If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in Nebraska tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. Nebraska 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 Nebraska-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Nebraska — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in Nebraska through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA), 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 Nebraska?
Several organizations in Nebraska can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) — Nebraska’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 dhhs.ne.gov.
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) — NIFA manages Nebraska’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit nifa.org.
Nebraska 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. Nebraska’s 211 system covers all 93 counties.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Nebraska 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 in Nebraska.
Salvation Army Nebraska — The Salvation Army operates locations in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings, and other cities and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities Nebraska — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, with offices in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, and other communities statewide.
American Red Cross Nebraska — If your housing crisis results from a tornado, blizzard, flood, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — Many Nebraska churches — from Omaha and Lincoln congregations to small rural plains communities — maintain emergency funds specifically for hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in Nebraska?
Eligibility varies by program, but most Nebraska 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 Nebraska programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most Nebraska programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by tornadoes, blizzards, or flooding
- Migrant and seasonal agricultural workers — Nebraska has a significant farmworker population, particularly in the Panhandle and Platte River valley
- American Indian individuals — Nebraska has a Native American population concentrated in the northeastern part of the state and on the Omaha, Winnebago, Santee Sioux, and Ponca tribal areas
- Individuals exposed to Nebraska’s extreme weather — from brutal blizzards and subzero cold in winter to violent tornadoes in spring and summer
Nebraska sits squarely in Tornado Alley and experiences some of the most extreme weather variability in the nation. The state’s brutal winters — with subzero temperatures and blizzards that can strand travelers and isolate communities — make emergency housing a genuine life-safety issue. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in Nebraska, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Nebraska (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 Nebraska.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county. Nebraska’s 211 covers all 93 counties.
Step 2: Contact Your Local Nebraska DHHS Office
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has offices across the state. DHHS administers emergency assistance programs and can connect you with temporary housing funds including motel vouchers for qualifying individuals and families. DHHS also manages the Nebraska Employment First program (Nebraska’s TANF) emergency funds that can cover hotel stays for eligible families with children.
Contact: dhhs.ne.gov | 402-471-3121
Step 3: Contact Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA)
NIFA funds emergency shelter and housing programs across Nebraska and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: nifa.org | 402-434-3900
Step 4: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
Nebraska’s Community Action Agencies serve counties across the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Community Action Partnership of Omaha (CAP Omaha) — Douglas and Sarpy counties / Omaha metro
- Community Action of Nebraska — Lincoln / Lancaster County and statewide coordination
- Midlands Community Foundation — Sarpy County
- West Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership — North Platte / west-central Nebraska
- Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties — Lincoln area
- Southeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership — southeast Nebraska
- Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership — Norfolk / northeast Nebraska
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 5: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations throughout Nebraska and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Omaha: 402-346-2116
- Lincoln: 402-474-6161
- Grand Island: 308-382-8770
- Hastings: 402-462-4693
- Norfolk: 402-371-3723
- Kearney: 308-234-3639
Step 6: Contact Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities has offices throughout Nebraska and provides emergency housing assistance to anyone regardless of faith.
- Omaha (Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Omaha): 402-554-0520
- Lincoln (Catholic Social Services Diocese of Lincoln): 402-474-1600
- Grand Island (Catholic Social Services Diocese of Grand Island): 308-382-6565
Nebraska Government Programs for Emergency Housing
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) — Emergency Assistance
DHHS administers Nebraska’s Employment First (TANF) program and can provide emergency housing assistance for eligible families with children. DHHS also administers the Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program (NHAP), which funds emergency shelter and hotel voucher programs statewide.
Contact: dhhs.ne.gov | 402-471-3121
Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program (NHAP)
Nebraska’s NHAP is a state-funded program that provides grants to local organizations for emergency shelter, transitional housing, and hotel voucher programs. NHAP-funded providers are among the most reliable sources of hotel vouchers in Nebraska.
Contact: Nebraska DHHS at dhhs.ne.gov
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA)
NIFA manages Nebraska’s affordable housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local service providers. They are a primary funder of emergency shelter and hotel voucher programs statewide.
Contact: nifa.org | 402-434-3900
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — Nebraska
Nebraska receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through NIFA to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: NIFA at nifa.org
HUD Continuum of Care — Nebraska CoC Programs
Nebraska has several HUD-funded CoC programs managing regional homeless services. Key CoCs include:
- Omaha CoC (Omaha/Council Bluffs Metro Area)
- Lincoln CoC (Lincoln/Lancaster County)
- Balance of State Nebraska CoC — all remaining Nebraska counties
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in Nebraska — such as a tornado, blizzard, or major 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) — Nebraska
Homeless Nebraska veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
Nebraska VA Locations:
- Omaha VA Medical Center: 402-346-8800
- Lincoln VA Clinic: 402-489-3802
- Grand Island VA Clinic: 308-382-3660
- Norfolk VA Clinic: 402-370-3747
- North Platte VA Clinic: 308-532-6906
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in Nebraska
Salvation Army Nebraska
With locations in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, Hastings, Norfolk, and Kearney, the Salvation Army is one of Nebraska’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Charities Nebraska
Multiple dioceses across Nebraska provide emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals regardless of faith background.
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach — Lincoln
Matt Talbot provides emergency food assistance, outreach, and housing connections for homeless individuals in Lincoln. They are one of Lincoln’s primary entry points into the emergency housing system.
Contact: 402-477-4116 | matttalbotlincoln.org
People’s City Mission — Lincoln
People’s City Mission is Lincoln’s largest emergency shelter provider, offering shelter, meals, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals and families in Lincoln and surrounding counties.
Contact: 402-475-1303 | peoplescitymission.org
Siena/Francis House — Omaha
Siena/Francis House is one of Omaha’s largest emergency shelters, providing shelter, meals, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless men in the Omaha area.
Contact: 402-341-1821 | sienafrancishouse.org
Open Door Mission — Omaha
Open Door Mission provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals and families in the Omaha metro area.
Contact: 402-422-1111 | opendoormission.org
Community Action Partnership of Omaha (CAP Omaha)
CAP Omaha is the Community Action Agency serving Douglas and Sarpy counties and provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for low-income individuals and families in the Omaha metro.
Contact: 402-342-7361 | capomaha.org
Heartland Family Service — Omaha
Heartland Family Service provides emergency housing assistance, domestic violence services, and hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in the Omaha metro area.
Contact: 402-553-3000 | heartlandfamilyservice.org
Friendship Home — Lincoln
Friendship Home provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher assistance specifically for domestic violence survivors and their children in Lincoln and surrounding counties.
Contact: 402-437-9302 | friendshiphome.org
West Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership — North Platte
Serves western Nebraska’s rural and Panhandle communities with emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for individuals and families in one of the most sparsely populated regions of the state.
Contact: 308-534-2310 | wcncap.org
American Red Cross — Nebraska
The Red Cross assists people displaced by Nebraska’s tornadoes, 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 Nebraska
Omaha / Douglas and Sarpy Counties
Omaha has Nebraska’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Omaha 211: Dial 211
- Siena/Francis House: 402-341-1821
- Open Door Mission: 402-422-1111
- CAP Omaha: 402-342-7361
- Heartland Family Service: 402-553-3000
- Salvation Army Omaha: 402-346-2116
- Catholic Charities Omaha: 402-554-0520
- Nebraska DHHS Omaha: 402-595-1258
Lincoln / Lancaster County
- Lincoln 211: Dial 211
- People’s City Mission: 402-475-1303
- Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach: 402-477-4116
- Friendship Home (DV/emergency): 402-437-9302
- Salvation Army Lincoln: 402-474-6161
- Catholic Social Services Lincoln: 402-474-1600
- Nebraska DHHS Lincoln: 402-471-3121
Grand Island / Central Nebraska
- Grand Island 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Grand Island: 308-382-8770
- Catholic Social Services Grand Island: 308-382-6565
- Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership: 308-384-3980
- Nebraska DHHS Grand Island: 308-385-6000
Kearney / South-Central Nebraska
- Kearney 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Kearney: 308-234-3639
- Kearney Area Children’s Clinic (also provides housing referrals): 308-236-3170
- Nebraska DHHS Kearney: 308-865-5400
Norfolk / Northeast Nebraska
- Norfolk 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Norfolk: 402-371-3723
- Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership: 402-379-3831
- Nebraska DHHS Norfolk: 402-370-3130
North Platte / Western Nebraska
- North Platte 211: Dial 211
- West Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership: 308-534-2310
- Salvation Army North Platte: 308-532-5633
- Nebraska DHHS North Platte: 308-535-8200
Scottsbluff / Nebraska Panhandle
The Panhandle is Nebraska’s most remote region with a significant agricultural workforce:
- Scottsbluff 211: Dial 211
- Panhandle Community Services: 308-436-4194
- Western Nebraska Community Action Partnership: 308-632-7133
- Nebraska DHHS Scottsbluff: 308-632-1200
Hastings / Adams County
- Hastings 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Hastings: 402-462-4693
- South Central Community Action Partnership: 402-463-3136
- Nebraska DHHS Hastings: 402-461-7011
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 Nebraska can help you navigate housing programs, benefits, and resources specific to your county.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in Nebraska. 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 Nebraska county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact NIFA at nifa.org or your local housing authority to apply. Apply as early as possible — waitlists in Omaha and Lincoln can be long.
Apply for Nebraska Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact NIFA at nifa.org or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your county.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like Open Door Mission, People’s City Mission, Siena/Francis House, and the Salvation Army offer transitional housing programs in Nebraska 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, Nebraska Medicaid, and Employment First (TANF) at your local DHHS office or at accessnebraska.ne.gov or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in Nebraska tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your Nebraska county. In Omaha, you can also contact Siena/Francis House at 402-341-1821 or Open Door Mission at 402-422-1111 directly. In Lincoln, contact People’s City Mission at 402-475-1303.
What is Nebraska’s Homeless Assistance Program (NHAP)?
Nebraska’s NHAP is a state-funded program that provides grants to local organizations for emergency shelter and hotel voucher programs across Nebraska. NHAP-funded providers are among the most reliable sources of hotel vouchers in the state. Ask your local DHHS office or Community Action Agency about NHAP-funded programs in your area.
Does Nebraska DHHS provide hotel vouchers?
Yes. Nebraska DHHS manages the Employment First (TANF) emergency assistance program that can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying families with children. Contact your local county DHHS office directly to ask about available emergency funds.
Are hotel vouchers available after a tornado or blizzard in Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska sits in Tornado Alley and also experiences severe blizzards. If a tornado or blizzard 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 disaster-related housing needs.
Are hotel vouchers available in the Nebraska Panhandle and rural western Nebraska?
Yes. West Central Nebraska Community Action Partnership and Panhandle Community Services serve Nebraska’s most remote western communities. Dial 211 for resources in your specific county. In the most rural Panhandle communities, local churches are often the most accessible resource.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in Nebraska?
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 Nebraska?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or your nearest Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition Hotline at 1-800-876-6238 (24/7) for immediate safe housing assistance.
Does Nebraska have emergency housing during blizzards and extreme cold?
Yes. Nebraska’s winters can be life-threatening, particularly in the Panhandle and north-central regions where blizzards and subzero temperatures are common. Local shelters maintain winter overflow capacity, and emergency hotel placements are made during dangerous cold weather events. Dial 211 for current warming center and emergency shelter information in your area.
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 Nebraska, local churches and faith organizations are often the most accessible backup resources.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in Nebraska tonight, your first call should be to 211. From there, operators can connect you with the nearest available program — whether that’s Open Door Mission, People’s City Mission, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, a Community Action Agency, or another local organization serving your county.
Nebraska has resources for you. Don’t wait to reach out — that’s exactly what these programs are here for.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Nebraska DHHS, Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army Nebraska
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.