs
Texas Homeless Network — CoC Coordination
The Texas Homeless Network supports CoCs across Texas outside of the major metro areas. Rural and smaller-city CoCs coordinate emergency housing resources including hotel placements. Find your regional CoC through the Texas Homeless Network at thn.org.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
TDHCA administers several programs that can support emergency hotel placements:
- Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) — federal funds distributed to local organizations for emergency shelter and rapid rehousing, which can include hotel assistance
- HOME Program — some local governments use HOME funds for emergency housing assistance
Contact TDHCA at 512-475-3800 or visit tdhca.state.tx.us for information on funded organizations in your area.
Texas Veterans Commission — Housing Assistance
Texas veterans have access to dedicated housing resources through the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC). The TVC’s Veterans Housing Assistance Program provides services statewide, and the VA’s SSVF program funds rapid rehousing specifically for veterans across Texas.
Veterans should call 877-424-3838 rather than general assistance lines — veteran-specific programs are better funded and can respond faster.
Who Qualifies for Hotel Vouchers in Texas
While eligibility varies by program, most Texas hotel voucher programs prioritize:
| Priority Group | Notes |
|---|---|
| People sleeping outside or in vehicles | Primary target — literal homelessness |
| Families with children | High priority across all programs |
| Domestic violence survivors | DV-specific programs also available |
| Seniors (62+) | Physical vulnerability |
| People with medical conditions | Health vulnerability |
| Couples | Cannot access gender-separated shelter |
| People with pets | Cannot access most traditional shelter |
| Veterans | Dedicated veteran-specific programs |
Documentation: Most Texas programs do not require formal income verification for emergency placements. Some programs ask for ID, but low-barrier programs serve people without identification. Never let lack of ID stop you from calling 211.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Texas — Step by Step
Step 1: Call 211
Call 211 from anywhere in Texas — available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Tell the operator:
- You are currently homeless or have no safe place to sleep
- You need emergency hotel or motel assistance
- Your city or county
- Any circumstances that limit your access to shelter (pets, partner, medical condition, children)
Step 2: Contact Your Local CoC or City Social Services
If 211 cannot connect you immediately, contact your city or county social services department or local Continuum of Care directly. Ask specifically about “emergency hotel assistance” or “motel vouchers for homeless.”
Step 3: Contact the Salvation Army or Catholic Charities
Both organizations maintain emergency funds across Texas. Call your nearest location or find it through 211. Explain your situation and ask specifically about emergency hotel or motel assistance.
Step 4: If You Are a Veteran
Call 877-424-3838 immediately — do not use general assistance programs first. Texas has significant VA resources through the Houston VA, South Texas VA, North Texas VA, and West Texas VA health care systems. SSVF-funded rapid rehousing programs across Texas can sometimes include emergency hotel placements.
Step 5: If You Have Children
Ask specifically about emergency family shelter and Texas Child Protective Services emergency housing resources. Families with children are the highest priority for most Texas emergency housing programs. Dial 211 and specify that you have children.
City-Specific Hotel Voucher Guides in Texas
We are building detailed city guides for Texas’s major cities. Select your city below.
More Texas city guides coming soon. Call 211 for immediate local referrals in any Texas city.
What to Do While in a Texas Hotel Voucher Placement
Use your hotel stay to pursue permanent housing — do not wait:
Day 1: Apply for food assistance Hotel vouchers do not cover food. Apply for SNAP (food stamps) in Texas immediately — see our guide on how to apply for SNAP when homeless. Apply online at yourtexasbenefits.com or call 2-1-1. With no income, you qualify for maximum SNAP benefits and may receive expedited processing within 7 days.
Day 1–3: Connect with a case manager Ask the agency that issued your voucher to connect you with a housing case manager. A case manager is your most important resource for accessing rapid rehousing, Section 8, and transitional housing.
Day 1–7: Apply for rapid rehousing Texas has CoC-funded rapid rehousing programs in all major cities. Call 211 and specifically ask for rapid rehousing referrals. See our guide on what emergency rental assistance is for another fast option. This is your fastest path to a permanent apartment — placement can happen within weeks.
Ongoing: Apply for Section 8 Texas PHAs manage Section 8 waitlists locally. Many have long waitlists but applying now starts the clock. Find your local PHA through HUD’s directory and apply immediately. See our Section 8 guide for the full process.
Ongoing: Apply for Medicaid Apply for Texas Medicaid (STAR program) through yourtexasbenefits.com. Medicaid provides free healthcare and can connect you to mental health and substance use services that support housing stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a free hotel voucher for homeless in Texas?
Call 211 immediately — available 24 hours from anywhere in Texas. Tell the operator you are homeless and need emergency hotel or motel assistance and your location. 211 connects you to programs with current funding in your specific area. You can also contact local nonprofits like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, or your county social services department.
Does Texas have a statewide hotel voucher program for homeless people?
No. Texas does not have a single statewide hotel voucher program. See our housing voucher programs near you for how these programs work across all states. Emergency hotel assistance is funded and administered locally through city and county social services, Community Action Agencies, CoCs, and nonprofits. Call 211 for what is available in your specific area.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless families in Texas?
Yes. Families with children are the highest priority for most Texas emergency housing programs. Call 211 and specify that you have children — this triggers family-specific referrals. Many Texas cities have emergency family shelter programs alongside hotel placement options.
How long do hotel vouchers last in Texas?
Most emergency placements in Texas last 1–7 nights with possible extensions based on funding and your situation. Use your stay to immediately pursue rapid rehousing and other longer-term options through 211 and your case manager.
Can I get a hotel voucher in Texas if I have no ID?
Many Texas programs serve people without identification, particularly low-barrier emergency programs. Do not let lack of ID prevent you from calling 211. Texas also has free ID programs available — ask 211 for ID assistance resources in your area.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Texas?
Yes — and Texas veterans should call 877-424-3838 directly rather than general assistance lines. Texas has strong VA resources across multiple VA health care systems. SSVF rapid rehousing programs specifically for veterans operate in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and other Texas cities.
What if no hotel voucher programs are available in my area of Texas?
If hotel voucher funding is exhausted in your area, call 211 for alternative options — emergency shelter beds, warming or cooling centers, or church-based emergency assistance. In rural Texas areas specifically, local churches and nonprofits are often the best source of emergency hotel assistance when formal programs have no funds.
Can I get a hotel voucher in Texas with a pet?
It depends on the program and participating hotel. When calling 211, specifically mention that you have a pet — operators can direct you to programs and hotels that accommodate animals. Availability varies by city. Some areas have more pet-friendly options than others.