Kansas City straddles two states — Missouri and Kansas — and its homeless services system reflects that split geography in ways that matter practically if you’re trying to find a hotel voucher tonight. Where you are standing determines which system applies to you, which CoC coordinates your placement, and which government offices hold the emergency funds. This is one of the few cities in the country where the first question — “what state are you in right now?” — meaningfully changes the answer to everything that follows.
Approximately 1,500 people experience homelessness on any given night across the Kansas City metro, with the majority concentrated on the Missouri side. Downtown Kansas City, Missouri has the most developed emergency services infrastructure. The Kansas side — primarily Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) in Wyandotte County — has a smaller but functional system.
This page covers both sides of the metro. For statewide Missouri programs, see our Missouri hotel vouchers for homeless page.
Need a hotel voucher in Kansas City tonight? Call 211 — available 24 hours on both the Missouri and Kansas sides. On the Missouri side, also call the City Union Mission at 816-474-9380. Veterans call 877-424-3838.
The Two-State Reality — Missouri vs. Kansas Side
| Missouri Side (KCMO) | Kansas Side (KCK / Wyandotte County) | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary government contact | KCMO Human Services: 816-513-1000 | Wyandotte County DCFS: 913-573-8500 |
| Lead CoC | KC Metro CoC | Kansas Balance of State CoC |
| Primary shelter anchor | City Union Mission | Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas |
| TANF program | Missouri TANF (FSD: 855-FSD-INFO) | Kansas TANF (DCF: 888-369-4777) |
| State Medicaid | MO HealthNet | KanCare |
Key rule: If you are physically in Missouri, apply through Missouri systems even if you have Kansas ties — and vice versa. Benefits and shelter placements are tied to your physical location, not your permanent address.
Missouri Side — Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO)
City Union Mission — The Anchor Shelter
City Union Mission is the largest and most comprehensive emergency shelter organization in Kansas City, Missouri. They operate emergency shelter, transitional housing, and emergency assistance including motel vouchers when shelter capacity is exceeded.
- Phone: 816-474-9380
- Address: 1100 E 11th St, Kansas City, MO 64106
- Website: cityunionmission.org
- Intake: 24 hours for emergency shelter
- Who they serve: Men, women, and families in separate facilities
Salvation Army of Kansas City
Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers for individuals and families.
- Phone: 816-756-2769
- Address: 101 W Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Emergency assistance including housing help for anyone regardless of faith.
- Phone: 816-221-4377
- Website: catholiccharitiesks.org
reStart Inc.
Rapid rehousing, motel vouchers, and emergency housing specifically for Kansas City, Missouri.
- Phone: 816-472-5664
- Website: restartinc.org
- Who they serve: Adults, families, and veterans experiencing homelessness
KCMO Human Services Department
City-administered emergency housing assistance funds.
- Phone: 816-513-1000
- Website: kcmo.gov/human-services
Missouri Department of Social Services — Family Support Division (FSD)
Administers Missouri TANF emergency assistance which can sometimes authorize hotel placements for eligible families.
- Phone: 855-FSD-INFO (855-373-4636)
- Website: dss.mo.gov/fsd
Kansas Side — Kansas City, Kansas (Wyandotte County)
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
The primary emergency services organization on the Kansas side.
- Phone: 913-621-1243
- Website: catholiccharitiesnek.org
- Services: Emergency assistance including housing help
Salvation Army Kansas City, Kansas
Emergency housing assistance including hotel vouchers.
- Phone: 913-342-2299
- Address: 1703 N 5th St, Kansas City, KS 66101
Wyandotte County DCFS (Department for Children and Family Services)
Kansas TANF emergency housing assistance for eligible families.
- Phone: 913-573-8500
- Website: dcf.ks.gov
Kansas City Kansas Community College — WRAP Program
Emergency wrap-around services including housing assistance for KCK residents.
- Phone: 913-288-7272
Programs for Specific Populations
Families With Children
On the Missouri side, City Union Mission operates separate family emergency shelter and reStart Inc. coordinates rapid rehousing for families. Missouri TANF through FSD (855-373-4636) can authorize emergency hotel placements for eligible families with children — call and ask specifically about emergency housing authorization.
On the Kansas side, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas (913-621-1243) is the primary family resource. Kansas DCF (888-369-4777) administers Kansas TANF emergency funds.
Rose Brooks Center (DV survivors) — one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the Midwest
- Crisis line: 816-861-6100 (24 hours)
- Website: rosebrooks.org
- Serves: Women and children fleeing domestic violence on both sides of the metro
Veterans
Kansas City has significant veteran homelessness resources — the metro has a large veteran population given its proximity to Fort Leavenworth.
Kansas City VA Medical Center — Homeless Programs
- Phone: 816-861-4700 → ask for Homeless Veterans Programs
- Address: 4801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64128
Pathway Veterans Services
- Phone: 816-471-2131
- Website: pathwaykc.org
Veterans call 877-424-3838 to connect directly to VA homeless resources rather than general 211 routing.
Youth (Ages 18–24)
YouthWork KC
- Phone: 816-471-4520
- Website: youthworkkc.org
- Who they serve: Homeless youth and young adults in Kansas City
Synergy Services
- Phone: 816-587-4100
- Website: synergyservices.org
Seniors (60+)
Jewish Family Services Kansas City — seniors and families in crisis
- Phone: 913-327-8250
- Website: jfskc.org
Mid-America Regional Council — Area Agency on Aging
- Phone: 816-474-4240
How Kansas City’s CoC Coordinated Entry Works
Kansas City, Missouri is served by the KC Metro Continuum of Care, which coordinates shelter placement, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing across the Missouri side. The Kansas side is served by the Kansas Balance of State CoC.
To enter KCMO coordinated entry: Call 211 on the Missouri side. The operator will connect you to the coordinated entry access point, which conducts a vulnerability assessment and matches you to available resources. reStart Inc. (816-472-5664) is also a coordinated entry access point on the Missouri side.
To enter the Kansas CoC: Call 211 on the Kansas side. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is a key access point for Wyandotte County.
Being in the coordinated entry system — even before housing is available — is how you get matched to resources as they open. Don’t wait until a crisis is acute to call.
What to Do Once You Have a Placement
Apply for Missouri SNAP at mydss.mo.gov or call 855-373-4636. Kansas residents apply at dcf.ks.gov or call 888-369-4777. Zero income qualifies you for the maximum food assistance benefit and expedited 7-day processing on both sides of the state line.
Apply for Medicaid — MO HealthNet in Missouri at mydss.mo.gov, or KanCare in Kansas at dcf.ks.gov. Both cover healthcare, mental health, and substance use treatment. Missouri expanded Medicaid in 2021 — most low-income adults now qualify.
Enter coordinated entry through 211 or reStart Inc. on the Missouri side, or Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas on the Kansas side. This is your pathway to rapid rehousing and rental assistance — engage on Day 1.
Apply for Section 8. Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri: 816-968-4100. Wyandotte and Johnson County Housing: 913-281-3300 on the Kansas side. Both have long waitlists — also explore other housing voucher options in parallel. Understanding how the Section 8 process works from application through lease-up helps you stay active on a list you may wait years to reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a free hotel voucher for homeless in Kansas City?
Call 211 — available 24 hours on both sides of the state line. On the Missouri side, call City Union Mission at 816-474-9380 (24-hour shelter) and reStart Inc. at 816-472-5664 for motel voucher coordination. The Salvation Army at 816-756-2769 also maintains emergency housing funds. On the Kansas side, call Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas at 913-621-1243.
Does it matter if I’m on the Missouri or Kansas side of Kansas City?
Yes — significantly. Your physical location determines which state’s TANF funds, Medicaid, and CoC system apply to you. Missouri and Kansas operate entirely separate welfare systems, and a shelter bed on one side of the state line doesn’t automatically connect you to resources on the other. Call 211 and tell the operator specifically whether you are in Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas City, Kansas (Wyandotte County).
What is reStart Inc. and how does it help?
reStart Inc. is Kansas City’s dedicated rapid rehousing and emergency housing organization, operating specifically on the Missouri side. They coordinate motel vouchers, rapid rehousing placements, and are a coordinated entry access point for the KC Metro CoC. Call 816-472-5664 — reStart is one of the fastest routes to a motel placement on the Missouri side for adults and families who don’t need immediate emergency shelter.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless families in Kansas City?
Yes. On the Missouri side, call City Union Mission at 816-474-9380, reStart Inc. at 816-472-5664, or Missouri FSD at 855-373-4636 to ask about TANF emergency hotel authorization. On the Kansas side, call Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas at 913-621-1243 or Kansas DCF at 888-369-4777. Rose Brooks Center at 816-861-6100 serves DV survivors with children across the metro.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Kansas City?
Yes — veterans should call 877-424-3838 rather than the general 211 line. The Kansas City VA Medical Center at 816-861-4700 has dedicated homeless veteran programs including HUD-VASH vouchers. Pathway Veterans Services at 816-471-2131 also provides veteran-specific emergency housing assistance. Kansas City’s proximity to Fort Leavenworth gives the metro a strong veteran services infrastructure.
What happened to Missouri’s Medicaid? Can I get it if I’m homeless?
Missouri expanded Medicaid in 2021 under the Affordable Care Act — most low-income adults ages 19–64 now qualify regardless of whether they have children. Apply at mydss.mo.gov or call 855-373-4636. You do not need a permanent address to apply — use a shelter address, day center address, or General Delivery. If you’re on the Kansas side, apply for KanCare through dcf.ks.gov.
I’m staying in Overland Park or Lee’s Summit — do I use Kansas City services?
It depends on which side of the state line you’re in. Overland Park is in Johnson County, Kansas — call 211 for Kansas-side resources, and contact Johnson County Human Services at 913-715-6800. Lee’s Summit is in Jackson County, Missouri — call 211 for Missouri-side resources and Jackson County DHSS at 816-325-4600 for county emergency funds.
How long do hotel vouchers last in Kansas City?
Most Kansas City motel placements last 1–7 nights on both sides of the metro, with possible extensions through coordinated entry if longer-term housing hasn’t been secured. Enter your respective CoC coordinated entry system on Day 1 — Missouri through 211 or reStart, Kansas through 211 or Catholic Charities — and simultaneously apply for SNAP and Medicaid to build stability as quickly as possible.