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Sudden homelessness can happen for many reasons in just about every community. If you’ve lost your home because of a financial crisis or a natural disaster, or you’re escaping domestic violence or human trafficking, you’ll need an immediate and safe place to live. This need can be short-term while you rebuild your home or longer-term as you rebuild your life.
When these emergencies happen, you usually don’t have time to come up with a backup plan or arrangements for temporary housing. Sleeping on the street creates a much higher risk of assault, murder, theft, and exposure to extreme weather.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have family and friends nearby to offer a temporary place to stay. When this happens, who can you turn to, and where can you go? Here are a few ideas to help you find a safe place to sleep when you suddenly have nowhere to live.
Where To Find Places to Stay for Free:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides housing assistance with referrals to different programs including emergency housing vouchers. Contact your local housing counseling agency at 800-569-4287 or visit:
Just Shelter is another resource for people facing homelessness:
Salvation Army:
National Homeless Hotline (USA): Call 1-800-273-8255 or 211
Homeless Shelter Directory:
Shelter Listings:
American Red Cross:
For emergency housing after natural disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, etc.
More places to find emergency housing resources:
- Libraries
- Community centers
- City, County, or State housing authorities
Many free emergency housing options are on a first-come, first-serve basis and might not be available when you need them. Depending on your financial situation, you might be able to pay for temporary lodging.
Other Temporary Housing Options (Paid):
The following options are safer and more comfortable than traditional homeless shelters, but they aren’t free.
You might be able to find a short-term rental, like a motel room or Airbnb, that fits your budget. Depending on the location, it might be a more affordable solution than renting an apartment while you look for permanent housing.
Hostels: When you think of hostels, the first thing that might come to mind is no-frills but clean, friendly, and affordable lodging for tourists backpacking through Europe. Unfortunately, that’s not the way it is at all American hostels. Living conditions will vary. While not the ideal setting in some locations, bunking down in a hostel can be a temporary solution.
Sleeping in Your Car: If these temporary housing options aren’t available or affordable, you can sleep in your car, van, RV, or other vehicle. Of course, make sure you can legally sleep there. Keep in mind that rules and regulations about overnight parking change all the time, so some information might be out of date. Always check with the managers of these locations before you settle in for the night (or longer).
Park at well-lit, high-traffic parking lots that are open 24 hours a day. It’s also important to keep your vehicle clean, especially free from debris and odors inside and outside your car.
Some (but not all) of these parking lots might allow overnight parking:
Walmart
Churches and synagogues
Truck stops
24-hour convenience stores
Rest stops
Casinos
Gyms
Emergency rooms
Police stations
You might also be able to camp in your vehicle on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.
LINKS:
Local community development and affordable housing contacts: https://www.hudexchange.info/grantees/find-a-grantee/
https://www.hud.gov/ehv HUD emergency housing vouchers
Bureau of Land Management
Homeless Veterans:
If you’re escaping abuse:
Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233) or text BEGIN to 88788 for confidential help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
DomesticShelters.org is another resource for escaping abuse and locating emergency shelters.
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