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PublicAssistance.netIndependent guide to public assistance

Emergency shelter and safety

I have nowhere safe to stay. Where to go tonight, and who to call if you are in danger.

PublicAssistance.net is an independent informational website. It is not a government agency and cannot determine eligibility, approve benefits or accept applications. Confirm current information with the agency that administers the program. How this site works

If you need help in the next day or two

These can usually help quickly, and most need little or no paperwork.

  • Food pantries and food banks — Free groceries, usually the same day, with little or no paperwork. This is the fastest food option while a benefits application is being decided. Official site
  • Call 911 — If someone is in immediate physical danger or needs emergency medical help, call 911 now. Official site
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — Free, confidential support 24 hours a day for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. Call or text 988. Official site
  • 211 local referral line — Dial 211 to reach someone local who knows what help actually exists near you tonight — shelter beds, food, rent help and utility assistance. Free and confidential in most of the country. Official site
  • Find a shelter near you — HUD keeps a search for emergency shelters, along with food and health services, that you can use without an application. Official site
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free, confidential help 24 hours a day if you are being hurt or controlled by a partner or family member, including help finding somewhere safe to go. Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Official site

Start here

The main pathways for shelter and safety, soonest help first.

Where you actually apply

Most of these are federal programs run by your state, so the application, the timeline and the office you deal with are all your state's. Pick your state to see its own pages and what it calls each program.

  • California

    Full state guide with official application links.

  • Florida

    Full state guide with official application links.

  • Texas

    Full state guide with official application links.

See all states

Common mistakes, and how to avoid being scammed

  • Nobody legitimate charges you to apply. Every program on this page is free to apply for. If a site or a person asks for a fee to file, or for a "processing payment", walk away.
  • Assuming you earn too much. Limits are often higher than people expect, and several of these programs count income differently from how you might.
  • Only applying for one thing. Several states decide food, cash and health coverage from one application, and applying for one can start the others.
  • Waiting to have every document. Applying starts the clock. In most programs you can supply missing paperwork afterwards.
  • Giving up after a refusal. Refusals are frequently overturned on appeal, and the letter you receive must tell you how to appeal and by when.
  • Never share your Social Security number, bank details or benefit card PIN with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly, by text, call or email — including anyone claiming to be from a benefits agency.

Directories that list local providers

This site does not hold a nationwide list of every local provider. These directories do, and each is a separate directory site run by the same team.

Food-Banks.org — Food pantries and food banks giving out groceries near you. Opens in a new tab. A separate directory site run by the same team.
SheltersForHomeless.com — Emergency and transitional shelters, with contact details. Opens in a new tab. A separate directory site run by the same team.

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