If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in Maine tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. Maine has a statewide network of government agencies, nonprofits, and emergency assistance programs that can place you in a safe motel or hotel room while you work toward stable housing.
This guide covers every Maine-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Maine — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in Maine through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing), 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 Maine?
Several organizations in Maine can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) — Maine’s primary social services agency manages emergency assistance programs that can cover short-term motel stays for eligible individuals and families. Contact your local DHHS office or visit maine.gov/dhhs.
Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) — MaineHousing manages Maine’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit mainehousing.org.
Maine 211 — Dialing 211 connects you with a trained operator who can identify the nearest hotel voucher program with available funds in your specific county or region.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Maine has Community Action Agencies serving every region of the state. These federally funded organizations are the backbone of emergency housing assistance in Maine — particularly in rural and coastal communities far from major cities.
Salvation Army Maine — The Salvation Army operates locations in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and Augusta and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities Maine — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, serving communities statewide.
American Red Cross Maine — If your housing crisis results from a nor’easter, flood, wildfire, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — Many Maine churches — especially in remote rural and coastal communities — maintain emergency funds specifically for hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in Maine?
Eligibility varies by program, but most Maine 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 Maine programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most Maine programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by nor’easters, flooding, or ice storms
- Asylum seekers and immigrants — Maine, particularly Portland, has seen significant numbers of asylum seekers in recent years and has developed specific programs to address their housing needs
- Individuals exposed to Maine’s brutal winters, especially in remote northern and rural communities
Maine’s winters are among the harshest in the contiguous United States — with prolonged subzero temperatures, heavy snowfall, and dangerous wind chills. Emergency hotel placements are a life-safety issue during Maine’s winter months. Maine also has a significant rural population spread across a large geographic area, which creates unique access challenges. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in Maine, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Maine (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 Maine.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county.
Step 2: Contact Maine DHHS — Office for Family Independence
Maine DHHS manages emergency assistance programs through its Office for Family Independence (OFI). OFI administers the General Assistance (GA) program — administered at the town level in Maine — and TANF emergency funds that can cover motel stays for eligible families with children.
Important: Maine’s General Assistance (GA) program is unique — it is administered by individual towns and cities, not the state. Contact your town or city office directly for GA emergency housing funds.
Contact: maine.gov/dhhs | 207-624-4100
Step 3: Apply for General Assistance Through Your Town or City
Maine’s General Assistance (GA) program is a critical and unique resource. Every municipality in Maine is required by law to provide GA to residents in need, including emergency motel vouchers. Contact your town or city office — even on nights and weekends, many municipalities have an on-call GA worker.
- Portland GA Office: 207-756-8090
- Bangor GA Office: 207-992-4200
- Lewiston GA Office: 207-513-3120
- Auburn GA Office: 207-333-6601
- Augusta GA Office: 207-626-2350
For your specific town’s GA contact, dial 211 or visit maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/ga.
Step 4: Contact MaineHousing
MaineHousing funds emergency shelter and housing programs across Maine and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: mainehousing.org | 207-626-4600
Step 5: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
Maine’s Community Action Agencies are especially important in a state with such a large rural population. They often have emergency motel voucher funds available and serve communities far from major cities. Key agencies include:
- Preble Street — Portland / Greater Portland
- Community Concepts — Oxford and Androscoggin counties / western Maine
- Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) — Augusta / Kennebec and Somerset counties
- Penquis Community Action Program — Bangor / Penobscot and Piscataquis counties
- Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) — Presque Isle / Aroostook County (the largest county by area east of the Mississippi)
- Downeast Community Partners — Ellsworth / Hancock and Washington counties
- Waldo Community Action Partners — Belfast / Waldo County
- York County Community Action — York County / southern Maine
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 6: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and Augusta and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers.
- Portland: 207-774-6304
- Bangor: 207-942-7977
- Lewiston: 207-782-2092
- Augusta: 207-622-4771
Maine Government Programs for Emergency Housing
Maine General Assistance (GA) Program
Maine’s General Assistance program is one of the most important emergency housing resources in the state and is unique to Maine’s system. By state law, every municipality must provide GA to qualifying residents, including emergency motel vouchers. GA is administered at the town level, making it highly local and accessible even in small communities.
To apply, contact your town or city office. Most municipalities have an on-call GA worker for after-hours emergencies.
Contact: maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/ga | 207-624-4100
Maine DHHS — Emergency Assistance Programs
Maine DHHS administers TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and other emergency assistance programs that can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying individuals and families. DHHS works in conjunction with the town-level GA program.
Contact: maine.gov/dhhs | 207-624-4100
MaineHousing — State Housing Programs
MaineHousing manages Maine’s affordable housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local service providers. They fund emergency shelter programs — including hotel and motel stays — statewide and administer the Maine Rental Assistance Program.
Contact: mainehousing.org | 207-626-4600
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — Maine
Maine receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through MaineHousing to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: MaineHousing at mainehousing.org
HUD Continuum of Care — Maine CoC Programs
Maine’s CoC programs coordinate homeless services regionally. Key CoCs include:
- Portland CoC (Greater Portland Council of Governments)
- Bangor CoC
- Balance of State Maine CoC — covers the majority of Maine’s communities
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info | mainehousing.org
Maine’s Asylum Seeker Housing Programs
Portland and Maine DHHS have developed specific programs to address the housing needs of asylum seekers, who have arrived in significant numbers in recent years. Portland’s Office of Refugee Services and DHHS both coordinate emergency housing assistance for asylum seekers.
Contact: Portland Office of Refugee Services: 207-756-8339 | maine.gov/dhhs
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in Maine — such as a severe nor’easter, flood, or ice 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) — Maine
Homeless Maine veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
Maine VA Locations:
- Togus VA Medical Center (Augusta): 207-623-8411
- Portland VA Clinic: 207-771-3500
- Bangor VA Clinic: 207-561-3600
- Lewiston/Auburn VA Clinic: 207-376-6200
- Saco VA Clinic: 207-294-3100
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in Maine
Preble Street — Portland
Preble Street is Maine’s largest homeless services organization, providing emergency shelter, day services, housing assistance, and connections to hotel voucher programs across Greater Portland. They operate multiple shelters and service centers and are the primary point of entry into Portland’s homeless services system.
Contact: 207-775-0026 | preblestreet.org
Salvation Army Maine
With locations in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and Augusta, the Salvation Army is one of Maine’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Charities Maine
Serves anyone in need regardless of faith. Provides emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals across Maine.
Contact: 207-871-7437 | ccmaine.org
Penquis Community Action Program — Bangor
Penquis serves Penobscot and Piscataquis counties and provides emergency housing assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the Bangor area and rural central Maine.
Contact: 207-973-3500 | penquis.org
Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) — Augusta
KVCAP serves Kennebec and Somerset counties and provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the Augusta area and central Maine.
Contact: 207-859-1500 | kvcap.org
Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) — Presque Isle
ACAP serves Maine’s vast Aroostook County — the largest county by area east of the Mississippi River — providing emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for residents of far northern Maine.
Contact: 207-764-3721 | acap-me.org
Community Concepts — Western Maine
Community Concepts serves Oxford and Androscoggin counties and provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in western Maine’s rural communities.
Contact: 207-333-6419 | community-concepts.org
York County Community Action — Southern Maine
York County Community Action serves Maine’s most densely populated county and provides emergency housing assistance including hotel voucher connections for residents of southern Maine.
Contact: 207-324-5762 | yccac.org
Milestone Recovery — Portland
Milestone Recovery provides emergency shelter and housing assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders in the Portland area, including connections to hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 207-874-1140 | milestonerecovery.org
New Beginnings — Lewiston/Auburn
New Beginnings provides emergency shelter and housing assistance specifically for homeless youth and young adults in the Lewiston/Auburn area and central Maine.
Contact: 207-795-4077 | newbeginningsinc.org
American Red Cross — Maine
The Red Cross assists people displaced by Maine’s nor’easters, ice storms, and floods. 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 and Region in Maine
Portland / Greater Portland (Cumberland County)
Portland has Maine’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Portland 211: Dial 211
- Preble Street: 207-775-0026
- Portland GA Office: 207-756-8090
- Salvation Army Portland: 207-774-6304
- Catholic Charities Maine: 207-871-7437
- Milestone Recovery: 207-874-1140
- Maine DHHS Portland: 207-822-2000
- Portland Office of Refugee Services: 207-756-8339
Lewiston / Auburn (Androscoggin County)
- Lewiston 211: Dial 211
- Lewiston GA Office: 207-513-3120
- Auburn GA Office: 207-333-6601
- Salvation Army Lewiston: 207-782-2092
- New Beginnings (youth): 207-795-4077
- Community Concepts: 207-333-6419
- Maine DHHS Lewiston: 207-753-9000
Bangor / Greater Bangor (Penobscot County)
- Bangor 211: Dial 211
- Bangor GA Office: 207-992-4200
- Penquis Community Action: 207-973-3500
- Salvation Army Bangor: 207-942-7977
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter: 207-947-0092
- Maine DHHS Bangor: 207-941-3000
Augusta / Central Maine (Kennebec County)
- Augusta 211: Dial 211
- Augusta GA Office: 207-626-2350
- KVCAP: 207-859-1500
- Salvation Army Augusta: 207-622-4771
- Maine DHHS Augusta: 207-287-2600
Presque Isle / Northern Maine (Aroostook County)
Northern Maine has unique needs due to its remoteness and extreme winters:
- Presque Isle 211: Dial 211
- ACAP: 207-764-3721
- Presque Isle GA Office: 207-760-2785
- Caribou GA Office: 207-493-3318
- Maine DHHS Presque Isle: 207-764-2000
Ellsworth / Downeast Maine (Hancock and Washington Counties)
- Ellsworth 211: Dial 211
- Downeast Community Partners: 207-664-2424
- Ellsworth GA Office: 207-667-2563
- Maine DHHS Ellsworth: 207-667-9374
Rockland / Mid-Coast Maine (Knox County)
- Rockland 211: Dial 211
- Waldo Community Action Partners: 207-338-6809
- Rockland GA Office: 207-594-0306
- Penquis (also serves Knox County): 207-973-3500
- Maine DHHS Rockland: 207-596-2400
Biddeford / Saco / Southern Maine (York County)
- Biddeford 211: Dial 211
- Biddeford GA Office: 207-284-9300
- York County Community Action: 207-324-5762
- Caring Unlimited (DV/emergency): 207-490-3227
- Maine DHHS Biddeford: 207-282-5369
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 a case manager. Ask the organization that gave you the voucher to assign you a case manager. Case managers in Maine can help you navigate housing programs, benefits, and resources specific to your county and municipality.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in Maine. RRH programs provide short-term rental assistance and support to help you move from homelessness into housing quickly. Contact your local CoC or dial 211 to find RRH programs available in your Maine county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact MaineHousing at mainehousing.org or your local public housing authority to apply. Apply as early as possible — waitlists in Portland can be very long.
Apply for Maine Rental Assistance. Contact MaineHousing at mainehousing.org or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your area.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like Preble Street, Penquis, KVCAP, and the Salvation Army offer transitional housing programs in Maine 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, Maine Medicaid (MaineCare), and TANF at your local DHHS office or at benefits.gov. Maine also has a robust state supplement program (Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment — ASPIRE) that can provide support while you work toward stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in Maine tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7. You should also contact your town or city’s General Assistance (GA) office — Maine law requires every municipality to provide GA, including emergency motel vouchers, to qualifying residents. In Portland, call the GA office at 207-756-8090. In Bangor, call 207-992-4200.
What is Maine’s General Assistance (GA) program?
Maine’s General Assistance program is a state-mandated, town-administered safety net that can provide emergency housing assistance — including motel vouchers — to qualifying residents. Every town and city in Maine must have a GA program. Contact your town office to apply, even after hours. This is one of Maine’s most unique and important emergency housing resources.
Are hotel vouchers available in rural Maine?
Yes, but options may be more limited. Community Action Agencies like ACAP (northern Maine), Downeast Community Partners, and Waldo Community Action serve Maine’s most remote communities. Your town’s GA office is also a critical resource in rural areas. Dial 211 to find the nearest available program.
Are there hotel vouchers for asylum seekers in Maine?
Yes. Maine — particularly Portland — has developed specific programs for asylum seekers. Contact the Portland Office of Refugee Services at 207-756-8339 or Maine DHHS at 207-287-2600. Catholic Charities Maine also provides resettlement and housing assistance for immigrants and asylum seekers.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in Maine?
Many programs will still help you without a photo ID, though having one speeds up the process. If you’ve lost your ID, ask your caseworker or local DHHS office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Maine?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or the Togus VA Medical Center at 207-623-8411. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in Maine?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the Maine Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-866-834-4357 (24/7) for immediate safe housing assistance. Maine has a strong network of DV shelters and safe housing programs.
Does Maine have emergency housing during extreme cold and nor’easters?
Yes. Maine’s winters are life-threatening, and emergency housing during extreme cold is taken seriously statewide. Local shelters maintain winter overflow capacity, and GA offices are required to respond to emergency housing needs even after hours. Dial 211 for current warming shelter locations. Your town’s on-call GA worker can also authorize emergency motel placements in dangerous weather.
What if there are no hotel vouchers available in my area?
If vouchers are unavailable, contact your town’s GA office — they are legally required to assist. You can also contact the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-466-4782 or reach out to local churches, which are often a critical resource in Maine’s smaller communities.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in Maine tonight, your first call should be to 211 — and your second should be to your town or city’s General Assistance office. Maine’s unique GA system means local help is available even in the smallest communities, and you have a legal right to apply.
Maine has resources for you. Don’t wait to reach out — that’s exactly what these programs are here for.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Maine DHHS, MaineHousing, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army Maine
Program availability and funding levels vary by municipality and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.