Finding a safe place to sleep can be one of the greatest challenges for a person experiencing homelessness. Many churches—both nationally and locally—provide housing assistance, ranging from emergency overnight shelters to permanent supportive housing, as well as rental assistance aimed at preventing eviction.
Types of Housing Support Offered
Emergency Shelters
Emergency homeless shelter provides immediate and short-term accommodation—often available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—for individuals and families.
Transitional Housing
Transitional housing programs allow longer-term stays (several months) that include life skills training, job placement assistance, and case management to help residents move into permanent housing.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
Stable, long-term housing combined with on-site services, such as mental health care and addiction recovery support.
Rapid Re-housing
Assistance to help families quickly exit homelessness by helping them find, apply for, and secure private housing—often accompanied by temporary rental subsidies.
Eviction Prevention
One-time financial assistance for rent, mortgage, or utility payments to enable individuals to remain in their current homes.
Major National Churches That Help the Homeless with Housing
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is one of the largest providers of housing assistance in the U.S., offering a range of services spanning from immediate emergency shelter to long-term permanent housing and financial aid to prevent eviction. Its housing programs include:
- Emergency Shelters: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide a safe bed, nutritious meals, clean showers, and essential hygiene items for those in immediate crisis. Some locations may feature specific shelters for men, women, families, or youth.
- Transitional Housing: Offers a stable place to stay for an extended period (often up to six months or longer) while residents work with case managers on job training, budgeting, and the search for a permanent home.
- Permanent Supportive Housing: Long-term, income-based housing for vulnerable groups such as seniors, veterans, or people with disabilities. These facilities often include on-site support for mental health and substance use issues.
- Rapid Re-Housing: Programs such as “Housing Now” help families quickly move out of shelters and into private housing by providing short-term financial assistance and housing search guidance services.
Use The Salvation Army’s Location Finder to find the center nearest you. Enter your zip code to locate the closest Service Center and see what specific housing programs they offer. You can also apply online via SAHelp.org; many regions allow you to initiate a confidential application online to receive assistance with rent or utility bills.
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is one of the country’s largest housing providers, managing over 38,000 units of affordable permanent housing for families, seniors, and veterans. Its services range from immediate emergency aid to long-term supportive housing, designed to end chronic homelessness. Their housing programs include:
- Emergency Shelters: Provide immediate temporary accommodation and meals for individuals and families in crisis. Some locations offer “stabilization beds”—available 24/7—which include case management to help residents transition into permanent housing options.
- Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): Combines long-term affordable housing with on-site services, such as mental health care, addiction recovery support, and life skills training.
- Transitional and Temporary Housing: Offers medium-term stays for specific groups—such as youth, women, or individuals recovering from substance abuse—to help them rebuild their lives. Rapid Rehousing: Focuses on quickly moving individuals from shelters into private apartments through short-term rental subsidies and housing search assistance.
Healthy Housing Initiative (HHI)
This flagship program addresses chronic homelessness by integrating permanent housing with Catholic healthcare systems. In 2026, CCUSA continues to focus on this multifaceted approach to improve health outcomes and reduce emergency room visits among people experiencing homelessness. Key pilot cities include:
- Detroit, MI
- Las Vegas, NV
- Portland, OR
- St. Louis, MO
- Spokane, WA
Since Catholic Charities is a network of independent local agencies, you must contact your local office to request assistance. Use CCUSA’s “Find Help” tool to locate the office serving your specific county or diocese. Many permanent housing programs require a referral through your community’s Coordinated Entry System (CES). For immediate referrals to emergency shelters, calling 2-1-1 is often the fastest way to connect with local Catholic Charities programs.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) focuses primarily on homelessness prevention and transitional housing through a decentralized network of local chapters (known as “Conferences”) based in Catholic parishes. Its main housing assistance programs include:
Homelessness Prevention (Rent and Utility Assistance): This is SVdP’s most widespread service. Volunteers (Vincentians) often conduct home visits to assess needs and provide one-time financial assistance for rent, mortgages, or utility bills in order to prevent eviction.
Transitional Housing: SVdP manages several specialized transitional facilities throughout the United States, such as:
- Ozanam Manor: A dormitory-style program for seniors, veterans, and adults with disabilities.
- Workforce Housing: Programs—such as those in Phoenix—provide stable housing and financial literacy education to adults who are employed or actively seeking work.
- Domestic Violence Shelters: Some regions provide safe transitional housing and case management for families fleeing domestic abuse.
Rapid Re-Housing: SVdP CARES and other regional chapters work to move homeless individuals into permanent housing within 30 days, providing moving assistance and ongoing case management.
Permanent Supportive Housing: Long-term housing for chronically homeless individuals with disabilities, offering on-site “wrap-around” support services.
Since each chapter is independent, you should contact the location nearest to you. Use the SVdP USA locator tool or search for “St. Vincent de Paul” followed by the name of your city or parish. Most financial assistance begins with a request for a home visit, during which two volunteers will meet with you to discuss your situation.
Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America operates as a vast national network comprising more than 300 health and human services organizations. Since each regional agency (for example, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, New York, or Northern California) is independent, specific programs—such as emergency shelters and rental assistance—are managed at the local level.
- Emergency and Transitional Shelters: Provide short-term accommodation and meet the basic needs of individuals, families, and specialized groups, such as youth under the age of 18.
- Permanent Supportive Housing: This “Housing First” approach focuses on rapidly moving people into stable homes without imposing preconditions—such as sobriety—and then providing “wrap-around” support services on-site, such as mental health care and job training.
- Rapid Re-Housing (RRH): Helps families and individuals exit homelessness quickly by providing temporary rental subsidies and assistance with security deposits.
- Affordable Senior Housing: Manages thousands of units nationwide, often integrated with health and wellness services to help older adults age safely in place.
- Services for Youth and Veterans: Offers housing exclusively for veterans, as well as specialized programs for youth who are aging out of the foster care system.
To access Lutheran housing services, you must contact the agency serving your specific area. You can use the Lutheran Services in America Member Map—search by state or service type to find your local provider—or, alternatively, you can call 2-1-1. Most local Lutheran agencies receive their housing referrals through the community’s Coordinated Entry System (CES), which can be accessed by dialing 2-1-1.
Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America (VOA) is a prominent faith-based nonprofit organization that manages over 500 affordable housing properties across 42 states and Puerto Rico, serving more than 25,000 people annually. Its housing model follows a “Housing First” approach, prioritizing immediate access to a safe home as the foundation for recovery and stability.
Support for Veterans: VOA is a key partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), serving over 27,000 veterans each year.
SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families): Provides rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention services for low-income veteran families, including financial assistance for rent and utilities.
Transitional and Permanent Housing: Programs such as Eagle’s Landing offer stays of up to two years, featuring on-site case management and job training.
Innovative Housing: A more recent initiative that repurposes materials and buildings to create sustainable housing designed specifically for veterans.
Affordable Housing for Seniors: VOA offers housing with integrated services that enable older adults to live independently. Many properties feature service coordinators who connect residents with healthcare, transportation, and nutrition programs.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): Designed for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness or those with significant disabilities. It provides long-term housing combined with intensive case management to address mental health issues or addictions.
Rapid Re-Housing (RRH): Focuses on quickly moving families and individuals from the streets or shelters into permanent homes. It typically offers short-term rental subsidies (often 3 to 12 months) and stabilization services.
Emergency Shelters: VOA operates shelters and day centers nationwide to provide immediate protection against extreme weather conditions, as well as to meet basic needs such as food.
Since VOA operates through local affiliates, available programs vary by region. Use the VOA Affiliate Map to locate the office corresponding to your state. You may also contact a local office directly. For example, VOA Greater New York or VOA Texas have their own intake processes for local shelters and rental assistance.
How to Find Help Near You
Call 211: This is the universal number for essential community services in the United States and Canada. Operators can refer you to local church-run shelters and housing resources.
Contact local places of worship: Many individual congregations (Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, etc.) operate small-scale food banks and clothing distribution centers, or offer limited emergency financial assistance.
Search the HUD Exchange: Use this government tool to find local “Continuum of Care” (CoC) programs, which often collaborate with faith-based organizations to coordinate housing.
