If you’re homeless or about to lose your housing in West Virginia tonight, hotel vouchers are available — and you may qualify right now. West Virginia 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 West Virginia-specific program, how to apply, who qualifies, and what to do if you need help immediately.
Hotel Vouchers for Homeless in West Virginia — Quick Answer
Yes, hotel vouchers for homeless individuals are available in West Virginia through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF), 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 West Virginia?
Several organizations in West Virginia can provide emergency hotel or motel vouchers:
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) — West Virginia’s primary social services agency manages emergency assistance programs that can cover short-term motel stays for eligible individuals and families. Contact your local DHHR office or visit dhhr.wv.gov.
West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF) — WVHDF manages West Virginia’s state housing programs and distributes federal ESG and HOME funds to local nonprofits providing emergency shelter including hotel and motel placements. Visit wvhdf.com.
West Virginia 211 — Dialing 211 connects you with a trained operator who can identify the nearest hotel voucher program with available funds in your specific county. WV 211 covers all 55 counties.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) — West Virginia 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, particularly in the state’s many rural and remote communities.
Salvation Army West Virginia — The Salvation Army operates locations in Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Morgantown, and other communities and regularly provides emergency motel vouchers for individuals and families in crisis.
Catholic Charities West Virginia — Provides emergency housing assistance regardless of religion or background, serving communities across the Mountain State.
American Red Cross West Virginia — If your housing crisis results from a flood, ice storm, or other disaster, the Red Cross can arrange immediate hotel accommodations at no cost. West Virginia is among the most flood-prone states in the nation.
Local churches and faith-based organizations — In West Virginia’s many small and remote mountain communities, local churches are often the first and most accessible source of emergency hotel and motel vouchers.
Who Qualifies for Emergency Hotel Vouchers in West Virginia?
Eligibility varies by program, but most West Virginia 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 West Virginia programs
- Elderly individuals (60 and older)
- People with disabilities or serious health conditions
- Domestic violence survivors — most West Virginia programs fast-track DV cases
- Veterans experiencing homelessness
- Disaster survivors displaced by floods, mudslides, or ice storms — West Virginia is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation, with the 2016 floods among the deadliest in state history
- Individuals in recovery from substance use disorders — West Virginia has been more severely impacted by the opioid crisis than virtually any other state in the nation, and the intersection of addiction and homelessness is acute
- Residents of the coalfields of southern West Virginia and the rural mountain communities across the state, which face some of the highest poverty rates in the entire United States
- Individuals exposed to West Virginia’s harsh Appalachian winters — heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and icing are common from November through March across the state’s mountains and valleys
West Virginia is a deeply Appalachian state with some of the highest poverty rates and most persistent economic challenges of any state in the nation. The opioid crisis has been devastating — West Virginia has consistently led the nation in overdose deaths per capita for years. The state is also extremely flood-prone, with narrow river valleys and steep mountain terrain that channels rainfall and snowmelt into fast-rising, dangerous floods. Despite these challenges, West Virginia has a strong culture of community and neighbor-helping-neighbor, and emergency assistance programs exist in every county. You do not necessarily need a photo ID to receive assistance in West Virginia, though having one speeds up the process.
How to Get a Hotel Voucher in West Virginia (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 West Virginia.” Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with the nearest program that has funding available in your county. WV 211 covers all 55 counties.
Step 2: Contact Your Local West Virginia DHHR Office
West Virginia DHHR has offices in every county. DHHR administers the West Virginia Works program (WV Works — West Virginia’s TANF) and Emergency Assistance programs that can connect you with temporary housing funds including motel vouchers for qualifying individuals and families.
Contact: dhhr.wv.gov | 304-558-0684
Key DHHR county office contacts:
- Charleston (Kanawha County): 304-558-7980
- Huntington (Cabell County): 304-528-5600
- Parkersburg (Wood County): 304-420-4500
- Wheeling (Ohio County): 304-243-6700
- Morgantown (Monongalia County): 304-285-3000
- Beckley (Raleigh County): 304-256-6700
- Clarksburg (Harrison County): 304-627-2500
- Logan (Logan County): 304-792-8800
- Lewisburg (Greenbrier County): 304-647-7440
- Martinsburg (Berkeley County): 304-267-0065
Step 3: Contact West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF)
WVHDF funds emergency shelter and housing programs across West Virginia and can direct you to ESG-funded hotel voucher providers in your region.
Contact: wvhdf.com | 304-345-6475
Step 4: Reach Out to a Community Action Agency
West Virginia’s Community Action Agencies serve counties across the state and often have emergency motel voucher funds available same-day. Key agencies include:
- Kanawha-Charleston Community Action Association — Charleston / Kanawha County
- Facing Hunger Foodbank Community Action — Huntington / Caledonia area
- CCAP (Community Council of Action Programs) — Cabell County / Huntington
- Southwestern Community Action Council — Wayne, Mingo, Logan, and surrounding counties
- Tygart Valley Community Action — Elkins / Randolph County
- Eastern Panhandle Community Action — Martinsburg / Berkeley and Jefferson counties
- Monongalia County Community Action — Morgantown area
- Community Action of Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne Counties — western West Virginia
Call 211 for the Community Action Agency serving your specific county.
Step 5: Contact the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has locations throughout West Virginia and can often provide same-day emergency motel vouchers. Call your nearest branch:
- Charleston: 304-343-4800
- Huntington: 304-522-9062
- Parkersburg: 304-485-3400
- Wheeling: 304-232-6230
- Morgantown: 304-296-7770
- Beckley: 304-253-0428
- Clarksburg: 304-623-5959
- Martinsburg: 304-263-3911
Step 6: Contact Catholic Charities West Virginia
Catholic Charities provides emergency housing assistance to anyone in need regardless of faith.
- Charleston (Catholic Charities West Virginia — Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston): 304-342-0167
- Wheeling: 304-232-7965
West Virginia Government Programs for Emergency Housing
West Virginia Works (WV Works) — West Virginia’s TANF
WV Works is West Virginia’s TANF program and provides emergency assistance for eligible families with children. WV Works emergency funds can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying families in crisis. Apply at your local DHHR county office.
Contact: dhhr.wv.gov | 304-558-0684
West Virginia Emergency Assistance Program
West Virginia’s Emergency Assistance program provides one-time assistance for qualifying low-income individuals and families facing a sudden crisis — including emergency motel stays. Emergency Assistance is administered by DHHR county offices and is one of West Virginia’s most direct routes to an emergency hotel voucher.
Contact: Your local DHHR county office | dhhr.wv.gov
West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF)
WVHDF manages West Virginia’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: wvhdf.com | 304-345-6475
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) — West Virginia
West Virginia receives federal ESG funding from HUD, distributed through WVHDF to local homeless service providers. ESG funds can cover emergency shelter including hotel stays when traditional shelter beds are unavailable.
Contact: WVHDF at wvhdf.com
HUD Continuum of Care — West Virginia CoC Programs
West Virginia has two primary CoC structures:
- Huntington/Cabell-Wayne Counties CoC — serving the Tri-State area
- Balance of State West Virginia CoC — covering all remaining West Virginia counties, including Charleston, Wheeling, Morgantown, and the southern coalfields
Find your local CoC: hudexchange.info | wvhomeless.org (West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness)
West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (WVCEH)
WVCEH coordinates statewide homeless policy and connects individuals with emergency housing resources across West Virginia.
Contact: 304-881-0030 | wvhomeless.org
FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA)
West Virginia is one of the most frequently flooded states in the nation. The 2016 floods killed at least 23 people and destroyed thousands of homes. 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) — West Virginia
Homeless West Virginia veterans have dedicated resources through the VA. VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays while longer-term housing is arranged.
West Virginia VA Locations:
- Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center (Clarksburg): 304-623-3461
- Beckley VA Medical Center: 304-255-2121
- Huntington VA Medical Center: 304-429-6741
- Charleston VA Clinic: 304-343-3825
- Wheeling VA Clinic: 304-232-0884
- Morgantown VA Clinic: 304-285-3520
- Parkersburg VA Clinic: 304-422-5114
- Martinsburg VA Medical Center: 304-263-0811
National Veterans Homeless Hotline: 1-877-424-3838 (24/7)
Nonprofit Organizations Offering Hotel Vouchers in West Virginia
Salvation Army West Virginia
With locations in Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Morgantown, Beckley, Clarksburg, and Martinsburg, the Salvation Army is one of West Virginia’s most consistent statewide providers of emergency motel vouchers.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Catholic Charities West Virginia
Serves anyone in need regardless of faith, with offices in Charleston and Wheeling providing emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher referrals statewide.
Contact: 304-342-0167
CHANGE (Community Housing Action Needs of Greater Everyday people) — Charleston
CHANGE provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals and families in the Charleston and Kanawha County area.
Contact: 304-720-5561
Covenant House of Charleston
Covenant House provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher connections for homeless youth and young adults in the Charleston metro area.
Contact: 304-342-1613 | covenanthousenews.org
Branches of Hope — Morgantown
Branches of Hope provides emergency housing assistance and hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals and families in Monongalia County and the Morgantown area, including the significant student population at West Virginia University that sometimes faces housing instability.
Contact: 304-413-0001 | branchesofhopewv.org
Facing Hunger Foodbank / Cabell-Huntington Community Action — Huntington
Provides emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for homeless individuals and families in the Huntington area and Tri-State region.
Contact: 304-523-6029 | facinghunger.org
ARCH (Appalachian Recovery Center for Hope) — Multiple Locations
ARCH provides recovery housing and emergency housing connections for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders across West Virginia, integrating addiction recovery with housing stability.
Contact: 304-415-2724 | appalachianrecovery.org
Women’s Aid in Crisis (WAIC) — Morgantown
WAIC provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher assistance specifically for domestic violence survivors and their children in Monongalia and surrounding counties.
Contact: 304-292-5100 | waiconline.org
YWCA of Charleston
The YWCA provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher connections specifically for women and families — including domestic violence survivors — in the Charleston area.
Contact: 304-340-3554 | ywcacharleston.org
Family Refuge Center — Lewisburg
Family Refuge Center provides emergency shelter and hotel voucher assistance for domestic violence survivors in Greenbrier and surrounding counties in southeastern West Virginia.
Contact: 304-645-6334 | familyrefugecenter.com
Reconnecting McDowell — Welch
Reconnecting McDowell serves McDowell County — one of the most economically distressed counties in the entire United States, in the heart of the southern West Virginia coalfields — providing emergency assistance including hotel voucher connections for residents.
Contact: 304-436-3119
American Red Cross — West Virginia
The Red Cross is one of West Virginia’s most active disaster response organizations, regularly assisting people displaced by floods, ice storms, and mudslides. 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 West Virginia
Charleston / Kanawha County
Charleston is West Virginia’s capital and largest city and has the state’s largest concentration of homeless services. Key resources include:
- Charleston 211: Dial 211
- CHANGE: 304-720-5561
- Covenant House Charleston (youth): 304-342-1613
- YWCA Charleston: 304-340-3554
- Salvation Army Charleston: 304-343-4800
- Catholic Charities Charleston: 304-342-0167
- DHHR Kanawha County: 304-558-7980
Huntington / Cabell County
Huntington has been among the cities most severely impacted by the opioid crisis and has developed significant recovery-integrated homeless services:
- Huntington 211: Dial 211
- Facing Hunger Foodbank / Community Action: 304-523-6029
- Salvation Army Huntington: 304-522-9062
- DHHR Cabell County: 304-528-5600
- Huntington VA Medical Center: 304-429-6741
- Contact Addictions: 304-523-2252
Parkersburg / Wood County
- Parkersburg 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Parkersburg: 304-485-3400
- Parkersburg Area Community Action: 304-485-7200
- DHHR Wood County: 304-420-4500
Wheeling / Ohio County
- Wheeling 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Wheeling: 304-232-6230
- Catholic Charities Wheeling: 304-232-7965
- Wheeling Health Right (healthcare/housing referrals): 304-232-5810
- DHHR Ohio County: 304-243-6700
Morgantown / Monongalia County
- Morgantown 211: Dial 211
- Branches of Hope: 304-413-0001
- WAIC (DV/emergency): 304-292-5100
- Salvation Army Morgantown: 304-296-7770
- DHHR Monongalia County: 304-285-3000
Beckley / Raleigh County
- Beckley 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Beckley: 304-253-0428
- Raleigh County Community Action: 304-255-0806
- Beckley VA Medical Center: 304-255-2121
- DHHR Raleigh County: 304-256-6700
Martinsburg / Eastern Panhandle
- Martinsburg 211: Dial 211
- Salvation Army Martinsburg: 304-263-3911
- Eastern Panhandle Community Action: 304-263-9931
- Martinsburg VA Medical Center: 304-263-0811
- DHHR Berkeley County: 304-267-0065
Southern West Virginia Coalfields (Logan, Mingo, McDowell, Wyoming, Mercer Counties)
The southern coalfields are among the most economically distressed communities in the United States:
- Southern WV 211: Dial 211
- Reconnecting McDowell (Welch): 304-436-3119
- Southwestern Community Action Council: 304-529-4568
- Logan County DHHR: 304-792-8800
- Mingo County DHHR: 304-235-4500
- McDowell County DHHR: 304-436-8282
- Mercer County DHHR: 304-487-1530
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 West Virginia can help you navigate housing programs, recovery resources, flood recovery benefits, and services specific to your county.
Apply for Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) in West Virginia. 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 West Virginia county.
Get on the Section 8 waitlist. The Housing Choice Voucher program provides long-term rental assistance. Contact WVHDF at wvhdf.com or your local housing authority to apply. Apply as early as possible — even in smaller West Virginia cities, waitlists can be significant.
Apply for West Virginia Emergency Rental Assistance. Contact WVHDF at wvhdf.com or dial 211 to ask about current rental assistance programs available in your county.
Look into transitional housing. Organizations like CHANGE, Branches of Hope, ARCH, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities offer transitional housing programs across West Virginia 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, West Virginia Medicaid, and WV Works (TANF) at your local DHHR county office or at dhhr.wv.gov or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a hotel voucher in West Virginia tonight?
Call 211 right now. Operators are available 24/7 and can connect you with emergency hotel voucher programs in your West Virginia county. You should also contact your local DHHR county office directly — West Virginia’s Emergency Assistance program can authorize emergency motel stays for qualifying individuals and families. In Charleston, contact CHANGE at 304-720-5561 or the Salvation Army at 304-343-4800.
Does West Virginia DHHR provide hotel vouchers?
Yes. West Virginia DHHR manages WV Works (TANF) and Emergency Assistance programs that can cover temporary motel stays for qualifying individuals and families. Contact your local county DHHR office directly to ask about available emergency funds.
Are hotel vouchers available after a flood in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation — narrow mountain valleys channel water rapidly, and flash floods can develop with little warning. If flooding 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 flood-related housing needs across West Virginia.
Are there hotel vouchers for people in recovery from addiction in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia has been more severely impacted by the opioid crisis than virtually any other state in the nation. ARCH (304-415-2724) and other recovery-integrated housing programs provide emergency housing connections for people in recovery. Many West Virginia homeless service providers specialize in combining housing assistance with recovery support. Dial 211 or contact the West Virginia Helpline at 1-844-HELP-4-WV (1-844-435-7498) (24/7) for combined crisis, addiction, and housing resources.
Are hotel vouchers available in the southern West Virginia coalfields?
Yes, though resources are more limited. Reconnecting McDowell (304-436-3119) serves McDowell County — one of the poorest counties in the United States. Southwestern Community Action Council (304-529-4568) serves Logan, Mingo, and surrounding coalfield counties. Local DHHR offices and churches are critical resources throughout the coalfields. Dial 211 for current availability in your specific county.
Can I get a hotel voucher without an ID in West Virginia?
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 flood — ask your caseworker or local DHHR office about emergency identification assistance.
Are there hotel vouchers for homeless veterans in West Virginia?
Yes. Contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (24/7) or your nearest West Virginia VA facility. Key contacts include the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg (304-623-3461), the Beckley VA Medical Center (304-255-2121), and the Huntington VA Medical Center (304-429-6741). VA social workers can often arrange emergency hotel stays same-day for veterans in crisis.
Are there hotel vouchers for domestic violence survivors in West Virginia?
Yes. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7) or the West Virginia Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-352-6513 (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 West Virginia’s most remote mountain communities — particularly in the southern coalfields — local churches, county DHHR offices, and community action agencies are the most accessible backup resources. Don’t give up — call multiple organizations, and call 211 again at different times of day.
Final Thoughts
If you need a hotel voucher in West Virginia tonight, your first call should be to 211 — and your second should be to your county’s DHHR office. West Virginia’s Emergency Assistance program means your county has emergency funds available, and you have a right to apply.
West Virginia is a state that has faced more than its share of hardship — but also one with deep community bonds and people who genuinely look out for one another. From the Eastern Panhandle to the coalfields, from the New River Gorge to the Northern Panhandle, help is available. Don’t wait to reach out.
Last Updated: 2026 | Sources: West Virginia DHHR, West Virginia Housing Development Fund, HUD, FEMA, Salvation Army West Virginia
Program availability and funding levels vary by county and change frequently. Always verify current availability directly with the providing organization.