Missouri has over 6,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, split between two major urban centers — St. Louis in the east and Kansas City in the west — with a broad rural middle and southern Ozarks region where services are sparse. Both cities have significant unsheltered homelessness and well-developed nonprofit ecosystems. Rural Missouri counties, particularly in the Bootheel and Ozarks, often have little more than a local church or a single community action agency as their emergency housing resource.
This guide from House for Homeless covers how to find emergency hotel or motel assistance anywhere in Missouri tonight.
Need a hotel voucher in Missouri tonight? Call 211 immediately — Missouri 211 is available 24 hours across all 114 counties and independent cities. 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 Missouri
Missouri does not have a single statewide hotel voucher program. Emergency hotel and motel assistance is funded and administered locally through:
- Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) — state-level programs and ESG funds
- County and city social services offices — local emergency assistance
- Community Action Agencies — Missouri’s CAA network covers all 114 counties
- Continuums of Care — Missouri has multiple CoC regions; St. Louis and Kansas City each have their own large CoC
- Nonprofits and faith-based organizations
Missouri’s unique governmental structure includes both counties and independent cities — St. Louis City is legally separate from St. Louis County and has its own social services. Always specify whether you are in St. Louis City or St. Louis County when calling for help.
Always call 211 first.
Missouri State Programs Supporting Hotel Assistance
Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS)
DSS administers the Temporary Assistance (TA) program (Missouri’s TANF) and emergency assistance programs through local Family Support Division offices statewide. In crisis situations, DSS can sometimes authorize emergency hotel placements for families with children.
DSS contact: 1-855-373-4636 Website: dss.mo.gov
Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC)
MHDC distributes federal ESG funds and state housing resources to local organizations providing emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and hotel assistance statewide.
MHDC contact: 816-759-6600 Website: mhdc.com
Who Provides Hotel Vouchers in Missouri by Region
St. Louis City and St. Louis County
St. Louis CoC / Peter & Paul Community Services Lead CoC partner coordinating homeless services in the St. Louis metro area.
- Phone: 314-421-4447
- Website: ppcsinc.org
Gateway 180 (families and women) Emergency family shelter and housing services in St. Louis City.
- Phone: 314-588-1600
- Website: gateway180.org
- Intake: 24 hours for families in crisis
Salvation Army of St. Louis Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 314-646-3000
- Address: 3949 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Catholic Charities of St. Louis Emergency assistance including housing help for anyone in need.
- Phone: 314-792-7400
- Website: ccstl.org
Biddle House (men) Emergency shelter and housing services for men in St. Louis.
- Phone: 314-421-4449
St. Patrick Center Comprehensive homeless services including rapid rehousing and emergency hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 314-802-0700
- Website: stpatrickcenter.org
St. Louis City DSS — Family Support Division City emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 314-340-7600
St. Louis County Department of Human Services County emergency housing assistance for St. Louis County residents.
- Phone: 314-615-4476
Kansas City and Jackson County
Kansas City CoC / reStart Inc. Lead CoC partner and primary homeless services provider in Kansas City.
- Phone: 816-472-5664
- Website: restartinc.org
- Intake: Call for current hours and availability
Salvation Army of Kansas City Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 816-756-2769
- Address: 101 W 11th St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph Emergency assistance including housing help.
- Phone: 816-221-4377
- Website: catholiccharities-kcsj.org
City Union Mission (men) Emergency shelter and housing services for men in Kansas City.
- Phone: 816-474-9380
- Website: cityunionmission.org
- Intake: Daily — call for current hours
Synergy Services (families and women) Emergency shelter and housing services for families and women in the Kansas City area.
- Phone: 816-587-4100
- Website: synergyservices.org
Jackson County Department of Family Services County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 816-881-3000
Springfield and Southwest Missouri
Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) / Springfield CoC Lead Community Action Agency and CoC partner for Southwest Missouri.
- Phone: 417-862-4314
- Website: oacac.com
Salvation Army Springfield Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 417-864-0186
- Address: 1521 W Division St, Springfield, MO 65803
Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri (Springfield) Emergency assistance including housing help.
- Phone: 417-887-6790
- Website: ccsomo.org
Green Hills Shelter (women and families) Emergency shelter and housing in Springfield.
- Phone: 417-865-1225
Greene County DSS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 417-895-6000
Columbia and Mid-Missouri
Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) Community Action Agency serving Boone, Callaway, Cooper, Howard, and Moniteau counties.
- Phone: 573-443-8706
- Website: cmca-online.org
Voluntary Action Center (VAC) Emergency assistance including hotel vouchers for Columbia area residents.
- Phone: 573-874-2273
- Website: vac-como.org
Salvation Army Columbia Emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 573-442-3229
Boone County DSS County emergency housing assistance.
- Phone: 573-882-5300
Joplin and the Southwest Corner
Joplin Area Community Center / Community Interfaith Council Emergency assistance including hotel vouchers for Joplin area residents.
- Phone: 417-782-1977
Salvation Army Joplin Emergency assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 417-623-4705
Southeast Missouri Bootheel
The Missouri Bootheel — one of the most economically distressed regions in the United States — has extremely limited formal hotel voucher programs. Primary resources:
- Southeast Missouri Community Action Agency (SEMO CAA): 573-471-2560
- Local churches — primary emergency resource in the Bootheel
- 211 — always call first
Rural and Ozarks Missouri
Rural Missouri counties have very limited formal hotel voucher programs. Primary resources:
- Your county DSS Family Support Division office — find at dss.mo.gov
- Community Action Agencies — call 211 for your nearest CAA
- Local churches — primary emergency resource in rural Missouri
- 211 — always call first
Who Qualifies for Hotel Vouchers in Missouri
| Priority Group | Missouri-Specific Notes |
|---|---|
| People sleeping outside or in vehicles | Highest priority statewide |
| Families with children | Top priority; DSS Temporary Assistance can authorize placements |
| Domestic violence survivors | Missouri DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233; SafeHouse: 816-HOTLINE |
| Veterans | VA resources in St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Poplar Bluff |
| Seniors (60+) | Priority in most county programs |
| Youth ages 18–24 | City-specific youth programs — ask 211 |
| Couples | Hotel placements address gender-separated shelter barriers |
| Bootheel residents | SEMO CAA and local churches are primary resources |
| Rural Ozarks residents | County DSS and local churches primary resources |
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Missouri — Step by Step
Step 1: Call 211 — available 24 hours across all 114 Missouri counties and independent cities.
Step 2: If you are in St. Louis City, call St. Patrick Center at 314-802-0700 or the Salvation Army at 314-646-3000.
Step 3: If you are in St. Louis County, call the county Department of Human Services at 314-615-4476.
Step 4: If you are in Kansas City, call reStart Inc. at 816-472-5664 or the Salvation Army at 816-756-2769.
Step 5: If you are in Springfield, call OACAC at 417-862-4314 or the Salvation Army at 417-864-0186.
Step 6: Contact your local DSS Family Support Division office and ask about emergency hotel assistance.
Step 7: If you are a veteran, call 877-424-3838 immediately.
What to Do During Your Missouri Hotel Placement
Apply for food assistance immediately: Apply for Missouri SNAP at mydss.mo.gov or call 1-855-373-4636. With zero income you qualify for maximum benefits and expedited 7-day processing. See our food assistance guide for details.
Apply for MO HealthNet (Medicaid): Apply at mydss.mo.gov for Missouri’s Medicaid program — covering healthcare, mental health, and substance use treatment.
Enter coordinated entry: In St. Louis, call 211 or St. Patrick Center. In Kansas City, call reStart. Elsewhere, call 211. Coordinated entry is your pathway to rapid rehousing and permanent housing. See our housing assistance guide for all your options.
Apply for rapid rehousing: Ask 211 specifically for rapid rehousing referrals. St. Louis and Kansas City both have active programs. See our emergency rental assistance guide as another immediate option.
Apply for Section 8: Contact your local Missouri PHA. St. Louis Housing Authority: 314-534-9560. Kansas City Housing Authority: 816-968-4100. Missouri PHAs have long waitlists — apply now and to multiple PHAs. See our Section 8 guide and browse all housing voucher programs for more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a free hotel voucher for homeless in Missouri?
Call 211 from anywhere in Missouri — available 24 hours across all 114 counties and independent cities. In St. Louis City, call St. Patrick Center at 314-802-0700 or the Salvation Army at 314-646-3000. In Kansas City, call reStart Inc. at 816-472-5664. In Springfield, call OACAC at 417-862-4314. Your local DSS Family Support Division office is also a key resource.
What is the difference between St. Louis City and St. Louis County for homeless services?
St. Louis City and St. Louis County are legally separate governments with separate social services departments. If you are in the city of St. Louis, contact St. Louis City DSS at 314-340-7600. If you are in the surrounding county, contact St. Louis County Human Services at 314-615-4476. When calling 211, specify whether you are in the city or county for accurate referrals.
Does Missouri have a statewide hotel voucher program?
No. Missouri does not have a single statewide hotel voucher program. Emergency hotel assistance is funded and administered locally through county DSS offices, Community Action Agencies, CoCs, and nonprofits. Resources are most available in St. Louis and Kansas City — rural and Bootheel counties have significantly fewer options. Call 211 for what is available in your specific area.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless families in Missouri?
Yes. Families with children are the top priority. Missouri DSS Temporary Assistance can sometimes authorize emergency hotel placements for families in crisis. Call 211 and specify that you have children. Gateway 180 in St. Louis specifically serves families and women. Synergy Services in Kansas City also prioritizes families.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Missouri?
Yes — veterans should call 877-424-3838 rather than general 211 lines. Missouri has VA resources in St. Louis (John Cochran VA Medical Center), Kansas City (Kansas City VA Medical Center), Columbia (Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital), and Poplar Bluff (John J. Pershing VA) with dedicated homeless veteran programs including HUD-VASH and SSVF rapid rehousing.
What if I am homeless in the Missouri Bootheel?
The Bootheel is one of the most economically distressed regions in Missouri with very limited formal hotel voucher programs. Southeast Missouri Community Action Agency (SEMO CAA) at 573-471-2560 is the primary resource. Local churches are often the main source of emergency hotel assistance. Call 211 — operators know local resources not publicly listed.
What is MO HealthNet?
MO HealthNet is Missouri’s name for Medicaid — free healthcare for low-income residents. Apply at mydss.mo.gov or call 1-855-373-4636. MO HealthNet covers medical, dental, mental health, and substance use treatment services.
How long do hotel vouchers last in Missouri?
Most Missouri emergency placements last 1–7 nights, with possible extensions while longer-term housing is arranged. St. Louis and Kansas City programs sometimes offer longer placements for families. Connect with a case manager on Day 1 and enter coordinated entry immediately.