How to Get Help If You Are Experiencing Homelessness (2024)

The National Alliance to End Homelessness does not provide direct services such as housing or case management. If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, please contact your local 2-1-1 hotline or continue reading for more information on how to get help in your community.

Step One: Accessing Shelter or Housing Services

If you are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness, the first step is to get in touch with the shelter system in your community. You may need to call a hotline or go to a community-designated organization for homeless services. Your community may have a “homeless hotline,” “2-1-1,” or other organization/agency that serves as the “front door” to receiving any kind of help.

Getting In Touch With the Shelter System in Your Community

The Continuum of Care (CoC) program is the “front door” for homelessness services across the country. Contact your community’s CoC to learn about access to shelter, housing, and other resources.
Contact the CoC in your area (after entering an address, click the map to find contact information for your local CoC)

A 2-1-1 hotline is available in many communities and offers trained staff 24/7 to help residents access services like shelter, health care, food, and other social services programs.
Find your community’s 2-1-1 hotline | Call 2-1-1

The National Coalition for the Homeless offers basic information on how people experiencing homelessness can get help and access resources.
Website

If your community doesn’t have a single access point, or you are unable to find it, you will have to identify various providers and determine if they have an available shelter bed or other resources like food and health care. A good place to start is your County Department of Human or Social Services, a nearby church, social service non-profit, the library, or a food pantry.

Accessing Health Care in Your Community

The Human Resources and Services Administration, a department of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers a searchable database of health clinics that provide free and/or accessible care.
Find a health center in your area

The National Healthcare for the Homeless Counciloffers a searchable state list of health care providers that serve people experiencing homelessness.
Find a clinic in your area

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics offers a national map of health providers that offer free care.
Find a free or charitable clinic in your area

Accessing Food in Your Community

Feeding America offers a food bank locator to help you find a food bank in your community.
Locate a food bank

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program offers supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education and counseling, and screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services.
Find WIC services in your area

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families.
Find or call your local SNAP office | Call the national information line 1-800-221-5689

Step Two: Determining how best to help you

Exploring options other than shelter. Having a safe, alternative to shelter is often a much better way of resolving your housing crisis. Provider staff may try to help you maintain your current housing (if you have any) and resolve conflicts that are keeping you from staying there. They may negotiate with a friend or family to extend your housing and may be able to assist you with rent or utilities.

→ To get in touch with homelessness services in your community, find your local 2-1-1 hotline.

If shelter is the only option. If you can’t stay where you stayed last night or there is no safe alternative for you, then provider staff will likely assess your strengths and needs relative to others who are also in need of a shelter bed. This assessment will ask you questions about your physical and mental health and your age. They may also ask how long you have been living on the street (or other place not meant for people to sleep in), if you have children, your income, employment history, and criminal history. These questions are not meant to disqualify you from services but to make the best match to services you may be eligible for.

Assessing permanent housing needs/preferences. In addition todetermining whether you need shelter, this assessment will explore what other housing needs and preferences you have. This process may happen in stages with different providers based on your needs, but is meant to help you move as quickly as possible from your current situation back into your own home.

Step Three: Prioritizing for Shelter and Housing

Help for those living outside. Unfortunately, a lot of communities in the U.S. have many people sleeping outside (including for long periods of time) and do not have enough shelter or housing to move everyone back into housing quickly. These communities need to prioritize resources for those who need them the most.

Help for those “doubled up,” unstably housed, or imminently homeless. Communities that do not have a lot of people living outside will also prioritize individuals and families based on a common set of factors that indicate how vulnerable and unsafe their current situation is and how close they are to a housing crisis.

Help for Specific Populations

Specialized services are also available for particular populations experiencing homeless such as veterans and young people.

Veterans

The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, offers confidential counseling 24/7 for veterans at risk of homelessness and their families.
Website | Call 1-877-424-3838

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans offers a directory of local service providers and general help navigating resources for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Find a local provider | View resources | Call 1-800-VET-HELP

The Veterans Crisis Line offers online chat with a mental health clinician 24/7.
Chat online | Call 1-800-273-8255 (press 1) | Text 838255

Domestic Violence

The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers confidential 24/7 hotline and online chat to anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
Call 1-800-799-7233 | Chat online (click chat in top right) | Make a safety plan

Young People

The National Runaway Safeline offers services and a confidential 24/7 hotline for young people who are at risk of homelessness.
Website | Call 1-800-786-2929

Step Four: Referral to shelter and/or housing

Referred to shelter. Once provider staff have assessed and determined your strengths, needs, and vulnerability, you may be referred to a shelter bed immediately. If you are not referred to a shelter bed, you may be placed on a waitlist for shelter. It depends on how your community makes referrals to shelter, so be sure to ask what you should expect or do next if you are not immediately referred to shelter.

Referred to housing resources. In addition to being referred to shelter, the provider staff should provide an explanation as to what housing resources may be available to you. There is no guarantee but you may be referred to housing resources such as rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, Section 8, or other housing resources. Be sure to ask what resources you may eligible for.

Resources

The Continuum of Care (CoC) program is the “front door” for homelessness services across the country. Contact your community’s CoC to learn about access to shelter, housing, and other resources.
Contact the CoC in your area (after entering an address, click the map to find contact information for your local CoC)

A 2-1-1 hotline is available in many communities and offers trained staff 24/7 to help residents access services like shelter, health care, food, and other social services programs.
Find your community’s 2-1-1 hotline | Call 2-1-1

The National Healthcare for the Homeless Counciloffers a searchable state list of health care providers that serve people experiencing homelessness.
Find a clinic in your area

Feeding America offers a food bank locator to help you find a food bank in your community.
Locate a food bank

How to Get Help If You Are Experiencing Homelessness (2024)

FAQs

Where in NJ can you go if you are homeless? ›

The local County Social Service Agency is the primary resource for individuals experiencing homelessness or those seeking emergency housing assistance. During business hours, individuals are directed to contact their local County Social Service Agency.

What benefits do homeless get in NJ? ›

These benefits include, but are not limited to: essential food, clothing, shelter and household furnishings; temporary rental assistance or back rent or mortgage payments; utility payments (such as heat, water, electric); transportation to search for housing; and moving expenses.

What to do when you have no home? ›

Find emergency housing
  1. Dial 211 for help finding emergency housing. In most areas of the U.S., dial 211 to connect with local social services and referrals for emergency housing.
  2. Find shelters near you. Check HUD's local homeless assistance list for shelters and housing in your state.
  3. Emergency housing for special groups.
Dec 15, 2023

Which organization helps the homeless the most? ›

Best Charities For Helping Homeless People
  • Family Promise.
  • Coalition for the Homeless.
  • Covenant House.
  • StandUp for Kids.
  • U.S. Veterans Initiative.
  • Abode Services.
  • Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
  • DePaul USA.

How do I get an emergency housing voucher in NJ? ›

Identify as homeless, recently homeless, in imminent risk of homelessness; or must be fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. Have a government-issued identification card. Have birth certificates for everyone in the household (or proof they were ordered).

What is the hardship program in New Jersey? ›

NJEA has created the Hardship Relief Fund to help active, retired, and student members through the temporary or permanent loss of their primary residence, food insecurity, or the loss of classroom supplies or materials due to an unforeseen event.

What is the Shush program in NJ? ›

Social Services for the Homeless (SSH) funding is provided through the State of New Jersey to assist homeless and at risk families and individuals who are ineligible for other Emergency Assistance programs. Services include: Emergency Food. Emergency Shelter.

What is the emergency assistance guarantee program in New Jersey? ›

Emergency Assistance (EA) is provided to WFNJ/TANF/GA and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients on a as needed basis. Assistance includes emergency allowance for food, clothing, furniture, utility, storage, shelter placement, security deposit and or back rent.

Does NJ offer rental assistance? ›

Please continue to check DCA's website to see when new waiting lists will be opened in the future. The State of New Jersey Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) is a state funded program that provides housing subsidies on behalf of very low-income New Jersey residents, for decent, safe, and sanitary housing.

Does the US government give money to the homeless? ›

Many people experiencing homelessness are housed through rental assistance, vouchers and public housing. Outside of those mainstream programs, there are a number of federal programs that work to house people experiencing homelessness, directly or indirectly.

What to do if I can't live at home anymore? ›

If you're 18 or over, contact the council's housing team to make a homelessness application. You may not get emergency housing, but you should get a personal housing plan with advice on finding a home.

What does SDF mean in homeless? ›

SDF is an acronym for sans domicile fixe, French for “with no permanent residence”. The term SDF is typically used in French media to identify a transient or homeless person.

Where do most homeless people go? ›

The homeless living on city streets are the most visible population of homeless, but not all homeless people live on the streets. Many live with family, friends, in a vehicle, or in shelters. Others who do live on the streets may find shelter in parks, on beaches, or even under bridges.

What is most useful to a homeless person? ›

Here are some ideas of what you can easily provide to a homeless person to make a difference in their life.
  • Blankets. ...
  • Food. ...
  • Water. ...
  • A tent. ...
  • Clothing. ...
  • A place to charge your phone. ...
  • Sometimes it is easy to help the homeless. ...
  • Giving money to people rough sleeping.
Sep 21, 2022

How do I get into a shelter in NJ? ›

IMPORTANT: If you need immediate assistance, call 211 (alternate phone number: 1 (800) 435-7555) or Hudson County's Homeless Hotline at 1 (800) 624-0287.

Is it illegal to feed the homeless in NJ? ›

You'll Need a Permit for That. Newark, New Jersey's largest city, is working on an ordinance that would restrict the practice of feeding homeless people who live on the street.

What is transitional housing in NJ? ›

Transitional Housing provides temporary housing and support services through Victim Service Programs (VSP). These services are allowable for any victim of violent crime, when necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the victim, and needed as a result of a victimization.

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