Utah has approximately 4,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, with the Salt Lake City metro area accounting for the vast majority. Utah has been recognized nationally for significant progress in reducing veteran homelessness and chronic homelessness, driven by its adoption of a Housing First approach. Salt Lake City’s downtown homeless services infrastructure has undergone significant transformation in recent years, moving away from a single large shelter toward a distributed system of smaller resource centers. Provo, Ogden, and St. George have smaller but active programs. Rural Utah — particularly the Colorado Plateau and rural west desert counties — has very limited services.
This guide from House for Homeless covers how to find emergency hotel or motel assistance anywhere in Utah tonight.
Need a hotel voucher in Utah tonight? Call 211 immediately — Utah 211 is available 24 hours across all 29 counties. Tell the operator your city or county and that you need emergency hotel or motel assistance. Veterans call 877-424-3838.
How Emergency Hotel Vouchers Work in Utah
Utah does not have a single statewide hotel voucher program. Emergency hotel and motel assistance is funded and administered locally through:
- Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) — state-level social services through local offices
- Local DWS offices — Utah’s county-level welfare access points
- Community Action Agencies — Utah’s CAA network covers the state
- Continuums of Care — Utah has multiple CoC regions; Salt Lake County CoC is the largest
- Nonprofits and faith-based organizations
Utah DWS offices administer Family Employment Program (FEP) — Utah’s TANF program — and emergency funds that can sometimes authorize hotel placements for families in acute crisis. Utah’s approach to homelessness is more coordinated at the state level than many states, with the Utah Homeless Council playing a central policy role.
Always call 211 first.
Utah State Programs Supporting Hotel Assistance
Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS)
DWS administers emergency assistance programs through local offices statewide. The Emergency Assistance Program and Family Employment Program (FEP) can sometimes authorize emergency hotel placements for families with children in crisis.
DWS contact: 1-866-435-7414 Website: jobs.utah.gov/dwshelp
Utah Housing Corporation (UHC)
UHC distributes federal ESG funds and state housing resources to local organizations providing emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and hotel assistance statewide.
UHC contact: 801-902-8200 Website: utahhousingcorp.org
Utah Homeless Council
The Utah Homeless Council coordinates the state’s overall homelessness response, advises on policy, and oversees how state and federal homeless funds are distributed to local CoCs and providers.
Website: jobs.utah.gov/homelessness
Who Provides Hotel Vouchers in Utah by Region
Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County has the most comprehensive homeless services infrastructure in Utah, restructured in recent years around a network of resource centers replacing the old Road Home single-site shelter model.
Salt Lake County CoC / Valley Behavioral Health Lead CoC coordinator for Salt Lake County.
- Phone: 801-263-7100
- Website: valleybehavioralhealth.org
The Road Home Primary emergency shelter and housing placement organization in Salt Lake City, now operating multiple sites.
- Phone: 801-359-4142
- Website: theroadhome.org
- Intake: Call for current shelter locations and availability
Volunteers of America Utah Emergency housing and support services in Salt Lake City.
- Phone: 801-363-9418
- Website: voautah.org
Salvation Army of Salt Lake City Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 801-746-2420
- Address: 1002 S 400 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Catholic Community Services of Utah Emergency assistance including housing help for anyone in need.
- Phone: 801-977-9119
- Website: ccsutah.org
YWCA Utah (DV survivors) Emergency housing for domestic violence survivors in Salt Lake City.
- Phone: 801-537-8600 (24-hour crisis line)
- Website: ywcautah.org
Fourth Street Clinic Healthcare and housing assistance for people experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake City.
- Phone: 801-364-0058
- Website: fourthstreetclinic.org
Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund Utah’s dedicated state fund supporting emergency homeless services across Salt Lake County — many hotel voucher programs are partially funded through this trust.
Salt Lake County DWS County emergency housing assistance through FEP and emergency funds.
- Phone: 801-526-4400
Provo and Utah County
Utah County CoC / Community Action Services and Food Bank Lead CoC partner and Community Action Agency for Utah County.
- Phone: 801-691-5200
- Website: communityactionuc.org
Salvation Army Provo Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 801-373-7879
- Address: 340 W 100 S, Provo, UT 84601
Utah County DWS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 801-374-7300
Ogden and Weber County
Weber-Morgan CoC / Catholic Community Services — Ogden Coordinates homeless services in Weber and Morgan counties.
- Phone: 801-394-5944
Lantern House Comprehensive homeless services in Ogden including emergency shelter and housing placement.
- Phone: 801-392-2662
- Website: lanternhouse.org
- Intake: Daily — call for current hours
Salvation Army Ogden Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 801-621-2866
- Address: 2615 Grant Ave, Ogden, UT 84401
Weber County DWS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 801-626-3000
St. George and Southwest Utah (Washington County)
Dixie CoC / Switchpoint Community Resource Center Lead CoC partner and primary homeless services provider in St. George.
- Phone: 435-628-9310
- Website: switchpointcrc.org
- Intake: Call for current hours
Salvation Army St. George Emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 435-673-6193
Washington County DWS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 435-986-2700
Rural Utah
Rural Utah — particularly the Colorado Plateau counties (San Juan, Grand, Wayne, Garfield) and rural west desert counties — has extremely limited formal hotel voucher programs. Primary resources:
- Your local DWS office — find at jobs.utah.gov/dwshelp
- Community Action Agencies — call 211 for your nearest CAA
- Local churches — including significant LDS (Latter-day Saint) community resources in many rural Utah communities
- 211 — always call first
Utah’s Housing First Approach — What It Means for You
Utah has been a national leader in adopting Housing First — a model that prioritizes getting people into housing without requiring sobriety, treatment compliance, or other preconditions. This means:
- Many Utah programs will not turn you away for being actively using substances
- Coordinated entry focuses on vulnerability, not behavior
- Low-barrier shelter and hotel placements are more common than in states with more restrictive policies
If you have been turned away from programs elsewhere due to sobriety requirements, Utah’s system may be more accessible than you expect.
Who Qualifies for Hotel Vouchers in Utah
| Priority Group | Utah-Specific Notes |
|---|---|
| People sleeping outside or in vehicles | Highest priority statewide |
| Families with children | Top priority; DWS FEP can authorize placements |
| Domestic violence survivors | Utah DV Hotline: 1-800-897-5465 |
| Veterans | Utah has strong veteran homelessness programs — nearly eliminated |
| Seniors (60+) | Priority in most county programs |
| People with mental illness | Housing First model — barriers reduced statewide |
| Youth ages 18–24 | The Road Home has youth-specific programs |
| Couples | Hotel placements address gender-separated shelter barriers |
| Rural residents | County DWS offices and LDS resources primary |
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Utah — Step by Step
Step 1: Call 211 — available 24 hours across all 29 Utah counties.
Step 2: If you are in Salt Lake City, call The Road Home at 801-359-4142 or the Salvation Army at 801-746-2420.
Step 3: If you are in Provo, call Community Action Services at 801-691-5200.
Step 4: If you are in Ogden, call Lantern House at 801-392-2662 or the Salvation Army at 801-621-2866.
Step 5: If you are in St. George, call Switchpoint at 435-628-9310.
Step 6: Contact your local DWS office and ask about FEP emergency hotel assistance.
Step 7: If you are a veteran, call 877-424-3838 immediately.
What to Do During Your Utah Hotel Placement
Apply for food assistance immediately: Apply for Utah SNAP at jobs.utah.gov/dwshelp or call 1-866-435-7414. With zero income you qualify for the maximum food assistance benefit and expedited 7-day processing.
Apply for Utah Medicaid: Apply at medicaid.utah.gov for Utah Medicaid — covering healthcare, mental health, and substance use treatment.
Enter coordinated entry: In Salt Lake County, contact The Road Home or call 211. In other counties, call 211. Utah’s Housing First coordinated entry system is designed to match you to the right program quickly — understanding what housing programs are available before your assessment helps you advocate for yourself.
Pursue rental assistance: Ask 211 about emergency rental assistance in your county. Salt Lake and Utah County both have active programs. Funding cycles matter — ask early in your stay, not the day before checkout.
Apply for Section 8: Contact your local Utah PHA. Housing Authority of Salt Lake City: 801-487-2161. Utah PHAs have long waitlists — apply now while pursuing faster options. You can also explore other types of housing vouchers and learn how the waitlist and voucher process works so you are ready when your name comes up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a free hotel voucher for homeless in Utah?
Call 211 from anywhere in Utah — available 24 hours across all 29 counties. In Salt Lake City, call The Road Home at 801-359-4142 or the Salvation Army at 801-746-2420. In Provo, call Community Action Services at 801-691-5200. In Ogden, call Lantern House at 801-392-2662. In St. George, call Switchpoint at 435-628-9310.
What is Utah’s Housing First approach?
Utah adopted Housing First as its core homelessness strategy, prioritizing getting people into housing without requiring sobriety, mental health treatment, or other preconditions for entry. This approach has helped Utah significantly reduce veteran and chronic homelessness. It means most Utah programs will not turn you away for substance use or mental health challenges — low-barrier access is a design goal, not an exception.
What is Utah’s Family Employment Program (FEP)?
FEP is Utah’s TANF program, administered through local DWS offices. In housing crisis situations, FEP emergency funds can sometimes cover emergency hotel placements for families with children. Contact your local DWS office at jobs.utah.gov/dwshelp and ask specifically about FEP emergency housing assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless families in Utah?
Yes. Families with children are the top priority. DWS offices can sometimes authorize emergency hotel placements through FEP for families in crisis. Call 211 and specify that you have children. The Road Home in Salt Lake City has family-specific programs. Families who stabilize may also qualify for rental assistance programs to move toward permanent housing.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Utah?
Yes — veterans should call 877-424-3838 rather than general 211 lines. Utah has VA resources in Salt Lake City (VA Salt Lake City Health Care System) and George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center with dedicated homeless veteran programs including HUD-VASH and SSVF rapid rehousing. Utah has made exceptional progress on veteran homelessness and VA resources are strong.
What is the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund?
The Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund is Utah’s dedicated state fund for homelessness services, named after a long-time homeless advocate. It supplements federal ESG funds and supports emergency services including hotel vouchers across Salt Lake County. Many of the emergency hotel placement programs in Salt Lake City draw on this fund — it is one reason services there are somewhat better resourced than in other parts of the state.
What about LDS Church resources for homeless people in Utah?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates a significant welfare and humanitarian services network in Utah that can sometimes provide emergency housing assistance. Bishop’s storehouses and local ward resources can supplement formal programs. If you are a member, contact your local bishop. Non-members can also ask 211 whether LDS Family Services resources are available in rural areas where formal programs are absent.
How long do hotel vouchers last in Utah?
Most Utah emergency placements last 1–7 nights, with possible extensions while longer-term housing is arranged. Salt Lake City programs sometimes offer longer placements for families or people with complex needs under the Housing First model. Connect with a case manager on Day 1 and enter coordinated entry immediately.