If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in Connecticut tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. Connecticut has one of the most robust state-funded homeless assistance networks in the country, with government agencies, nonprofits, and emergency programs that can place you in a safe motel or hotel room while you work toward stable housing.
This guide covers every Connecticut-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Connecticut — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in Connecticut through the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH), the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), local Community Action Agencies, the Salvation Army, and other nonprofits. The fastest way to access one is to dial 211, which connects you to local emergency housing resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Who Provides Hotel Vouchers in Connecticut?
Several organizations in Connecticut can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) — Connecticut’s dedicated housing agency manages state-funded emergency shelter and housing assistance programs, including funding for hotel and motel placements. Visit ct.gov/doh for more information.
Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) — DSS manages programs like TFA (Temporary Family Assistance) and state supplement programs that can cover emergency housing costs including short-term motel stays. Visit ct.gov/dss.
Connecticut 211 — Dialing 211 connects you with a trained operator who can identify the nearest hotel voucher program with available funds in your specific town or region. Connecticut’s 211 system is among the most comprehensive in the country.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Connecticut has Community Action Agencies serving every region of the state. These federally funded organizations are among the most reliable providers of emergency hotel and motel vouchers. Find your nearest agency at communityactionpartnership.com.
Salvation Army Connecticut — The Salvation Army operates locations in Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, and other cities and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, serving communities across Connecticut.
American Red Cross Connecticut — If your housing crisis results from a fire, flood, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — Many Connecticut churches maintain emergency funds specifically for hotel and motel vouchers, particularly in smaller cities and towns.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in Connecticut?
Eligibility varies by program, but most Connecticut hotel voucher programs give priority to:
- Individuals and families who are currently homeless (sleeping outside, in a vehicle, or in an unsafe location)
- People facing imminent eviction within 24–72 hours
- Families with children — prioritized by most Connecticut programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most Connecticut programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness — Connecticut has made ending veteran homelessness a state priority
- Disaster survivors displaced by storms, floods, or fires
- Individuals exposed to Connecticut’s cold winters
Connecticut has made significant progress in reducing homelessness and has dedicated substantial state funding to emergency housing. The state prioritizes a “Housing First” approach, meaning you don’t need to meet sobriety, employment, or other requirements to access emergency housing. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in Connecticut, though having one helps.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Connecticut (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Call 211
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone — it’s free. Tell the operator: “I need emergency shelter or a hotel voucher tonight in Connecticut.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your area. Connecticut’s 211 system is exceptionally well-resourced and is your single best starting point.
Step 2: Contact Connecticut DSS or DOH
The Connecticut Department of Social Services and Department of Housing both manage emergency housing programs. DSS can connect you with TFA emergency assistance and other programs, while DOH oversees state-funded shelter and hotel placement programs.
- DSS: ct.gov/dss | 855-626-6632
- DOH: ct.gov/doh | 860-270-8000
Step 3: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
Connecticut’s Community Action Agencies serve every region of the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Community Renewal Team (CRT) — Greater Hartford area
- Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut — Danbury and western CT
- New Opportunities, Inc. — Waterbury and northwest CT
- Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) — New London / eastern CT
- Southwestern CT Agency on Aging / STAR, Inc. — Southwestern CT
- Human Resources Agency of New Britain (HRA) — New Britain and central CT
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific town or region.
Step 4: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations throughout Connecticut and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Hartford: 860-543-8400
- Bridgeport: 203-334-6154
- New Haven: 203-624-7101
- Waterbury: 203-756-4803
- New Britain: 860-225-9235
- Norwalk: 203-866-4930
Step 5: Contact Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford provides emergency housing assistance to anyone regardless of faith, with multiple offices across Connecticut.
Contact: 860-548-2000 | ccaoh.org
Step 6: Contact Your Local Coordinated Access Network (CAN)
Connecticut operates a statewide Coordinated Access Network (CAN) system that connects people experiencing homelessness with available shelter and housing resources in each region. CAN is how emergency hotel vouchers and shelter beds are coordinated across the state. Dial 211 to be connected with your regional CAN.
Connecticut Government Programs for Emergency Housing
Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) — Emergency Shelter Programs
DOH funds a robust network of emergency shelters and hotel/motel placement programs across Connecticut. They administer the state’s ESG funds and additional state-appropriated homeless assistance dollars, making Connecticut one of the higher per-capita funders of homeless services in the nation.
Contact: ct.gov/doh | 860-270-8000
Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) — TFA and State Supplement
DSS administers Temporary Family Assistance (TFA), Connecticut’s TANF program, which can provide emergency housing assistance for eligible families with children. DSS also administers the State Supplement program, which can help elderly and disabled individuals with housing costs.
Contact: ct.gov/dss | 855-626-6632
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — Connecticut
Connecticut receives federal ESG funding from HUD as well as additional state ESG-equivalent funds. These are distributed to local nonprofits and homeless service providers to cover emergency shelter including hotel and motel stays.
Contact: DOH at ct.gov/doh
Connecticut’s Coordinated Access Network (CAN)
Connecticut’s CAN system is a statewide coordinated intake and referral network that manages access to emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing across eight regions. Every person experiencing homelessness in Connecticut is connected through the CAN system to available resources including hotel vouchers.
The eight CAN regions are:
- Greater Hartford CAN
- Greater New Haven CAN
- Greater Bridgeport CAN
- Norwalk/Stamford CAN
- Waterbury CAN
- New Britain/Bristol CAN
- New London/Windham CAN
- Northwest CT CAN
Dial 211 to be connected with your regional CAN coordinator.
HUD Continuum of Care — Connecticut CoC Programs
Connecticut’s CoC programs manage local homeless service networks. Key CoCs include:
- Connecticut Balance of State CoC — covers most of Connecticut
- Hartford CoC
- New Haven CoC
- Bridgeport/Greater Fairfield County CoC
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in Connecticut — such as a hurricane, flood, or severe storm — FEMA’s TSA program can place you in a participating hotel or motel at no cost.
Apply: disasterassistance.gov | 1-800-621-3362
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) — Connecticut
Connecticut has prioritized ending veteran homelessness and has dedicated VA resources to support homeless veterans. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
Connecticut VA Locations:
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System — West Haven: 203-932-5711
- Newington VA Campus: 860-666-6951
- Waterbury VA Clinic: 203-465-5292
- Stamford VA Clinic: 203-325-0649
- Willimantic VA Clinic: 860-450-7583
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in Connecticut
Community Renewal Team (CRT) — Hartford
CRT is one of Greater Hartford’s largest human services organizations, providing emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, and hotel voucher assistance across the Hartford region.
Contact: 860-560-5600 | crtct.org
Columbus House — New Haven
Columbus House is one of New Haven’s leading homeless service providers, operating emergency shelters and connecting individuals with hotel voucher programs when shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: 203-772-1420 | columbushouse.org
Salvation Army Connecticut
With locations in Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, and Norwalk, the Salvation Army is one of Connecticut’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Inspirica — Stamford
Inspirica provides emergency housing, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing services in Fairfield County. They can connect individuals in the Stamford/Norwalk area with hotel voucher assistance.
Contact: 203-388-9100 | inspirica.org
Pacific House — Stamford
Pacific House operates emergency shelters and provides hotel voucher assistance for individuals in Fairfield County experiencing homelessness.
Contact: 203-406-4949 | pacifichouse.org
Interval House — Hartford
Interval House provides emergency housing and hotel vouchers specifically for domestic violence survivors and their children in the Greater Hartford area.
Contact: 860-527-0550 | intervalhouse.org
New Reach — New Haven / Bridgeport
New Reach provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid re-housing services in the New Haven and Bridgeport areas, and can connect individuals with hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 203-562-1171 | newreachct.org
Bridges Healthcare — Milford / Western CT
Bridges Healthcare provides emergency housing assistance and connections to hotel voucher programs for individuals in the Milford and western Connecticut area.
Contact: 203-878-6365 | bridgesct.org
American Red Cross — Connecticut
The Red Cross assists people displaced by Connecticut’s storms, floods, and other disasters. If your homelessness stems from a disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations.
Contact: 1-800-733-2767 | redcross.org
Emergency Housing Help by City in Connecticut
Hartford / Greater Hartford
Hartford has Connecticut’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Hartford 211: Dial 211
- Community Renewal Team (CRT): 860-560-5600
- Salvation Army Hartford: 860-543-8400
- Catholic Charities Hartford: 860-548-2000
- Interval House (DV/families): 860-527-0550
- Journey Home (Hartford CoC lead): 860-769-4420
- Connecticut DSS Hartford: 860-566-2008
New Haven
- New Haven 211: Dial 211
- Columbus House: 203-772-1420
- New Reach: 203-562-1171
- Salvation Army New Haven: 203-624-7101
- Continuum of Care New Haven: 203-974-0014
- Connecticut DSS New Haven: 203-974-2200
Bridgeport / Fairfield County
- Bridgeport 211: Dial 211
- New Reach Bridgeport: 203-562-1171
- Pacific House: 203-406-4949
- Inspirica: 203-388-9100
- Salvation Army Bridgeport: 203-334-6154
- DSS Bridgeport: 203-551-2700
Stamford / Norwalk
- Stamford 211: Dial 211
- Inspirica: 203-388-9100
- Pacific House: 203-406-4949
- Salvation Army Norwalk: 203-866-4930
- Person-to-Person (Darien/Norwalk): 203-655-0048
- DSS Stamford: 203-251-9300
Waterbury
- Waterbury 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Waterbury: 203-756-4803
- New Opportunities, Inc.: 203-575-9799
- Waterbury Youth Services: 203-574-6971
- DSS Waterbury: 203-596-2000
New London / Eastern Connecticut
- New London 211: Dial 211
- TVCCA: 860-887-2631
- HARC (Eastern CT homeless services): 860-887-2631
- Salvation Army New London: 860-443-2238
- DSS Norwich: 860-886-5100
What to Do After Your Hotel Voucher Runs Out
A hotel voucher is a bridge — not a permanent solution. While you have temporary shelter, take these steps toward stable housing:
Connect with your regional CAN coordinator. Connecticut’s Coordinated Access Network is designed to move people from emergency housing into stable housing as quickly as possible. Your CAN coordinator can connect you with rapid re-housing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs. Dial 211 to reach your regional CAN.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in Connecticut. RRH programs provide short-term rental assistance and support services to help you move from homelessness into housing quickly. Connecticut has strong RRH programs in every region — ask your CAN coordinator or dial 211 to find out what’s available.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact the Connecticut Department of Housing or your local public housing authority to apply. Connecticut also has state-funded rental assistance programs — ask your caseworker about all options.
Apply for Connecticut’s Rental Assistance Programs. Connecticut DOH administers several state rental assistance programs. Contact DOH at ct.gov/doh or dial 211 to ask about current programs available in your area.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like CRT, Columbus House, New Reach, and Inspirica offer transitional housing programs across Connecticut with support services to help you build long-term stability.
Apply for benefits you may qualify for. If you haven’t already, apply for SNAP food assistance, HUSKY Health (Connecticut’s Medicaid), and TFA (Temporary Family Assistance) at your local DSS office or at connect.ct.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in Connecticut tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your Connecticut region. Connecticut’s 211 system is one of the best in the country — operators can access real-time shelter and voucher availability across the state.
What is Connecticut’s Coordinated Access Network (CAN)?
Connecticut’s CAN system is a statewide coordinated intake network that manages access to emergency shelter, hotel vouchers, and housing programs across eight regions. Rather than calling individual shelters, you call 211 and are connected to your regional CAN, which has a real-time picture of available resources. It’s designed to get you help faster.
Does Connecticut have a Housing First policy?
Yes. Connecticut is a national leader in Housing First — an approach that prioritizes getting people into stable housing without requiring sobriety, employment, or other preconditions. This means you can access emergency hotel vouchers and housing programs regardless of your current circumstances.
Are hotel vouchers available in rural Connecticut towns?
Yes. Connecticut’s CAN system and Community Action Agencies cover the entire state including smaller towns and rural areas. Dial 211 no matter where you are in Connecticut and operators will find the nearest available resources.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in Connecticut?
Many programs will still help you without a photo ID. Connecticut has protections ensuring access to services for people without identification. If you need help obtaining an ID, ask your caseworker about Connecticut’s free ID programs for people experiencing homelessness.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut has made ending veteran homelessness a state priority and has dedicated resources for homeless veterans. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or the West Haven VA at 203-932-5711.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in Connecticut?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or contact Interval House in Hartford (860-527-0550) or your local DV shelter. Connecticut’s Safe Connect statewide DV hotline is also available: 1-888-774-2900.
What if there are no hotel vouchers available in my area?
If vouchers are unavailable, your regional CAN coordinator will work to find the next available option — a shelter bed, transitional housing placement, or referral to another program. You can also contact the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-466-4782 for additional guidance.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in Connecticut tonight, your first call should be to 211. Connecticut’s well-funded and coordinated homeless services system — including the statewide CAN network — means help is more accessible here than in many other states.
Connecticut has resources for you. Don’t wait to reach out — that’s exactly what these programs are here for.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Connecticut DOH, Connecticut DSS, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army Connecticut
Program availability and funding levels vary by region and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.