If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in Texas tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. Texas has one of the largest and most diverse homeless assistance networks in the nation, with government agencies, nonprofits, and emergency programs that can place you in a safe motel or hotel room while you work toward stable housing.
This guide covers every Texas-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in Texas — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in Texas through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), 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 Texas?
Several organizations in Texas can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) — Texas’s primary housing agency manages emergency housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit tdhca.state.tx.us.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — HHSC manages Texas’s social services programs including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and can connect qualifying individuals and families with emergency housing resources. Visit hhs.texas.gov.
Texas 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. Texas 211 covers all 254 counties — the most counties of any state in the nation.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — Texas 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 Texas — The Salvation Army operates locations in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Amarillo, Lubbock, and many other cities and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities Texas — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, with diocesan offices across Texas serving communities statewide.
American Red Cross Texas — If your housing crisis results from a hurricane, tornado, flood, ice storm, or wildfire, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost. Texas faces virtually every type of natural disaster.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — Many Texas churches — from Houston megachurches to small border community congregations to rural west Texas churches — maintain emergency funds specifically for hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in Texas?
Eligibility varies by program, but most Texas 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 Texas programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most Texas programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness — Texas has the second-largest veteran population of any U.S. state
- Disaster survivors displaced by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, or wildfires — Texas faces more federally declared disasters than any other state
- Immigrants and undocumented individuals — Texas has one of the largest immigrant populations of any state; several organizations serve individuals regardless of immigration status, particularly along the border
- Residents of the Texas-Mexico border region, which faces unique poverty and housing challenges
- Individuals in recovery from substance use disorders
- Individuals exposed to Texas’s extreme weather — from the deadly 2021 winter storm Uri to triple-digit summer heat across west Texas and the Rio Grande Valley
Texas is the second-largest state in the nation by both area and population, with a staggering diversity of geography, climate, and community need — from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, from the Hill Country to the Rio Grande Valley. With 254 counties — more than any other state — and four of the nation’s ten largest cities (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin), Texas has both enormous resources and enormous need. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in Texas, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in Texas (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 Texas.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county. Texas 211 covers all 254 counties.
Step 2: Contact Your Local Texas HHSC Office
Texas Health and Human Services has offices across the state. HHSC administers TANF and can connect you with temporary housing funds including motel vouchers for qualifying individuals and families.
Contact: hhs.texas.gov | 211 or 877-541-7905
Step 3: Contact Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
TDHCA funds emergency shelter and housing programs across Texas and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: tdhca.state.tx.us | 512-475-3800
Step 4: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
Texas’s Community Action Agencies serve counties across the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Gulf Coast Community Services Association — Houston / Harris County
- Austin Travis County Integral Care — Austin / Travis County
- Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance — Dallas / Dallas County
- Bexar County Community Action — San Antonio / Bexar County
- Tarrant County Community Action — Fort Worth / Tarrant County
- Workforce Solutions Borderplex — El Paso
- Community Action Corporation of South Texas — Rio Grande Valley / border region
- West Texas Opportunities — Midland / Odessa / west Texas
- Panhandle Community Services — Amarillo / Panhandle
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 5: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations throughout Texas and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Houston: 713-752-0677
- Dallas: 214-424-7000
- San Antonio: 210-226-2291
- Austin: 512-476-1111
- Fort Worth: 817-332-4228
- El Paso: 915-565-3833
- Amarillo: 806-374-8517
- Lubbock: 806-765-9016
- Waco: 254-753-0484
- Beaumont: 409-833-3580
- Corpus Christi: 361-887-6686
- Midland: 432-683-4801
- Abilene: 325-673-7437
- Tyler: 903-593-4311
Step 6: Contact Catholic Charities Texas
Catholic Charities has diocesan offices throughout Texas and provides emergency housing assistance to anyone regardless of faith.
- Houston (Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston): 713-526-4611
- Dallas (Catholic Charities Diocese of Dallas): 214-520-6590
- San Antonio (Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio): 210-222-1294
- Austin (Catholic Charities Diocese of Austin): 512-651-6100
- Fort Worth (Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth): 817-534-0814
- El Paso (Catholic Social Services Diocese of El Paso): 915-872-8431
- Corpus Christi (Catholic Charities Diocese of Corpus Christi): 361-992-1133
- Laredo (Catholic Social Services Diocese of Laredo): 956-722-2443
- Brownsville (Catholic Charities Diocese of Brownsville): 956-542-0552
Texas Government Programs for Emergency Housing
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — TANF
HHSC administers Texas’s TANF program, which provides cash assistance for eligible families with children and can cover emergency housing costs including temporary motel stays. Apply at your local HHSC benefits office or at yourtexasbenefits.com.
Contact: hhs.texas.gov | yourtexasbenefits.com
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
TDHCA manages Texas’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: tdhca.state.tx.us | 512-475-3800
Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
TDHCA administers emergency rental assistance programs in Texas. Contact TDHCA or dial 211 for current program availability in your county.
Contact: tdhca.state.tx.us | 512-475-3800
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — Texas
Texas receives substantial federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through TDHCA to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: TDHCA at tdhca.state.tx.us
City of Houston — The Way Home
Houston’s coordinated homeless services system — The Way Home — is one of the most successful in the nation, having dramatically reduced veteran and chronic homelessness through coordinated outreach and housing programs. The Way Home connects homeless individuals with emergency housing resources including hotel vouchers across Harris County.
Contact: 713-739-7514 | thewayhome.org
City of Dallas — Office of Homeless Solutions
Dallas’s Office of Homeless Solutions coordinates homeless services across Dallas County, including emergency hotel voucher programs and connections to local nonprofit providers.
Contact: 214-670-3441 | dallascityhall.com
City of Austin — Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH)
Austin’s ARCH serves as the central point of entry into Austin’s homeless services system, connecting individuals with emergency housing resources including hotel vouchers across Travis County.
Contact: 512-305-4100 | austintexas.gov/homelessness
City of San Antonio — Haven for Hope
Haven for Hope is one of San Antonio’s primary homeless service campuses, providing emergency shelter, case management, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in Bexar County.
Contact: 210-220-2100 | havenforhope.org
HUD Continuum of Care — Texas CoC Programs
Texas has numerous HUD-funded CoC programs managing regional homeless services. Key CoCs include:
- Houston/Harris County CoC
- Dallas City and County CoC
- San Antonio/Bexar County CoC
- Austin/Travis County CoC
- Fort Worth/Tarrant County CoC
- El Paso City and County CoC
- Amarillo CoC
- Lubbock CoC
- Waco/McLennan County CoC
- Corpus Christi/Nueces County CoC
- Balance of State Texas CoC
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info | thn.org (Texas Homeless Network)
Texas Homeless Network (THN)
THN coordinates statewide homeless policy and connects individuals with emergency housing resources across Texas.
Contact: 512-305-9500 | thn.org
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
Texas experiences more federally declared disasters than any other state — hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms, and wildfires regularly displace Texas residents. If you’ve been displaced by a presidentially declared disaster, 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) — Texas
Homeless Texas veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. Texas has the second-largest veteran population in the nation. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
Texas VA Locations:
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (Houston): 713-791-1414
- Dallas VA Medical Center: 214-742-8387
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System (San Antonio): 210-617-5300
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (Temple/Waco): 254-778-4811
- VA North Texas Health Care System (Dallas): 214-742-8387
- El Paso VA Medical Center: 915-564-6100
- Amarillo VA Health Care System: 806-355-9703
- Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center (San Antonio): 210-617-5300
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in Texas
Salvation Army Texas
With locations in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Amarillo, Lubbock, Waco, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Midland, Abilene, and Tyler, the Salvation Army is one of Texas’s most consistent statewide providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Charities Texas
Multiple dioceses across Texas provide emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals regardless of faith background.
Star of Hope Mission — Houston
Star of Hope is one of Houston’s largest homeless service organizations, providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and hotel voucher connections for homeless men, women, and families in Harris County.
Contact: 713-748-0700 | sohmission.org
Houston Coalition for the Homeless
Houston Coalition for the Homeless coordinates The Way Home system and connects homeless individuals with emergency housing resources including hotel vouchers across Harris County.
Contact: 713-739-7514 | thewayhome.org
Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH)
ARCH serves as Austin’s primary daytime resource center for homeless individuals, providing connections to emergency housing including hotel vouchers across Travis County.
Contact: 512-305-4100
Front Steps — Austin
Front Steps operates ARCH and provides emergency shelter, case management, and hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals in Austin.
Contact: 512-305-4100 | frontsteps.org
Haven for Hope — San Antonio
One of the nation’s largest homeless campuses, Haven for Hope provides emergency shelter, meals, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals and families in Bexar County.
Contact: 210-220-2100 | havenforhope.org
The Stewpot — Dallas
The Stewpot provides emergency food, services, and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in the Dallas area.
Contact: 214-746-2776 | thestewpot.org
CitySquare — Dallas
CitySquare provides emergency assistance, housing navigation, and hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals and families in Dallas County.
Contact: 214-823-8710 | citysquare.org
Presbyterian Night Shelter — Fort Worth
Presbyterian Night Shelter is one of Fort Worth’s primary emergency shelter providers, offering shelter and connections to hotel voucher programs for homeless individuals in Tarrant County.
Contact: 817-632-6000 | presnight.org
Center for Transforming Lives — Fort Worth
Center for Transforming Lives provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher connections for homeless women and families in Tarrant County.
Contact: 817-332-6329 | centerfortransforminglives.org
El Paso Center for Children / Emergence Health Network — El Paso
Emergence Health Network provides mental health services, emergency housing assistance, and hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals in El Paso County.
Contact: 915-887-3220 | emergencehealth.org
Buckner International — Statewide
Buckner International provides emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher connections for homeless families and children across Texas.
Contact: 214-758-8000 | buckner.org
American Red Cross — Texas
The Red Cross is one of Texas’s most active disaster response organizations, regularly responding to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. 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 Texas
Houston / Harris County
Houston has Texas’s largest homeless population and one of the nation’s most effective coordinated response systems. Key resources include:
- Houston 211: Dial 211
- The Way Home / Houston Coalition for the Homeless: 713-739-7514
- Star of Hope Mission: 713-748-0700
- Salvation Army Houston: 713-752-0677
- Catholic Charities Houston: 713-526-4611
- SEARCH Homeless Services: 713-739-7752
- HHSC Houston: 877-541-7905
Dallas / Dallas County
- Dallas 211: Dial 211
- Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance: 214-941-0000
- The Stewpot: 214-746-2776
- CitySquare: 214-823-8710
- Salvation Army Dallas: 214-424-7000
- Catholic Charities Dallas: 214-520-6590
- Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions: 214-670-3441
San Antonio / Bexar County
- San Antonio 211: Dial 211
- Haven for Hope: 210-220-2100
- Salvation Army San Antonio: 210-226-2291
- Catholic Charities San Antonio: 210-222-1294
- SAMMinistries: 210-431-5533
- HHSC San Antonio: 877-541-7905
Austin / Travis County
- Austin 211: Dial 211
- ARCH / Front Steps: 512-305-4100
- Salvation Army Austin: 512-476-1111
- Catholic Charities Austin: 512-651-6100
- Mobile Loaves and Fishes: 512-328-7299
- HHSC Austin: 877-541-7905
Fort Worth / Tarrant County
- Fort Worth 211: Dial 211
- Presbyterian Night Shelter: 817-632-6000
- Center for Transforming Lives: 817-332-6329
- Salvation Army Fort Worth: 817-332-4228
- Catholic Charities Fort Worth: 817-534-0814
- HHSC Fort Worth: 877-541-7905
El Paso / El Paso County
- El Paso 211: Dial 211
- Emergence Health Network: 915-887-3220
- Salvation Army El Paso: 915-565-3833
- Catholic Social Services El Paso: 915-872-8431
- Rescue Mission of El Paso: 915-532-0878
- HHSC El Paso: 877-541-7905
Rio Grande Valley (McAllen / Brownsville / Laredo)
The Rio Grande Valley and border region has unique poverty and immigration-related housing challenges:
- RGV 211: Dial 211
- Catholic Charities Brownsville: 956-542-0552
- Catholic Social Services Laredo: 956-722-2443
- Family Crisis Center of the Rio Grande Valley: 956-630-4878
- ARISE (border community action): 956-205-0599
- HHSC McAllen: 877-541-7905
Amarillo / Panhandle
- Amarillo 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Amarillo: 806-374-8517
- Faith City Mission Amarillo: 806-374-7634
- Panhandle Community Services: 806-372-1615
- HHSC Amarillo: 877-541-7905
Lubbock / West Texas
- Lubbock 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Lubbock: 806-765-9016
- Lubbock Impact (homeless services): 806-744-1421
- West Texas Opportunities: 806-872-6651
- HHSC Lubbock: 877-541-7905
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 Texas can help you navigate housing programs, disaster recovery resources, and benefits specific to your county.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in Texas. 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 Texas county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact TDHCA at tdhca.state.tx.us or your local housing authority to apply. Waitlists in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin can be extremely long — apply as early as possible and to multiple housing authorities.
Apply for Texas Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact TDHCA at tdhca.state.tx.us or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your county.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like Star of Hope, Haven for Hope, Presbyterian Night Shelter, Front Steps, CitySquare, and the Salvation Army offer transitional housing programs across Texas 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, Texas Medicaid, and TANF at your local HHSC office or at yourtexasbenefits.com or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in Texas tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your Texas county. In Houston, also contact The Way Home at 713-739-7514 or Star of Hope at 713-748-0700. In Dallas, contact The Stewpot at 214-746-2776. In San Antonio, contact Haven for Hope at 210-220-2100. In Austin, contact ARCH/Front Steps at 512-305-4100.
Are hotel vouchers available after a hurricane in Texas?
Yes. Texas’s Gulf Coast is among the most hurricane-vulnerable coastlines in the nation — including Houston, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley. If a hurricane has displaced you, FEMA’s TSA program can place you in a hotel at no cost after a presidentially declared disaster. Apply immediately at disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. The Red Cross also responds immediately to hurricane-related housing needs.
Are hotel vouchers available after the winter storm in Texas?
Yes. The 2021 Winter Storm Uri devastated Texas, leaving millions without power and heat. If you’re displaced by a winter storm declared a federal disaster, FEMA’s TSA program applies. During severe winter weather events, Texas communities also activate emergency warming shelters. Dial 211 for current shelter information during winter emergencies.
Are hotel vouchers available along the Texas-Mexico border?
Yes. Catholic Charities dioceses in Brownsville, Laredo, El Paso, and Corpus Christi serve border communities and provide emergency housing assistance regardless of immigration status. ARISE and other border community organizations also provide assistance. Dial 211 for resources in your specific border county.
Does Texas HHSC provide hotel vouchers?
Yes. Texas HHSC manages TANF emergency assistance that can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying families with children. Apply at your local HHSC benefits office or at yourtexasbenefits.com.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in Texas?
Yes. Texas has the second-largest veteran population in the nation. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or your nearest Texas VA facility. Houston’s The Way Home has been particularly successful at ending veteran homelessness. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis.
Are there hotel vouchers for immigrants and undocumented individuals in Texas?
Yes. Several organizations — particularly Catholic Charities, ARISE, and border community nonprofits — provide emergency housing assistance regardless of immigration status. Dial 211 and ask specifically about immigration-inclusive programs in your area.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in Texas?
Many programs will still help you without a photo ID, though having one speeds up the process. If you’ve lost your ID — especially after a hurricane or winter storm — ask your caseworker or local HHSC office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in Texas?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the Texas Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-525-1978 (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 contact the National Homeless Hotline at 1-877-466-4782 for additional options. In rural west Texas — particularly in the vast stretch between San Antonio and El Paso — local churches, county social services offices, and the Salvation Army are often the most accessible resources.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in Texas tonight, your first call should be to 211. From there, operators can connect you with the nearest available program — whether that’s The Way Home, Haven for Hope, ARCH, Presbyterian Night Shelter, Star of Hope, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, or another local organization serving your county.
Texas is a big state — but no matter where you are, from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande, from the Piney Woods to the Permian Basin, there are people ready to help. Don’t wait to reach out.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: Texas TDHCA, Texas HHSC, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army Texas
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.