If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in Missouri tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. Missouri 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 Missouri-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Missouri — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in Missouri through the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS), the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), local Community Action Agencies, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, 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 Missouri?
Several organizations in Missouri can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) — Missouri’s primary social services agency manages emergency assistance programs that can cover short-term motel stays for eligible individuals and families. Contact your local Family Support Division (FSD) office or visit dss.mo.gov.
Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) — MHDC manages Missouri’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit mhdc.com.
Missouri 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 city.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Missouri has Community Action Agencies serving counties across the state. These federally funded organizations are among the most reliable providers of emergency hotel and motel vouchers.
Salvation Army Missouri — The Salvation Army operates locations in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Joplin, St. Joseph, and other cities and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities Missouri — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, with offices in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and Jefferson City.
American Red Cross Missouri — If your housing crisis results from a tornado, flood, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — Many Missouri churches — from urban Kansas City and St. Louis congregations to rural Ozark and Bootheel communities — maintain emergency funds specifically for hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in Missouri?
Eligibility varies by program, but most Missouri 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 Missouri programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most Missouri programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by tornadoes, floods, or severe storms
- Residents of the Missouri Bootheel — one of the most economically distressed regions in the state — and rural Ozark communities
- Individuals exposed to Missouri’s severe weather — from brutal winters in the north to tornado season across the state
Missouri sits in Tornado Alley and experiences some of the most extreme weather variability in the nation — from blizzards and ice storms in winter to violent tornadoes in spring and summer, and severe heat and flooding in summer. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in Missouri, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Missouri (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 Missouri.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county.
Step 2: Contact Your Local Missouri DSS / Family Support Division (FSD) Office
The Missouri Family Support Division has offices across the state. FSD administers emergency assistance programs including Temporary Assistance (TA — Missouri’s TANF program) and can connect you with temporary housing funds including motel vouchers for qualifying individuals and families.
Contact: dss.mo.gov | 855-373-4636
Step 3: Contact Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC)
MHDC funds emergency shelter and housing programs across Missouri and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: mhdc.com | 816-759-6600
Step 4: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
Missouri’s Community Action Agencies serve counties across the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Community Action Agency of St. Louis County — St. Louis County
- Community Action Agency of Kansas City — Kansas City metro
- Ozark Action Inc. — Springfield / southwest Missouri
- Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City — Kansas City area
- Mid-Missouri Community Action Agency — Columbia / central Missouri
- Southeast Missouri Community Action Agency — Cape Girardeau / southeast Missouri / Bootheel
- Northwest Missouri Community Action Agency — St. Joseph / northwest Missouri
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 5: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations throughout Missouri and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Kansas City: 816-756-5442
- St. Louis: 314-646-3000
- Springfield: 417-864-7621
- Columbia: 573-874-8081
- Joplin: 417-623-4919
- St. Joseph: 816-232-6169
- Cape Girardeau: 573-335-9803
Step 6: Contact Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities has offices throughout Missouri and provides emergency housing assistance to anyone regardless of faith.
- Kansas City (Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph): 816-221-4377
- St. Louis (Catholic Charities of St. Louis): 314-367-5500
- Springfield (Catholic Charities Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau): 417-866-0841
- Jefferson City (Catholic Charities Diocese of Jefferson City): 573-635-7719
Missouri Government Programs for Emergency Housing
Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) — Temporary Assistance (TA)
DSS administers Missouri’s Temporary Assistance (TA) program — Missouri’s TANF — which can cover emergency housing costs including temporary motel stays for qualifying families with children. The Family Support Division manages these funds at the county level.
Contact: dss.mo.gov | 855-373-4636
Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC)
MHDC manages Missouri’s affordable housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local service providers. They are the primary funder of emergency shelter and hotel voucher programs statewide.
Contact: mhdc.com | 816-759-6600
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — Missouri
Missouri receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through MHDC to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: MHDC at mhdc.com
HUD Continuum of Care — Missouri CoC Programs
Missouri has several HUD-funded CoC programs managing regional homeless services. Key CoCs include:
- Kansas City CoC (Heart of America United Way)
- St. Louis City CoC
- St. Louis County CoC
- Springfield/Greene, Christian, Webster Counties CoC
- Columbia/Boone County CoC
- Balance of State Missouri CoC — all remaining Missouri counties
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info
Missouri’s Continuum of Care Network
Missouri’s statewide CoC network coordinates emergency housing resources and hotel voucher programs across the state. Contact your local CoC or dial 211 to access CoC-funded programs in your area.
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in Missouri — such as a tornado or flood — 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) — Missouri
Homeless Missouri veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
Missouri VA Locations:
- Kansas City VA Medical Center: 816-861-4700
- St. Louis VA Medical Center (Jefferson Barracks): 314-652-4100
- Harry S. Truman Memorial VA (Columbia): 573-814-6000
- Poplar Bluff VA Medical Center: 573-686-4151
- Springfield VA Clinic: 417-887-6449
- Joplin VA Clinic: 417-629-4600
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in Missouri
Salvation Army Missouri
With locations in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Joplin, St. Joseph, and Cape Girardeau, the Salvation Army is one of Missouri’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Charities Missouri
Multiple dioceses across Missouri provide emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals regardless of faith background.
reStart — Kansas City
reStart is one of Kansas City’s primary homeless service providers, offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and connections to hotel voucher programs for individuals and families in the Kansas City metro area.
Contact: 816-472-5664 | restartinc.org
City Union Mission — Kansas City
City Union Mission provides emergency shelter, meals, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals and families in Kansas City.
Contact: 816-474-9380 | cityunionmission.org
St. Patrick Center — St. Louis
St. Patrick Center is one of St. Louis’s largest homeless service organizations, providing emergency housing assistance, rapid re-housing, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals and families.
Contact: 314-421-5948 | stpatrickcenter.org
Peter & Paul Community Services — St. Louis
Peter & Paul provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and housing assistance for homeless individuals and families in St. Louis and can connect individuals with hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 314-421-4025 | peterpaulstl.org
Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) — Springfield
OACAC serves southwest Missouri and provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the Springfield and Ozarks region.
Contact: 417-862-4314 | oacac.com
The Kitchen Inc. — Springfield
The Kitchen provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals and families in Springfield and southwest Missouri.
Contact: 417-862-0887 | thekitcheninc.org
Harmony House — Springfield
Harmony House provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher assistance specifically for domestic violence survivors in southwest Missouri.
Contact: 417-864-7233 | harmonyhouse.org
Room at the Inn — Columbia
Room at the Inn provides emergency shelter and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in Columbia and Boone County.
Contact: 573-449-2694 | roominncolumbia.org
American Red Cross — Missouri
The Red Cross assists people displaced by Missouri’s tornadoes, floods, and ice storms. 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 Missouri
Kansas City / Jackson County
Kansas City has Missouri’s largest concentration of homeless services on the western side of the state. Key resources include:
- Kansas City 211: Dial 211
- reStart: 816-472-5664
- City Union Mission: 816-474-9380
- Salvation Army Kansas City: 816-756-5442
- Catholic Charities Kansas City: 816-221-4377
- Community Action Agency of Greater KC: 816-358-6868
- Missouri DSS / FSD Kansas City: 816-889-2000
St. Louis City and County
St. Louis has Missouri’s other major concentration of homeless services:
- St. Louis 211: Dial 211
- St. Patrick Center: 314-421-5948
- Peter & Paul Community Services: 314-421-4025
- Salvation Army St. Louis: 314-646-3000
- Catholic Charities St. Louis: 314-367-5500
- Community Action Agency St. Louis County: 314-863-0015
- Missouri DSS / FSD St. Louis: 314-340-7400
Springfield / Southwest Missouri
- Springfield 211: Dial 211
- The Kitchen Inc.: 417-862-0887
- OACAC: 417-862-4314
- Harmony House (DV/emergency): 417-864-7233
- Salvation Army Springfield: 417-864-7621
- Catholic Charities Springfield: 417-866-0841
- Missouri DSS / FSD Springfield: 417-895-6000
Columbia / Central Missouri
- Columbia 211: Dial 211
- Room at the Inn: 573-449-2694
- Salvation Army Columbia: 573-874-8081
- Mid-Missouri Community Action Agency: 573-474-6200
- Missouri DSS / FSD Columbia: 573-884-0500
Joplin / Southwest Missouri
- Joplin 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Joplin: 417-623-4919
- Watered Gardens Gospel Rescue Mission: 417-624-2100
- Missouri DSS / FSD Joplin: 417-629-3000
St. Joseph / Northwest Missouri
- St. Joseph 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army St. Joseph: 816-232-6169
- Catholic Charities Kansas City-St. Joseph: 816-221-4377
- Civic Center Corp (emergency assistance): 816-233-5214
- Missouri DSS / FSD St. Joseph: 816-271-3000
Cape Girardeau / Southeast Missouri
- Cape Girardeau 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Cape Girardeau: 573-335-9803
- Catholic Charities Cape Girardeau: 573-335-0777
- Southeast Missouri Community Action Agency: 573-335-3331
- Missouri DSS / FSD Cape Girardeau: 573-290-2500
Poplar Bluff / Missouri Bootheel
The Bootheel is one of Missouri’s most economically distressed regions with unique housing needs:
- Bootheel 211: Dial 211
- Southeast Missouri Community Action Agency: 573-335-3331
- Salvation Army Poplar Bluff: 573-785-2196
- Delta Area Economic Action (Bootheel counties): 573-683-3044
- Missouri DSS / FSD Poplar Bluff: 573-840-9500
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 Missouri can help you navigate housing programs, benefits, and resources specific to your county.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in Missouri. 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 Missouri county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact MHDC at mhdc.com or your local public housing authority to apply. Waitlists in Kansas City and St. Louis can be long — apply as early as possible.
Apply for Missouri Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact MHDC at mhdc.com or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your county.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like reStart, St. Patrick Center, The Kitchen Inc., City Union Mission, and the Salvation Army offer transitional housing programs across Missouri 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, Missouri Medicaid (MO HealthNet), and Temporary Assistance (TANF) at your local FSD office or at mydss.mo.gov or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in Missouri tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your Missouri county. In Kansas City, you can also contact reStart at 816-472-5664 or the Salvation Army at 816-756-5442 directly. In St. Louis, contact St. Patrick Center at 314-421-5948.
Does Missouri DSS provide hotel vouchers?
Yes. Missouri DSS manages Temporary Assistance (TA/TANF) emergency assistance that can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying families with children. Contact your local county FSD office directly to ask about available emergency funds.
Are hotel vouchers available after a tornado in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri sits in Tornado Alley and has well-established disaster housing programs. If a tornado has displaced you, FEMA’s TSA program can place you in a hotel at no cost after a presidentially declared disaster. Apply at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. The Red Cross also responds immediately to tornado-related housing needs across Missouri.
Are hotel vouchers available in the Missouri Bootheel?
Yes. The Southeast Missouri Community Action Agency and Delta Area Economic Action serve the Bootheel’s deeply impoverished communities. Dial 211 for resources in your specific Bootheel county. Options may be limited in the most rural areas — local churches are critical backup resources in these communities.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in Missouri?
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 FSD office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Missouri?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or your nearest Missouri VA facility. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in Missouri?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the Missouri Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (same line) or contact Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence at 573-634-4161 for a local referral to emergency safe housing in your area. Harmony House in Springfield (417-864-7233) is one example of a local DV shelter with hotel voucher assistance.
Does Missouri have emergency housing during ice storms and extreme cold?
Yes. Missouri’s winters can bring dangerous ice storms and subzero temperatures, particularly in northern Missouri and in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. Local shelters maintain winter overflow capacity, and emergency hotel placements are made during dangerous cold weather. Dial 211 for current warming center and emergency shelter information.
What if there are no hotel vouchers available in my area?
If vouchers are unavailable, ask about shelter beds or warming centers, or contact the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-466-4782 for additional options. In rural Missouri, local churches and faith organizations are often the most accessible backup resources.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in Missouri tonight, your first call should be to 211. From there, operators can connect you with the nearest available program — whether that’s reStart, St. Patrick Center, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, a Community Action Agency, or another local organization serving your county.
Missouri has resources for you. Don’t wait to reach out — that’s exactly what these programs are here for.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Missouri DSS, Missouri Housing Development Commission, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army Missouri
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.