If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in Montana tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. Montana 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 Montana-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Montana — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in Montana through the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), the Montana Board of Housing (MBOH), 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 Montana?
Several organizations in Montana can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) — Montana’s primary social services agency manages emergency assistance programs that can cover short-term motel stays for eligible individuals and families. Contact your local DPHHS office or visit dphhs.mt.gov.
Montana Board of Housing (MBOH) — MBOH manages Montana’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit housing.mt.gov.
Montana 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. Montana’s 211 system covers all 56 counties.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Montana has Community Action Agencies serving regions across the state. Given Montana’s vast geography — it is the fourth-largest state by area with a very sparse population — Community Action Agencies are among the most critical providers of emergency hotel and motel vouchers, especially in rural areas.
Salvation Army Montana — The Salvation Army operates locations in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, Helena, and Butte and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Social Services — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, with offices in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, and Helena.
American Red Cross Montana — If your housing crisis results from a wildfire, flood, blizzard, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — In Montana’s many small and remote communities, local churches are often the first and most accessible source of emergency hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in Montana?
Eligibility varies by program, but most Montana 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 Montana programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most Montana programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by wildfires, floods, or blizzards
- American Indian and Alaska Native individuals — Montana has a significant Native American population across seven reservations, with dedicated programs serving these communities
- Individuals exposed to Montana’s extreme winters and remote geography
Montana’s winters are genuinely life-threatening — temperatures routinely drop to -20°F and below across much of the state, and remote communities can be cut off by blizzards. Emergency housing during Montana’s winters is a critical survival issue. Montana also has one of the highest proportions of American Indian residents of any state outside Alaska, with seven reservations and significant urban Native populations in cities like Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in Montana, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Montana (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 Montana.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county. Montana’s 211 covers all 56 counties.
Step 2: Contact Your Local Montana DPHHS Office
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has offices across the state. DPHHS administers the Montana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF — called TANF in Montana), and can connect you with temporary housing funds including motel vouchers for qualifying individuals and families.
Contact: dphhs.mt.gov | 406-444-5900
Step 3: Contact Montana Board of Housing (MBOH)
MBOH funds emergency shelter and housing programs across Montana and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: housing.mt.gov | 406-841-2840
Step 4: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
Montana’s Community Action Agencies are especially critical in a state with such a vast and sparsely populated geography. Key agencies include:
- Big Sky Community Action Partnership — Billings / Yellowstone County
- Human Resources Development Council (HRDC) — Bozeman / Gallatin County and surrounding areas
- Community Action Partnership of Missoula (NeighborWorks) — Missoula area
- Great Falls Community Action — Great Falls / Cascade County
- Opportunities Inc. — Helena / Lewis and Clark County
- Action for Eastern Montana — Glendive / eastern Montana
- Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development — Red Lodge / Carbon County
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 5: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations in Montana’s larger cities and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Billings: 406-259-2801
- Great Falls: 406-453-2693
- Missoula: 406-543-8211
- Helena: 406-442-7523
- Butte: 406-782-0500
Step 6: Contact Catholic Social Services
Catholic Social Services provides emergency housing assistance to anyone in need regardless of faith.
- Billings: 406-245-5556
- Great Falls: 406-761-4341
- Missoula: 406-549-4146
- Helena: 406-442-4130
Montana Government Programs for Emergency Housing
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) — Emergency Assistance
DPHHS administers Montana’s TANF program and the Montana Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), and can provide emergency housing assistance for eligible individuals and families. County DPHHS offices manage emergency funds that can authorize temporary motel stays in qualifying situations.
Contact: dphhs.mt.gov | 406-444-5900
Montana Board of Housing (MBOH)
MBOH manages Montana’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: housing.mt.gov | 406-841-2840
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — Montana
Montana receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through MBOH to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: MBOH at housing.mt.gov
HUD Continuum of Care — Montana CoC Programs
Montana has two primary CoC structures:
- Montana Continuum of Care (MT CoC) — covers the majority of Montana communities statewide
- Individual city CoC programs in Billings and Missoula
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info
Montana’s Homeless Programs
DPHHS administers Montana’s state-funded homeless programs, distributing funds to local providers across the state for emergency shelter, hotel voucher programs, and transitional housing. Contact your local DPHHS office or Community Action Agency to access these funds.
Contact: dphhs.mt.gov
Tribal Emergency Assistance Programs
Montana’s seven American Indian reservations — Blackfeet, Crow, Flathead, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, Northern Cheyenne, and Rocky Boy’s — all have tribal social services that can provide emergency housing assistance including motel vouchers for tribal members. Contact the tribal social services office on your reservation for assistance.
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in Montana — such as a wildfire 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) — Montana
Homeless Montana veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
Montana VA Locations:
- Montana VA Health Care System (Fort Harrison/Helena): 406-442-6410
- Billings VA Clinic: 406-373-3600
- Great Falls VA Clinic: 406-771-3820
- Missoula VA Clinic: 406-493-3200
- Bozeman VA Clinic: 406-582-5300
- Kalispell VA Clinic: 406-758-2770
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in Montana
Salvation Army Montana
With locations in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, Helena, and Butte, the Salvation Army is one of Montana’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers across the state.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Social Services Montana
Serves anyone in need regardless of faith. Provides emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, and Helena.
HRDC (Human Resources Development Council) — Bozeman
HRDC is the Community Action Agency serving Gallatin, Park, Meagher, and Sweet Grass counties. They provide emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the fast-growing Bozeman area — where housing costs have skyrocketed in recent years.
Contact: 406-587-4486 | thehrdc.org
Big Sky Community Action Partnership — Billings
Big Sky CAP serves Yellowstone County and surrounding areas, providing emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the Billings area.
Contact: 406-248-6101 | bigskycap.org
NeighborWorks Montana — Missoula
NeighborWorks Montana provides housing assistance, emergency rental support, and connections to hotel voucher programs for residents of Missoula and western Montana.
Contact: 406-523-7900 | neighborworksmt.org
Opportunities Inc. — Helena
Opportunities Inc. serves Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater counties and provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the Helena area.
Contact: 406-442-3680 | oppinc.org
Family Promise of Missoula
Family Promise provides emergency shelter and housing assistance specifically for families with children in the Missoula area, including connections to hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 406-728-9312 | familypromisemissoula.org
Montana Rescue Mission — Billings
The Montana Rescue Mission is Billings’s primary emergency shelter provider, offering shelter, meals, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in eastern Montana.
Contact: 406-259-3800 | montanarescuemission.org
Warm Springs Community Center — Missoula
Provides emergency assistance and housing connections for homeless individuals in Missoula, including referrals to hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 406-721-4146
Friends in Need Food Bank — Whitefish/Flathead Valley
While primarily a food resource, Friends in Need connects individuals in the Flathead Valley with a range of emergency services including housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals.
Contact: 406-862-4700 | finahelps.org
American Red Cross — Montana
The Red Cross assists people displaced by Montana’s wildfires, blizzards, 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 Montana
Billings / Yellowstone County
Billings is Montana’s largest city and has the state’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Billings 211: Dial 211
- Montana Rescue Mission: 406-259-3800
- Big Sky Community Action Partnership: 406-248-6101
- Salvation Army Billings: 406-259-2801
- Catholic Social Services Billings: 406-245-5556
- Montana DPHHS Billings: 406-657-3000
Missoula / Western Montana
- Missoula 211: Dial 211
- NeighborWorks Montana: 406-523-7900
- Family Promise Missoula: 406-728-9312
- Salvation Army Missoula: 406-543-8211
- Catholic Social Services Missoula: 406-549-4146
- Poverello Center (emergency shelter): 406-728-1809
- Montana DPHHS Missoula: 406-329-1555
Great Falls / Cascade County
- Great Falls 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Great Falls: 406-453-2693
- Catholic Social Services Great Falls: 406-761-4341
- Great Falls Community Action: 406-761-4141
- Montana DPHHS Great Falls: 406-454-6950
Helena / Lewis and Clark County
- Helena 211: Dial 211
- Opportunities Inc.: 406-442-3680
- Salvation Army Helena: 406-442-7523
- Catholic Social Services Helena: 406-442-4130
- Montana DPHHS Helena: 406-444-5900
Bozeman / Gallatin County
Bozeman has experienced explosive growth and a severe housing affordability crisis:
- Bozeman 211: Dial 211
- HRDC: 406-587-4486
- Family Promise Gallatin Valley: 406-624-3360
- Salvation Army Bozeman: 406-587-3840
- Montana DPHHS Bozeman: 406-582-3100
Butte / Silver Bow County
- Butte 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Butte: 406-782-0500
- Butte Emergency Food Bank (also housing referrals): 406-782-0234
- Montana DPHHS Butte: 406-496-5800
Kalispell / Flathead Valley
- Kalispell 211: Dial 211
- HRDC Flathead (also serves Flathead County): 406-257-3711
- Friends in Need (Whitefish): 406-862-4700
- Salvation Army Kalispell: 406-756-2080
- Montana DPHHS Kalispell: 406-751-5900
Reservations / Rural Montana
Montana’s seven reservations and many isolated rural communities have unique emergency housing needs:
- All Reservations and Rural Areas 211: Dial 211
- Blackfeet Tribal Social Services (Browning): 406-338-7820
- Crow Tribal Social Services (Crow Agency): 406-638-3801
- Flathead Reservation Social Services (Pablo): 406-675-2700
- Fort Belknap Social Services (Harlem): 406-353-2901
- Fort Peck Social Services (Poplar): 406-768-5155
- Northern Cheyenne Tribal Social Services (Lame Deer): 406-477-6790
- Rocky Boy’s Social Services (Box Elder): 406-395-4282
- Action for Eastern Montana (Glendive): 406-365-2620
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 Montana can help you navigate housing programs, benefits, and resources specific to your county or reservation.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in Montana. 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 Montana county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact MBOH at housing.mt.gov or your local housing authority to apply. Apply as early as possible — waitlists even in smaller Montana cities can be long due to the state’s severe housing shortage.
Apply for Montana Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact MBOH at housing.mt.gov or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your area.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like the Montana Rescue Mission, HRDC, Opportunities Inc., NeighborWorks Montana, and the Salvation Army offer transitional housing programs in Montana 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, Montana Medicaid, and TANF at your local DPHHS office or at dphhs.mt.gov or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in Montana tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your Montana county. In Billings, you can also contact the Montana Rescue Mission at 406-259-3800 or the Salvation Army at 406-259-2801 directly.
Are hotel vouchers available in rural Montana?
Yes, though options may be more limited in Montana’s many remote and sparsely populated communities. Montana’s Community Action Agencies cover the entire state, and tribal social services provide assistance on reservations. Dial 211 for resources in your specific county. In very small communities, local churches are often the most accessible resource.
Are there hotel vouchers specifically for Native Americans in Montana?
Yes. Montana’s seven tribal nations each have tribal social services that can provide emergency housing assistance including motel vouchers for enrolled members. Contact the tribal social services office on your reservation. Urban Native Americans in cities like Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula can also contact local homeless service providers and ask about Native-specific resources.
Does Montana have emergency housing during extreme cold?
Yes. Montana’s winters are among the most dangerous in the contiguous United States, with temperatures regularly dropping to -20°F and below. Emergency housing during extreme cold is a survival issue. Local shelters maintain winter overflow capacity, and emergency hotel placements are made during life-threatening cold events. Dial 211 for current warming shelter locations. In remote areas, contact your local DPHHS office or law enforcement for emergency assistance.
Are hotel vouchers available for wildfire survivors in Montana?
Yes. Montana experiences significant wildfire activity each summer. If a wildfire 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 wildfire-related housing needs across Montana.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in Montana?
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 DPHHS office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Montana?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or your nearest Montana VA facility. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis. Montana has a significant veteran population relative to its size.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in Montana?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the Montana Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-888-404-7794 (24/7) for immediate safe housing assistance.
What if there are no hotel vouchers available in my area?
If vouchers are unavailable, ask about shelter beds or warming centers during winter. In remote Montana communities, contact your local DPHHS office, law enforcement, or church. You can also call the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-466-4782 for additional guidance.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in Montana tonight, your first call should be to 211. From there, operators can connect you with the nearest available program — whether that’s the Montana Rescue Mission, HRDC, Opportunities Inc., the Salvation Army, a tribal social services office, or another local organization serving your area.
Montana has resources for you — even in the most remote corners of Big Sky Country. Don’t wait to reach out.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Montana DPHHS, Montana Board of Housing, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army Montana
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.