What Is a Homeless Hotel Voucher?
A homeless voucher allows you to stay in a hotel or motel, even if you don’t have the money to pay for it. This is not a form of long-term housing assistance, as your stay will usually be limited to one to three nights.
Referral agencies often have agreements with certain hotels and motels that allow them to provide this service to the homeless. In some instances, you can choose your lodging.
Why Would You Use a Motel Voucher Instead of a Homeless Shelter?
There are many reasons why someone would prefer a voucher over a homeless shelter. While shelters can provide housing to those who need it, they’re known to come with specific issues that may not be ideal, such as:
- Problems with alcohol and drug abuse
- Theft
- Residents who could be a danger to themselves or others
- Lack of sanitation or infestation of insects and rodents
Depending on the location, some shelters may be overcrowded and have no room for new residents. Some people may also be banned from using shelters, which forces them to find other forms of housing.
Lastly, the thought of moving into a homeless shelter can be very intimidating for someone who has never lived on the streets. With a hotel voucher, you can get the temporary housing you need and buy some time to get organized before having to choose a shelter as your last resort.
Where Can You Find Homeless Motel Vouchers?
Finding a homeless hotel voucher may be a bit of a challenge, depending on where you live.
To begin your search, try the following options that tend to be the most popular:
Call 211
Dialing 211 can instantly connect you with a local operator who can provide help with housing. The operator won’t be able to give you a voucher themselves, but they will know who to contact in your area so you can kick start the process.
Calling 211 is your best bet since they not only provide housing assistance, but can also help you find food, healthcare, bill-paying assistance, and more so you can get back on your feet without having to do a ton of research.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is no stranger to helping the homeless, as they’ve provided food and housing to those in need for many years. You can contact your local Salvation Army and ask if they offer homeless hotel vouchers. If not, they may be able to connect you with a homeless shelter for the time being.
Homeless Shelters
Even though staying in a homeless shelter may be the last thing you want to do, contacting one could help you secure a motel voucher. Since shelters exist to help the homeless, their staff members are likely experts at vouchers and other forms of assistance that could make a world of difference right now.
Catholic Charities
Like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities have played a significant role in helping the homeless over the years. Contact the branch nearest you and ask if they offer hotel vouchers for the homeless.
Regional Assistance Programs
Many states, counties, and cities have their own programs to help the homeless. The one nearest you may have motel vouchers available. Be sure to ask the 211 operator if they know of any regional assistance programs for the homeless. You can also do an online search for homeless assistance in your state, county, or city to see if you get any leads.
Section 8 Assist
