The Fastest Way to Find Shelter Tonight

If you need emergency shelter immediately, these are the fastest paths:

  • Call 211. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tell the operator: "I need emergency shelter tonight." 211 operators have real-time information on which shelters have beds available and can make a direct referral. This is the single most reliable source of current shelter availability information.
  • HUD's Homeless Services Locator: Go to hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/homeless-assistance-resources/ or use the "Find Shelter" tool at 211.org for an online directory of shelters by location.
  • National Homeless Hotline: 1-800-466-4232 connects callers to their local homeless services networks.
  • Local CoC hotline: Many CoCs operate their own 24/7 hotlines specific to their community. Search "[your city] homeless hotline" or ask 211 for the local CoC contact.

When calling for shelter, have your location and a brief description of your household ready: number of adults, number and ages of children, any pets (some shelters accommodate pets), and whether any household members have medical or mobility needs. This information helps the operator identify the most appropriate shelter with available space.

What Is a Continuum of Care

A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local planning body that coordinates homeless services within a geographic area. CoCs are funded by HUD and bring together local governments, nonprofits, healthcare providers, emergency services, faith communities, and people with lived experience of homelessness to plan and implement a coordinated response to homelessness.

There are approximately 400 CoCs across the United States, each covering a defined geographic area — a single city, a county, a group of rural counties, or in some cases an entire state. CoCs plan and fund the full continuum of homeless services from street outreach to permanent housing, and they are the administrative entities through which HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants flow to local service providers.

For someone experiencing homelessness, the CoC is the system — even if you never interact with the CoC directly. The shelters, rapid rehousing programs, and permanent supportive housing programs you access are all funded through and coordinated by the CoC. Understanding that these services are coordinated helps you navigate them more effectively: asking about the full system when you enter at any point connects you to more of the resources available.

Coordinated Entry — The System's Front Door

Coordinated entry (CE) is the standardized process through which all homeless households in a CoC's geographic area are assessed, prioritized, and connected to appropriate services. It's the "triage" of the homeless services system — ensuring that limited resources go to the households with the greatest need and that everyone who enters the system is connected to the services they need rather than languishing in shelter indefinitely.

The CE process typically involves:

  • A standard assessment tool (most commonly the VI-SPDAT — Vulnerability Index and Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool) that evaluates housing history, needs, vulnerability factors, and strengths
  • Prioritization of households based on vulnerability and need — those with the longest homelessness histories and most complex needs receive priority access to permanent supportive housing
  • Matching to available programs — rapid rehousing for households likely to stabilize with short-term support, PSH for those with long-term service needs, transitional housing for specific populations
  • Referral to the matched program when a slot opens

Coordinated entry is typically completed at shelter intake, through a dedicated CE access point, or through street outreach. When you call 211 or arrive at a shelter, ask specifically about completing a coordinated entry assessment — this connects you to the full range of housing resources, not just emergency shelter.

Types of Shelter — Emergency, Transitional, Overflow

Not all shelter is the same. Understanding the types helps you know what to expect and which option serves your household's needs:

Emergency shelter: Immediate, low-barrier housing available without preconditions. Most emergency shelters operate on a first-come, first-served basis or through 211 referral. Stays are intended to be brief — a few days to a few weeks — while the household is connected to longer-term solutions. Emergency shelters range from large congregate facilities with dormitory-style sleeping to smaller scattered-site facilities with individual rooms.

Transitional housing: Time-limited housing (typically 6–24 months) with supportive services aimed at helping residents develop the skills and stability to move into permanent housing. Transitional housing requires more engagement from residents — participation in services, work or school requirements at some programs — and is less available than it once was as the field has shifted toward rapid rehousing as a more effective model.

Overflow/warming centers: Temporary capacity activated during extreme cold or heat weather events. These are not permanent shelter operations — they open when temperatures create life-threatening conditions and close when the weather normalizes. 211 will have information on overflow capacity when it's activated.

Day programs: Day centers provide a safe space, meals, showers, laundry, mail receipt, phone and computer access, and case management services during daytime hours — serving people who may not be in shelter overnight or who need services between shelter stays.

What to Bring to a Shelter

Most emergency shelters have limited storage space and specific rules about what can be brought in. Generally useful to bring:

  • Photo ID and any important documents you can carry (birth certificates, Social Security cards, benefits documentation) — these are often stored securely at the shelter
  • Prescription medications — inform the shelter staff about any medications when you check in
  • A small number of clothing items and personal hygiene supplies
  • Phone and charger if you have them

What most shelters cannot accommodate: large amounts of personal property, valuables (which should be left with trusted family or friends if possible), and in most cases pets (though pet-friendly shelters exist in many cities — call ahead if you have a pet).

Don't let lack of documents or ID prevent you from seeking shelter. Emergency shelters are generally required to provide access regardless of documentation status — ask at intake about what's required and what alternatives exist if you don't have ID. SNAP and other benefit applications can often be initiated during shelter stays even without prior ID, which then generates the documents needed for subsequent housing applications.

Your Rights in Emergency Shelter

Emergency shelter residents have rights, though these vary by state and type of shelter. Key protections:

  • Non-discrimination: Shelters receiving federal funding cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or religion. LGBTQ+ individuals have federal equal-access protections in HUD-funded shelters.
  • Equal access for transgender individuals: HUD's Equal Access Rule requires all CoC-funded shelters to place transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in facilities consistent with their gender identity, with some accommodation for individual privacy and safety needs.
  • Safety: You have a right to a safe environment. If you experience or witness harassment, threats, or violence at a shelter, report it to shelter staff, your CoC, or HUD's complaint line.
  • Reasonable accommodations: Shelters must make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If standard shelter policies create barriers due to a disability, request a reasonable accommodation from shelter management.
  • Notice before removal: Shelters cannot remove you without notice and opportunity to appeal in most cases, except for immediate safety threats.

Beyond Shelter — What Services Are Available

Emergency shelter is the entry point to a broader system. When you are in shelter, connect to these services through your case manager or 211:

  • Rapid rehousing: Short-term rental assistance to move from shelter to stable housing quickly. Ask about your CoC's RRH programs and whether you qualify — see Rapid Rehousing Programs.
  • Benefits enrollment: SNAP, Medicaid, and SSI/SSDI applications can be initiated during shelter stays. Many CoC providers have on-site benefits navigators or can connect you to benefits enrollment assistance.
  • Employment services: CoC programs and their partner agencies often have job placement, workforce training, and resume assistance services. These connect to SNAP E&T programs and other employment supports.
  • Healthcare: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve uninsured and low-income patients on sliding-scale fees. Healthcare for the Homeless programs exist in many cities. Connecting to healthcare while in shelter addresses health needs that may otherwise impede stability.
  • Food: See How to Find a Food Bank Near You — food pantries and SNAP benefits reduce food insecurity during shelter stays and after.

Shelter for Specific Populations

Specialized shelter exists for specific populations with needs that general emergency shelters don't always accommodate:

  • Families with children: Many CoCs have family-specific shelters with private rooms, child care, and school enrollment assistance. The McKinney-Vento Act ensures that children experiencing homelessness can stay enrolled in their school of origin or enroll in a new school immediately.
  • Domestic violence survivors: DV shelters operate separately from the CoC system in many communities, with confidential locations and specialized services. Call the National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for DV shelter referrals.
  • Youth (18–24): Youth-specific shelters provide safer environments for young adults who may be at risk in adult shelter settings. Many also offer housing-focused case management and rapid rehousing specifically designed for youth transitions.
  • Veterans: The HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program provides dedicated vouchers and case management for homeless veterans. Contact your local VA Medical Center or call 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for VA-specific homeless services.
  • People with serious mental illness or substance use disorders: Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) with intensive on-site services is the appropriate long-term housing model for this population. PSH access is prioritized through coordinated entry based on length of homelessness and service needs.