Wyoming is the least populated state in the United States — about 580,000 people spread across 97,914 square miles. It also has no state income tax, no Medicaid expansion, and one of the leanest social service systems in the country. Approximately 800 people experience homelessness on any given night in Wyoming, but that number hides the reality that in many Wyoming counties, there is no shelter, no organization with hotel voucher funds, and no formal homeless services at all.
What Wyoming does have: Cheyenne and Casper with functional emergency service systems, a small but active network of Community Action Agencies, a strong tradition of community self-reliance that means local churches often step in where government programs end, and winters that make getting people inside a matter of survival from October through April.
If you need emergency housing in Wyoming tonight, this guide from House for Homeless will tell you what exists and what does not.
Need emergency housing in Wyoming tonight? Call 211 — available 24 hours. During extreme cold, barriers drop at most Wyoming programs. Veterans call 877-424-3838.
The Wyoming Reality — What to Expect Before You Call
Wyoming has no Medicaid expansion — meaning adults without dependent children and without disabilities generally do not qualify for Wyoming Medicaid. This shapes the entire emergency services landscape: the state has fewer resources flowing into homeless programs than expansion states, and organizations here are working with thinner margins than their counterparts in Colorado or Montana.
Wyoming also has no single statewide homeless program and no statewide coordinated entry system in the way that larger states have. Each community operates independently. What Cheyenne has, Lander does not. What Casper has, Pinedale does not.
The energy economy shapes Wyoming homelessness in a specific way. The Powder River Basin coal and gas boom-and-bust cycle — centered around Gillette and Campbell County — has left people stranded between high-wage booms and sudden layoffs. Oil field workers who lost housing when the market turned sometimes end up in communities with no infrastructure to help them.
If you are in Cheyenne or Casper: real help exists. Call it. If you are in a small Wyoming town or rural county: your realistic options are your county Department of Family Services, your local church, and 211.
Cheyenne — Wyoming’s Best-Resourced City for Homeless Services
Cheyenne, as the state capital and largest city, has Wyoming’s most developed emergency housing system — though “most developed” is relative in a state this size.
Wyoming Rescue Mission The primary emergency shelter in Cheyenne for men, women, and families.
- Phone: 307-635-0217
- Address: 4524 Joanne Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82001
- Website: wyomingrescuemission.org
- Intake: Daily — call first for current availability
Salvation Army of Cheyenne Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers for individuals and families.
- Phone: 307-632-9153
- Address: 2120 Capitol Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Interfaith Alliance of Wyoming (Cheyenne) Coordinates emergency assistance across faith communities in Cheyenne — a key resource because much of Wyoming’s emergency safety net runs through churches.
- Phone: 307-632-7744
Safehouse Services (DV survivors) Emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors in Cheyenne.
- Crisis line: 307-637-7233 (24 hours)
- Website: safehouseservices.org
Laramie County Social Services (TANF emergency funds)
- Phone: 307-777-6000
Casper — The Second City
Casper sits at the center of Wyoming’s oil and gas country and has the second largest city homeless services system in the state.
Casper Rescue Mission Primary emergency shelter in Casper.
- Phone: 307-235-6775
- Website: casperrescuemission.com
- Intake: Daily — call for current hours
Salvation Army Casper Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 307-237-9405
- Address: 1430 E 2nd St, Casper, WY 82601
Wyoming Circles of Warmth Emergency assistance and housing resources in Casper.
- Phone: 307-237-2020
Central Wyoming Counseling Center Mental health and housing assistance for people experiencing homelessness in Casper.
- Phone: 307-235-6800
Natrona County Department of Family Services County TANF emergency funds.
- Phone: 307-473-3900
Smaller Cities — Who to Call
Laramie (Albany County) The University of Wyoming is here, but homeless services are thin. The Salvation Army at 307-742-5007 is the primary contact. Albany County DFS: 307-745-7350.
Gillette (Campbell County) The energy economy hub. When the coal market collapsed, Gillette saw significant housing instability. The Salvation Army at 307-682-2099 is the primary contact. Campbell County DFS: 307-682-0552.
Rock Springs (Sweetwater County) The Community Entry Services at 307-362-3726 provides some emergency housing assistance. Sweetwater County DFS: 307-352-2700.
Riverton and Lander (Fremont County) Fremont County has a significant Native American population — Wind River Reservation members should contact Eastern Shoshone Tribe Social Services at 307-332-3532 or Northern Arapaho Tribe Social Services at 307-332-0125. Fremont County DFS: 307-856-9311.
Jackson (Teton County) Jackson Hole is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. Seasonal and hospitality workers regularly face housing instability. The Community Entry Services of Teton County at 307-733-2252 is the primary emergency resource. Teton County DFS: 307-733-3352.
Wind River Reservation — Tribal Resources First
Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation is home to both the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. For members of either nation, tribal social services are the right first call — not county DFS, not 211.
Eastern Shoshone Tribe Social Services: 307-332-3532 Northern Arapaho Tribe Social Services: 307-332-0125
The Wind River Reservation has significant housing needs driven by poverty and a housing stock that does not meet the population’s needs. Overcrowding — multiple families sharing homes — is common in ways that official homeless counts do not capture. Tribal social services have the most direct knowledge of what emergency resources exist.
Wyoming’s Winter Danger
Wyoming winters are severe across most of the state. Wind chill temperatures below -30°F are common in the Bighorn Basin, Powder River Basin, and high elevation areas. During severe cold events:
Most Wyoming shelter programs drop normal intake requirements — if you are outside in dangerous cold, call first and explain the emergency rather than assuming you will be turned away for a past disqualification.
If you are in a rural Wyoming county with no shelter nearby and temperatures are life-threatening, call 911 and explain your situation. Law enforcement in Wyoming is often the de facto emergency response for outdoor cold exposure in communities without shelters.
Wyoming Department of Family Services — Your Government Contact
Every Wyoming county has a Department of Family Services (DFS) office. This is the state’s equivalent of a county welfare office. DFS administers:
- TANF (Wyoming Works) — emergency housing funds for families with children
- Emergency Assistance — one-time funds that can sometimes cover a hotel stay
- Low-income energy assistance (LIEAP) — utility help that may free up money for housing
Find your county DFS office at dfs.wyo.gov. When you call, ask specifically about Wyoming Works emergency housing authorization — the specific framing matters because DFS workers handle many programs and may not lead with housing options unless you ask directly.
What to Do With a Placement
Apply for Wyoming SNAP immediately — call DFS at 307-777-6000 or apply at dfs.wyo.gov. Zero income means the maximum food assistance benefit and expedited 7-day processing.
Apply for Wyoming Medicaid at the same site — note that Wyoming has not expanded Medicaid, so eligibility is narrower than in most states. Children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities have the strongest eligibility. Adults without dependents face more limited options.
Contact your local Community Action Agency for help entering any available coordinated entry system and accessing emergency rental assistance programs. Wyoming doesn’t have a unified statewide coordinated entry, but local CAAs often know what is actually moving.
Apply for Section 8 through the Wyoming Housing Network or your local housing authority. Cheyenne Housing Authority: 307-635-1032. Understanding how the voucher process works before you apply saves time. Also worth knowing what other housing assistance programs may be available — Wyoming has USDA rural housing programs that apply in many parts of the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am homeless in a rural Wyoming county with no shelter nearby. What do I do?
Call 211 first — even in remote Wyoming counties, operators sometimes know community resources not publicly listed. Then call your county DFS office and ask specifically about Wyoming Works emergency housing authorization. If temperatures are life-threatening, call 911 — Wyoming law enforcement is often the only available emergency response for cold weather exposure in communities without shelters. Your local church — particularly Catholic, Lutheran, and Methodist congregations — often maintains small emergency funds even in towns without formal organizations.
Does Wyoming have any statewide hotel voucher program?
No. Wyoming has no state-level hotel voucher program and no statewide coordinated entry system. Emergency hotel assistance comes entirely from local sources — county DFS emergency funds, Salvation Army offices where they exist, Community Action Agencies, and local nonprofits. Resources vary enormously by county. Cheyenne and Casper have functional systems; many rural counties have nothing formal at all.
Why hasn’t Wyoming expanded Medicaid?
Wyoming is one of the remaining states that has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The political decision not to expand means adults without dependent children and without qualifying disabilities generally do not qualify for Wyoming Medicaid. This limits the state’s capacity to fund behavioral health and substance use treatment services that in expansion states help stabilize homeless individuals. If you are in Wyoming and need healthcare while homeless, community health centers like the Cheyenne Community Health Center (307-635-3555) provide sliding-scale care regardless of insurance status.
What about homeless workers in Jackson Hole?
Jackson is a unique situation in Wyoming — housing costs rival major coastal cities while wages reflect a seasonal tourism economy. The gap between what service workers earn and what local housing costs means housing instability is common, and it affects employed people, not just people with chronic homelessness histories. Community Entry Services at 307-733-2252 is the primary contact. The Teton County DFS at 307-733-3352 can sometimes authorize emergency assistance. Given the high cost of Jackson, people willing to relocate often find better options in other Wyoming communities.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Wyoming?
Yes — veterans should call 877-424-3838 rather than the general 211 line. Wyoming is served by the Cheyenne VA Medical Center (307-778-7550), with CBOCs in Casper, Gillette, Riverton, Rock Springs, and Sheridan. Veteran-specific programs including HUD-VASH and SSVF rapid rehousing are available through the Cheyenne VA. Veterans in rural Wyoming can sometimes access services remotely through telehealth and outreach programs — call the national line first.
What is Wyoming Circles of Warmth?
Wyoming Circles of Warmth is an emergency assistance organization in Casper that provides help with basic needs including housing emergencies. They operate with community donations and can sometimes provide hotel vouchers for Casper residents when Salvation Army and Rescue Mission resources are exhausted. Call 307-237-2020. They are an example of the informal community-based safety net that is more important in Wyoming than in states with larger formal systems.
Can seasonal workers get hotel vouchers in Wyoming?
Some seasonal workers experiencing homelessness in Wyoming can access hotel voucher programs, but eligibility depends on where you are and which program you approach. The energy sector workers in Gillette and Campbell County sometimes face the most acute situations — high wages disappearing suddenly with no housing safety net. The Salvation Army in Gillette at 307-682-2099 is the primary contact. DFS can sometimes authorize emergency housing funds if you have qualifying children or disabilities. If you are in a resort community like Jackson, Community Entry Services at 307-733-2252 understands the seasonal worker context.
Is Wyoming a good state to be homeless in?
No — despite the lower visible homelessness and lower housing costs compared to coastal states, Wyoming’s thin social services, lack of Medicaid expansion, cold winters, and vast distances between communities make it a genuinely difficult state to navigate a housing crisis in. The informal community safety net — churches, neighbors, community organizations — is stronger here than in many states, but that strength is inconsistent and depends heavily on which county you are in. If you have the option to access services in a neighboring state with more developed systems — Colorado, Utah, or Montana — that may be worth considering.