If you are experiencing homelessness right now, knowing which program to reach for first — and what each one actually does — can make the difference between sleeping outside tonight and getting into shelter.
There are many types of housing assistance programs in the United States, but they are not all equal in speed or accessibility. Some can help you within hours. Others take months or years. This guide from House for Homeless breaks down every type, starting with the ones you can access right now.
Need housing help tonight? Call 211 immediately. Operators are available 24 hours a day and can tell you exactly which programs have availability in your area right now. Veterans call 877-424-3838.
What to Do Right Now If You Are Homeless
Before reading about program types, here is what to do if you need help today:
- Call 211 — free, 24/7, connects you to local shelters, food, and crisis housing
- Go to the nearest emergency shelter — most accept walk-ins in the evening
- Call the VA at 877-424-3838 if you are a veteran
- Visit a community action agency — they often run multiple programs under one roof
- Ask at a soup kitchen or food bank — staff often know exactly which shelters have open beds
Once you have a safe place to sleep, you can work on longer-term housing options. Stability comes first.
Types of Housing Assistance — Ordered by How Fast You Can Access Them
1. Emergency Shelters (Available Tonight)
Emergency shelters provide immediate, free, short-term housing — a bed, basic meals, and safety. No lease, no deposit, no waiting period in most cases. You show up, go through a brief intake process, and get a bed.
Who can use them: Anyone experiencing homelessness. Most shelters serve walk-ins.
How to find one: Call 211 or see our emergency shelter guides by city.
Homeless-specific barriers addressed:
- No ID required at most shelters — low-barrier shelters accept everyone
- No income required — shelters are free
- Pets — some shelters have pet-friendly accommodations or kennel partnerships; ask 211
Limitations: Stays are typically limited to 30–90 days. Shelters are a starting point, not a permanent solution.
2. Warming Centers and Cooling Centers (Seasonal — Available Tonight)
Warming centers open during extreme cold weather. Cooling centers open during extreme heat. They provide a safe space to wait out dangerous temperatures and may include meals, cots, and basic services.
Who can use them: Anyone — no eligibility requirements at most locations.
How to find one: Call 211 or search your city name and “warming center” or “cooling center.”
3. Hotel and Motel Vouchers (Available Within Days)
Emergency hotel and motel vouchers provide temporary accommodation in a hotel or motel for people who cannot access shelter — because shelters are full, they have pets, are a couple, or have other barriers to traditional shelter.
These vouchers are issued by local social services agencies, Community Action Agencies, or nonprofits using emergency funds. They are not a federal program — availability varies by city and county.
Who can use them: People experiencing homelessness who cannot access traditional shelter.
How to find them: Call 211 specifically asking for hotel or motel voucher programs. See our hotel vouchers for homeless guide for state and city guides.
Homeless-specific barriers addressed:
- Available for couples, people with pets, and people who cannot access gender-segregated shelters
- No lease or deposit required
- Some programs available same-day
4. Emergency Rental Assistance (Available in 2–6 Weeks)
Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs help people who are behind on rent and facing eviction. ERA pays your landlord directly — clearing past-due rent and preventing eviction.
ERA is not just for people already homeless. If you are about to become homeless because of unpaid rent, ERA is often the fastest way to prevent that from happening.
Who can use it: Renters behind on rent, facing eviction, or at risk of homelessness. Income must generally be at or below 80% of Area Median Income.
How to apply: Call 211 or see our guide on what emergency rental assistance is and how to apply for ERA.
Homeless-specific barriers addressed:
- If you have already received an eviction notice, ERA is often expedited
- No income required — ERA serves zero-income households
5. Rapid Rehousing (Available in Days to Weeks)
Rapid rehousing programs help people who are currently homeless move into permanent housing as quickly as possible. They provide short-term rental assistance — typically 3 to 12 months — along with case management to help you stabilize.
Rapid rehousing is specifically designed for people experiencing homelessness. It is one of the most effective programs for moving people from the streets or shelters into actual housing.
Who can use it: People currently experiencing homelessness. Income must be very low. Administered by local Continuums of Care.
How to access: Call 211 and ask for rapid rehousing referrals or your local Continuum of Care.
Homeless-specific barriers addressed:
- Designed specifically for people without housing — this is not a barrier, it is a requirement
- Case managers help with first month’s rent, security deposits, and landlord negotiations
- No fixed address needed to apply
6. Transitional Housing (Available in Weeks to Months)
Transitional housing programs provide structured housing for 6 to 24 months, combined with intensive case management, life skills training, employment support, and mental health services. They bridge the gap between emergency shelter and permanent housing.
Transitional housing is more structured than emergency shelter. Residents typically have their own room or apartment within the program and participate in support services designed to help them achieve long-term stability.
Who can use it: People experiencing homelessness who need more time and support to transition to independent living. Many programs serve specific populations — veterans, families, people in recovery, domestic violence survivors.
How to access: Call 211 or contact your local CoC. VA GPD programs serve veterans specifically.
7. Permanent Supportive Housing (Available Over Months)
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) combines long-term affordable housing with voluntary supportive services — mental health care, substance use treatment, case management — for people with chronic homelessness and disabilities.
PSH operates on the Housing First principle: housing is provided without preconditions. You do not have to be sober or participating in treatment to get in.
Who can use it: People with chronic homelessness (homeless for 12+ months or repeatedly) who also have a disabling condition — serious mental illness, substance use disorder, physical disability.
How to access: Contact your local CoC or call 211. See our guide on permanent supportive housing.
8. Public Housing (Waitlist — Months to Years)
Public housing consists of government-owned rental units rented to low-income households at 30% of their income. Managed by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), public housing provides stable, long-term affordable housing — but getting in requires being placed on a waitlist.
Who can use it: Very low-income households (at or below 80% of AMI). People currently homeless receive priority at many PHAs.
How to access: Apply through your local PHA. Find your PHA at HUD’s directory.
Homeless-specific note: Mention your current homeless status when applying — it may qualify you for priority placement.
9. Housing Choice Vouchers — Section 8 (Waitlist — Months to Years)
Section 8 vouchers allow you to choose your own rental in the private market and pay only 30% of your income toward rent. The government pays the rest. With over 2.3 million households served, it is the largest rental assistance program in the U.S.
The challenge: waitlists in most cities are years long. Some PHAs have closed their waitlists entirely.
Who can use it: Households at or below 50% of AMI. Veterans, people with disabilities, and currently homeless households get priority at many PHAs.
How to access: Apply to your local PHA — and apply to multiple PHAs simultaneously. See our full guide on what Section 8 is and how it works.
Homeless-specific note: Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) are a faster version specifically for homeless individuals — ask your local CoC about EHV availability.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Program Type | Speed | For Homeless Now? | Duration | Cost to You |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Shelter | Tonight | ✓ Yes | 30–90 days | Free |
| Warming/Cooling Center | Tonight | ✓ Yes | Hours | Free |
| Hotel/Motel Voucher | 1–3 days | ✓ Yes | Days to weeks | Free |
| Emergency Rental Assistance | 2–6 weeks | If facing eviction | One-time | Free |
| Rapid Rehousing | Days to weeks | ✓ Yes — designed for it | 3–12 months | Subsidized |
| Transitional Housing | Weeks to months | ✓ Yes | 6–24 months | Free/low cost |
| Permanent Supportive Housing | Months | Chronic homelessness + disability | Permanent | 30% of income |
| Public Housing | Months to years | Priority if homeless | Permanent | 30% of income |
| Section 8 Voucher | Months to years | Priority if homeless | Permanent | 30% of income |
Programs by Population
Different programs serve different groups better. Here is a quick reference:
| You Are… | Best Starting Point |
|---|---|
| Single adult, homeless tonight | Call 211 for emergency shelter |
| Family with children, homeless | Call 211 — request family shelter specifically |
| Veteran experiencing homelessness | Call 877-424-3838 (VA hotline) |
| Person with disability, chronically homeless | Ask 211 for permanent supportive housing referral |
| Behind on rent, facing eviction | Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance immediately |
| Fleeing domestic violence | Call National DV Hotline: 800-799-7233 |
| Have pets, cannot access shelter | Call 211 — ask specifically for pet-friendly shelter or hotel vouchers |
| Couple, cannot access gender-separated shelter | Call 211 — ask for couple-friendly options or hotel vouchers |
How to Apply: Your First Steps
If you need shelter tonight: Call 211 or walk into your nearest emergency shelter before 8 PM — most shelters complete intake in the evening.
If you are about to lose your housing: Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance immediately. Call 211 or see our guide on applying for ERA.
If you are in a shelter and need the next step: Ask your shelter’s case manager about rapid rehousing or transitional housing referrals. Every HUD-funded shelter has staff who can connect you to these programs.
For long-term assistance: Apply to your local PHA for the Section 8 waitlist and public housing simultaneously. Apply to multiple PHAs — there is no rule against being on several lists at once. See our complete guide on how to apply for housing assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of housing assistance can I get right now if I am homeless?
Emergency shelters are available tonight in most cities — call 211 to find one with open beds. Hotel and motel vouchers can be arranged within 1–3 days through local social services. Rapid rehousing programs move people from homelessness into housing within days to weeks. These are your fastest options.
What is the difference between emergency shelter and transitional housing?
Emergency shelter is immediate, short-term (30–90 days), and has minimal requirements — you simply need to be homeless. Transitional housing is more structured and longer-term (6–24 months), combining housing with intensive support services like case management, job training, and mental health care. Emergency shelter is step one; transitional housing is the next step toward permanent housing.
Can I get housing assistance if I have no ID?
Yes. Emergency shelters — particularly low-barrier shelters — accept people without ID. For government programs like Section 8 and ERA, ID is typically required for adults, but many programs will allow you to submit ID later if you apply first. Contact 211 and explain your situation — they can direct you to programs that work with people who lack ID, and to free ID programs in your area.
Do housing assistance programs help people with criminal records?
Many do. Low-barrier emergency shelters and rapid rehousing programs often serve people with criminal records. Section 8 and public housing have restrictions on certain offenses (particularly drug-related felonies and violent crimes) but PHAs conduct individual reviews for most other convictions. Call 211 and be honest about your situation — staff can direct you to programs that work with your specific history.
Is Section 8 the best housing assistance program?
Section 8 is the most well-known but not always the most accessible — especially when you are currently homeless. Rapid rehousing, hotel vouchers, and emergency shelter can help you immediately. Section 8 is a long-term goal worth pursuing but should be applied for alongside, not instead of, faster options.
What housing assistance is available specifically for veterans?
Veterans have a dedicated system including HUD-VASH vouchers (Section 8 + VA case management), SSVF rapid rehousing, and VA Grant and Per Diem transitional housing. Call 877-424-3838 — the VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans — for immediate referrals to all veteran-specific programs. See our veteran housing assistance guide.
Can couples get housing assistance together?
Yes, but it requires finding the right program. Many emergency shelters are gender-separated. Couples should specifically request couple-friendly shelters or hotel/motel vouchers when calling 211. Rapid rehousing and transitional housing programs can serve couples together. Section 8 and public housing serve households of any composition.
What if I have children and I am homeless?
Families with children are a priority population for most housing assistance programs. Call 211 and specifically request family shelter — family shelters keep parents and children together. Rapid rehousing programs prioritize families. Children experiencing homelessness are automatically eligible for free school meals regardless of other eligibility factors.