If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in North Dakota tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. North Dakota 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 North Dakota-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in North Dakota — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in North Dakota through the North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS), the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA), 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 North Dakota?
Several organizations in North Dakota can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) — North Dakota’s primary social services agency manages emergency assistance programs that can cover short-term motel stays for eligible individuals and families. Contact your local DHS county office or visit nd.gov/dhs.
North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) — NDHFA manages North Dakota’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit ndhfa.org.
North Dakota 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. North Dakota’s 211 system covers all 53 counties.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — North Dakota has Community Action Agencies serving regions across the state. Given North Dakota’s vast geography and sparse population — it is one of the least densely populated states in the nation — these agencies are especially critical providers of emergency hotel and motel vouchers in rural areas.
Salvation Army North Dakota — The Salvation Army operates locations in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities North Dakota — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, with offices in Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks serving communities statewide.
American Red Cross North Dakota — If your housing crisis results from a blizzard, flood, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — In North Dakota’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 North Dakota?
Eligibility varies by program, but most North Dakota 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 North Dakota programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most North Dakota programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by blizzards, floods, or severe storms
- American Indian and Alaska Native individuals — North Dakota has a significant Native American population across five reservations, with dedicated programs serving these communities
- Oil patch workers and individuals affected by the Bakken oil boom’s housing instability, particularly in western North Dakota
- Individuals exposed to North Dakota’s extreme winters — among the most severe in the contiguous United States
North Dakota’s winters are genuinely life-threatening, with temperatures that can plunge to -40°F or below and blizzards that can strand travelers for days and completely isolate small communities. Emergency housing during North Dakota’s winter months is a critical survival issue. North Dakota also has five American Indian reservations — Standing Rock, Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain, Fort Berthold, and Lake Traverse — with dedicated tribal social services. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in North Dakota, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in North Dakota (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 North Dakota.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county. North Dakota’s 211 covers all 53 counties.
Step 2: Contact Your Local North Dakota DHS County Office
North Dakota DHS has county offices across the state. DHS administers the TANF program (called TEEM — Training, Employment, Education Management — in North Dakota) and the Economic Assistance program, which can connect you with temporary housing funds including motel vouchers for qualifying individuals and families.
Contact: nd.gov/dhs | 800-755-2716
Step 3: Contact North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA)
NDHFA funds emergency shelter and housing programs across North Dakota and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: ndhfa.org | 800-292-8621
Step 4: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
North Dakota’s Community Action Agencies serve regions across the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Community Action Partnership of Cass County — Fargo / Cass County
- Community Action Region VI — Bismarck / south-central North Dakota
- Southeastern North Dakota Community Action — Grand Forks / southeast North Dakota
- Dakota Prairie Community Action — Minot / north-central North Dakota
- Badlands Human Service Center — Dickinson / southwest North Dakota
- Lake Region Community Action — Devils Lake / northeast North Dakota
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 5: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations in North Dakota’s larger cities and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Fargo: 701-232-2946
- Bismarck: 701-255-4470
- Grand Forks: 701-746-0493
- Minot: 701-852-4558
Step 6: Contact Catholic Charities North Dakota
Catholic Charities provides emergency housing assistance to anyone in need regardless of faith.
- Fargo (Catholic Charities Diocese of Fargo): 701-235-4457
- Bismarck (Catholic Charities Diocese of Bismarck): 701-255-1793
- Grand Forks: 701-775-4196
North Dakota Government Programs for Emergency Housing
North Dakota DHS — Economic Assistance and TEEM
North Dakota DHS administers the TEEM program (North Dakota’s TANF) and Economic Assistance, which can provide emergency housing assistance for eligible families and individuals. County DHS offices manage emergency funds that can authorize temporary motel stays in qualifying situations.
Contact: nd.gov/dhs | 800-755-2716
North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA)
NDHFA manages North Dakota’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: ndhfa.org | 800-292-8621
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — North Dakota
North Dakota receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through NDHFA to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: NDHFA at ndhfa.org
HUD Continuum of Care — North Dakota CoC Programs
North Dakota has two primary CoC structures:
- Fargo/Moorhead CoC — the state’s largest CoC, covering the Fargo metro area
- Balance of State North Dakota CoC — covers all remaining North Dakota counties
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info
Tribal Emergency Assistance Programs
North Dakota’s five American Indian reservations each have tribal social services that can provide emergency housing assistance including motel vouchers for tribal members:
- Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Social Services (Fort Yates): 701-854-8500
- Spirit Lake Tribe Social Services (Fort Totten): 701-766-4221
- Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Social Services (Belcourt): 701-477-5553
- Three Affiliated Tribes / MHA Nation Social Services (New Town): 701-627-4781
- Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Lake Traverse) Social Services: 605-698-3911
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster in North Dakota — such as a major flood or blizzard — FEMA’s TSA program can place you in a participating hotel or motel at no cost. North Dakota’s Red River Valley has experienced significant flooding events.
Apply: disasterassistance.gov | 1-800-621-3362
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) — North Dakota
Homeless North Dakota veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
North Dakota VA Locations:
- Fargo VA Medical Center: 701-232-3241
- Bismarck VA Clinic: 701-221-9152
- Minot VA Clinic: 701-852-5500
- Grand Forks VA Clinic: 701-772-7468
- Williston VA Clinic: 701-572-9111
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in North Dakota
Salvation Army North Dakota
With locations in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot, the Salvation Army is one of North Dakota’s most consistent providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Charities North Dakota
Serves anyone in need regardless of faith, with offices in Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks providing emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals.
Churches United for the Homeless — Fargo/Moorhead
Churches United is one of the Fargo metro area’s primary homeless service providers, operating the Dorothy Day House of Hospitality and connecting homeless individuals with emergency housing resources including hotel vouchers in Cass County and the Red River Valley.
Contact: 701-235-4453 | churchesunited.net
Southeast Human Service Center — Fargo
The Southeast Human Service Center provides mental health, substance use, and social services for vulnerable individuals in the Fargo area, including connections to emergency housing and hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 701-298-4500 | nd.gov/dhs
Bright Sky Outreach — Bismarck
Bright Sky provides emergency outreach and housing connections for homeless individuals in the Bismarck-Mandan area, including connections to hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 701-751-2777
Missouri Slope Areawide United Way — Bismarck
Missouri Slope Areawide United Way coordinates emergency assistance programs in the Bismarck area, including connections to hotel voucher programs for individuals and families in crisis.
Contact: 701-255-3601 | msunitedway.org
Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC) — Grand Forks
CVIC provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher assistance specifically for domestic violence survivors in Grand Forks and surrounding communities.
Contact: 701-746-8900 | cviconline.org
Community Action Partnership of Cass County — Fargo
The Community Action Agency serving Cass County provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for low-income individuals and families in the Fargo metro area.
Contact: 701-232-2452 | caplanning.org
Badlands Human Service Center — Dickinson
Serves individuals in the Dickinson area and the oil patch region of western North Dakota, providing mental health services and connections to emergency housing and hotel voucher programs.
Contact: 701-227-7500 | nd.gov/dhs
American Red Cross — North Dakota
The Red Cross assists people displaced by North Dakota’s 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 North Dakota
Fargo / Cass County
Fargo is North Dakota’s largest city and has the state’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Fargo 211: Dial 211
- Churches United for the Homeless: 701-235-4453
- Community Action Partnership of Cass County: 701-232-2452
- Salvation Army Fargo: 701-232-2946
- Catholic Charities Fargo: 701-235-4457
- Southeast Human Service Center: 701-298-4500
- ND DHS Fargo: 701-298-4500
Bismarck / Burleigh County
- Bismarck 211: Dial 211
- Bright Sky Outreach: 701-751-2777
- Missouri Slope Areawide United Way: 701-255-3601
- Salvation Army Bismarck: 701-255-4470
- Catholic Charities Bismarck: 701-255-1793
- Community Action Region VI: 701-258-2240
- ND DHS Bismarck: 701-328-8900
Grand Forks / Grand Forks County
- Grand Forks 211: Dial 211
- CVIC (DV/emergency): 701-746-8900
- Salvation Army Grand Forks: 701-746-0493
- Catholic Charities Grand Forks: 701-775-4196
- Southeastern ND Community Action: 701-746-5431
- ND DHS Grand Forks: 701-795-3000
Minot / Ward County
- Minot 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Minot: 701-852-4558
- Dakota Prairie Community Action: 701-852-4441
- Domestic Violence Crisis Center: 701-857-2200
- ND DHS Minot: 701-857-8500
Williston / McKenzie County (Oil Patch)
The Bakken oil patch region has experienced dramatic housing instability:
- Williston 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Williston: 701-577-7111
- Western Plains Regional Human Service Center: 701-774-4600
- McKenzie County Social Services: 701-444-3400
- ND DHS Williston: 701-774-4600
Dickinson / Stark County
- Dickinson 211: Dial 211
- Badlands Human Service Center: 701-227-7500
- Salvation Army Dickinson: 701-225-1122
- Stark County Social Services: 701-456-7650
- ND DHS Dickinson: 701-227-7500
Devils Lake / Northeast North Dakota
- Devils Lake 211: Dial 211
- Lake Region Community Action: 701-662-5594
- Spirit Lake Tribe Social Services (nearby reservation): 701-766-4221
- ND DHS Devils Lake: 701-662-3060
Reservations / Rural North Dakota
North Dakota’s five reservations and many small rural communities have unique needs:
- All Reservations and Rural Areas 211: Dial 211
- Standing Rock Sioux Social Services (Fort Yates): 701-854-8500
- Spirit Lake Tribe Social Services (Fort Totten): 701-766-4221
- Turtle Mountain Social Services (Belcourt): 701-477-5553
- MHA Nation Social Services (New Town): 701-627-4781
- Lake Traverse Social Services: 605-698-3911
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 North Dakota can help you navigate housing programs, tribal resources, and benefits specific to your county or reservation.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in North Dakota. 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 North Dakota county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact NDHFA at ndhfa.org or your local housing authority to apply. Even in smaller North Dakota cities, waitlists can be significant due to the state’s housing shortage — particularly in the oil patch region.
Apply for North Dakota Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact NDHFA at ndhfa.org or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your area.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like Churches United, Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities offer transitional housing programs in North Dakota 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, North Dakota Medicaid, and TEEM (TANF) at your local DHS county office or at nd.gov/dhs or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in North Dakota tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your North Dakota county. In Fargo, you can also contact Churches United for the Homeless at 701-235-4453 or the Salvation Army at 701-232-2946 directly. In Bismarck, contact the Salvation Army at 701-255-4470.
Does North Dakota DHS provide hotel vouchers?
Yes. North Dakota DHS manages TEEM (TANF) and Economic Assistance programs that can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying individuals and families. Contact your local county DHS office directly to ask about available emergency funds.
Are hotel vouchers available for Native Americans on North Dakota reservations?
Yes. North Dakota’s five tribal nations each have tribal social services that can provide emergency housing assistance including motel vouchers for enrolled members. Contact your specific tribe’s social services office directly. Urban Native Americans in Fargo, Bismarck, or Grand Forks can also contact local homeless service providers and ask about Native-specific resources.
Does North Dakota have emergency housing during extreme cold and blizzards?
Yes. North Dakota’s winters are among the most dangerous in the contiguous United States — temperatures of -40°F and worse are not uncommon, and blizzards can strand travelers and isolate communities for days. Emergency housing during extreme cold is treated as a life-safety emergency statewide. Local shelters maintain winter overflow capacity, and emergency hotel placements are made during life-threatening conditions. Dial 211 immediately for current warming shelter information.
Are hotel vouchers available in the Bakken oil patch region?
Yes. The Williston Basin and surrounding oil patch counties have experienced severe housing shortages due to the Bakken oil boom. The Salvation Army, local Human Service Centers, and county social services offices serve these communities. Dial 211 for current resources in McKenzie, Williams, Mountrail, and Dunn counties.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in North Dakota?
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 county DHS office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in North Dakota?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or the Fargo VA Medical Center at 701-232-3241. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis. North Dakota has a significant veteran population relative to its size.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in North Dakota?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services (CAWS) Hotline at 1-888-255-7233 (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 North Dakota communities, contact your county social services office, local law enforcement, or the nearest 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 North Dakota tonight, your first call should be to 211. From there, operators can connect you with the nearest available program — whether that’s Churches United, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, a tribal social services office, a Community Action Agency, or another local organization serving your area.
North Dakota’s winters are unforgiving — don’t wait to reach out. Help is available, even in the most remote corners of the Peace Garden State.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: North Dakota DHS, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army North Dakota
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.