Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville exists because of Fort Liberty — the military installation formerly known as Fort Bragg, which is the largest military installation in the world by population. Roughly 50,000 active-duty soldiers and 10,000 civilian employees work there, and the city of Fayetteville has built its economy, services, and identity around that reality for generations. This shapes homelessness here in ways that don’t apply anywhere else: a significant portion of people experiencing homelessness in Fayetteville are veterans, recently separated service members who didn’t transition successfully to civilian life, or military family members left behind after a deployment or divorce.

Approximately 600 people experience homelessness on any given night in Cumberland County — smaller in absolute numbers than most cities in this series, but with a higher proportion of veteran and military-connected homelessness than virtually any other city of comparable size in the country. The services system reflects this: Fayetteville’s veteran homeless programs are among the strongest in the Southeast.

This page covers Fayetteville and Cumberland County. For all North Carolina programs, see our North Carolina hotel vouchers for homeless page.

Need a hotel voucher in Fayetteville tonight? Call 211 — available 24 hours in Cumberland County. Veterans and active-duty families: call 877-424-3838 first — this city’s VA and military resources move faster than general programs.

Fayetteville Emergency Housing Providers at a Glance

If You Are a Veteran or Military Family — Start Here

In most cities, the veteran section appears midway through the article. In Fayetteville, it leads — because if you are connected to Fort Liberty in any way, the military and VA pipeline will move faster and deliver better outcomes than the civilian homeless services system.

Fayetteville VA Medical Center — Homeless Programs

• Phone: 910-822-7090
• Address: 2300 Ramsey St, Fayetteville, NC 28301
• HUD-VASH: Permanent housing vouchers for eligible homeless veterans
• SSVF: Rapid rehousing for veterans at imminent risk of homelessness
• Homeless Veterans Outreach: Active street outreach in Cumberland County

Veterans call 877-424-3838 first. The Fayetteville VA serves one of the largest veteran populations of any VA facility in the Southeast — veteran homeless programs here are well-staffed and well-funded relative to the city’s size.

Fort Liberty Army Community Service (ACS) — for active duty and their families

• Phone: 910-396-1456
• ACS maintains emergency financial assistance funds specifically for active-duty soldiers and their families facing housing crises — this is separate from civilian programs and often faster
• Ask specifically about the Emergency Relief Fund and the Army Emergency Relief (AER) program

Army Emergency Relief (AER) AER provides interest-free loans and grants to active-duty soldiers and their families for emergency needs including housing. Apply through your unit or ACS — you do not need to go through a civilian shelter system.

• Phone: 703-428-0000 (national)
• Website: aerhq.org

Wounded Warrior Project — veteran case management

• Phone: 888-997-2586
• Website: woundedwarriorproject.org
• Connects veterans with complex needs — PTSD, TBI, substance use — to housing resources alongside clinical support

Civilian Emergency Housing Resources

For people experiencing homelessness in Fayetteville who are not connected to the military:

Fayetteville Urban Ministry

The primary civilian emergency assistance organization in Fayetteville — coordinates motel vouchers, utility assistance, and food programs.

• Phone: 910-483-5944
• Address: 324 Old Street Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28301
• Website: fumfayetteville.org
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM for emergency assistance
• Note: Fayetteville Urban Ministry maintains active motel voucher funds — one of the most direct routes to a same-day hotel placement for civilian adults

Salvation Army of Fayetteville

Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.

• Phone: 910-483-3494
• Address: 1025 Robeson St, Fayetteville, NC 28305
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Catholic Charities Diocese of Raleigh — Fayetteville Office

Emergency assistance including housing help for anyone regardless of faith.

• Phone: 910-323-4678

Hope Mills Area Ministries

Emergency financial assistance including housing help for Cumberland County residents.

• Phone: 910-424-4242
• Serves both Fayetteville and Hope Mills residents

Cumberland County Department of Social Services

Administers NC Work First (TANF) emergency housing funds for eligible families.

• Phone: 910-323-1540
• Website: co.cumberland.nc.us/dss

North Carolina-Specific Programs That Apply in Fayetteville

NC Work First (TANF) Emergency Assistance

North Carolina’s TANF program — NC Work First — can authorize emergency hotel placements for eligible families with children through Cumberland County DSS.

How to access: Call Cumberland County DSS at 910-323-1540 and ask specifically about NC Work First emergency housing authorization. Bring ID, proof of children, and any income documentation.

NC Medicaid — Expanded Coverage

North Carolina expanded Medicaid in 2023 — one of the last states to do so. Most adults 19–64 at or below 138% FPL now qualify, including people experiencing homelessness. Apply at epass.nc.gov or call 1-888-245-0179. This is a recent change that many people in Fayetteville may not yet know they qualify for.

The Transition Gap — Service Members Leaving Fort Liberty

One of the most specific and underserved populations in Fayetteville is service members who recently separated from the military and didn’t successfully transition to civilian employment, housing, and benefits. This gap — between military service ending and civilian stability beginning — accounts for a significant portion of Fayetteville’s visible homelessness.

Resources specifically designed for this transition:

NC4ME (North Carolina for Military Employment) — job placement for veterans transitioning to civilian careers: 919-807-4371

Servicemember Transition — if you separated in the last 180 days, you may still qualify for TRICARE health coverage during the transition period. Contact the Fayetteville VA for enrollment guidance.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) — Fayetteville Chapter

• Phone: 910-488-5561
• Helps recently separated veterans navigate VA benefits claims, which often determines housing stability

Soldier On — rapid rehousing specifically for veterans who fall through the gap between military housing and civilian housing:

• Call the Fayetteville VA homeless programs line at 910-822-7090 and ask about veteran-specific rapid rehousing

Cumberland County CoC — Coordinated Entry

The Cumberland County Continuum of Care coordinates all housing resources across Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Coordinated entry is accessed through 211 or through Cumberland County DSS.

A vulnerability assessment determines priority for rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing. Being in the system before your placement ends keeps you connected to resources as they open — enter on Day 1 of any motel placement.

What to Do Once You Have a Placement

Apply for North Carolina SNAP at epass.nc.gov or call 1-888-245-0179. Zero income qualifies you for the maximum food assistance benefits and expedited 7-day processing.

Apply for NC Medicaid at the same portal — North Carolina expanded Medicaid in 2023, so most low-income adults now qualify. Healthcare, mental health, and substance use treatment all covered.

Enter Cumberland County CoC coordinated entry through 211 or Cumberland County DSS at 910-323-1540 on Day 1. This is your pathway to rapid rehousing and rental assistance programs.

Apply for Section 8. Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority: 910-483-8765. Waitlists are long — also explore other housing voucher options in parallel. Understanding how Section 8 works from application to lease-up prevents common errors that cost people their place in line.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a free hotel voucher for homeless in Fayetteville?

Call 211 first — available 24 hours in Cumberland County. Then call Fayetteville Urban Ministry at 910-483-5944 (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–12 PM) — they maintain active motel voucher funds and are one of the most direct civilian routes to a same-day placement. The Salvation Army at 910-483-3494 also maintains emergency housing funds. Veterans should call 877-424-3838 first — the VA system moves faster here.

I just separated from the military and lost my housing — what are my options?

Call the Fayetteville VA Homeless Programs at 910-822-7090 immediately — veteran-specific rapid rehousing through SSVF is available for recently separated service members. If you separated in the last 180 days, check TRICARE eligibility through the VA enrollment line. The DAV Fayetteville Chapter at 910-488-5561 helps navigate VA benefits claims, which often unlocks housing resources. NC4ME at 919-807-4371 connects veterans to civilian employment.

What is Army Emergency Relief and can I use it for housing?

Army Emergency Relief (AER) provides interest-free loans and grants to active-duty soldiers and their immediate family members for emergency housing needs. Apply through Fort Liberty’s Army Community Service at 910-396-1456 or directly through AER at aerhq.org. This is separate from any civilian program and does not go through the shelter system — it moves faster for eligible active-duty families.

North Carolina expanded Medicaid — does that affect me in Fayetteville?

Yes, and significantly. North Carolina expanded Medicaid in 2023, meaning most adults 19–64 at or below 138% FPL now qualify — including people experiencing homelessness. If you haven’t applied since 2023, you may now be eligible when you previously weren’t. Apply at epass.nc.gov or call 1-888-245-0179. Use a shelter, day center, or General Delivery address if you don’t have a permanent address.

Are there hotel vouchers for homeless families in Fayetteville?

Yes. Families with children receive priority in Cumberland County DSS programs — call 910-323-1540 and ask about NC Work First emergency hotel authorization. Fayetteville Urban Ministry at 910-483-5944 and Catholic Charities at 910-323-4678 also serve families. Military families on active duty should contact Fort Liberty ACS at 910-396-1456 for the Army Emergency Relief program.

What is the difference between HUD-VASH and SSVF for homeless veterans?

HUD-VASH provides permanent housing vouchers — it’s a long-term solution that subsidizes rent indefinitely for eligible veterans. SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) provides rapid rehousing — a time-limited intervention designed to quickly stabilize veterans in housing and connect them to income. Both are available through the Fayetteville VA at 910-822-7090. SSVF moves faster; HUD-VASH provides more permanent stability.

What is Fayetteville Urban Ministry?

Fayetteville Urban Ministry at 910-483-5944 is the primary civilian emergency assistance organization in Fayetteville. They maintain active motel voucher funds, utility assistance, and food programs, and operate Monday–Friday 9 AM–12 PM for emergency financial assistance. For civilian adults who are not veteran-connected, this is one of the most direct same-day routes to a hotel placement in Cumberland County.

Cape Fear Valley Behavioral Health — how does it connect to housing?

Cape Fear Valley Behavioral Health at 910-615-1700 provides mental health and substance use treatment services in Fayetteville. For people whose homelessness is connected to a mental health condition or active substance use, seeking treatment at Cape Fear Valley can sometimes accelerate housing placement — behavioral health engagement is a positive signal in the coordinated entry vulnerability assessment. Call 211 and tell the operator your housing need is connected to a mental health condition.