In Sacramento, homeless families can access motel vouchers through both non-profit agencies—such as the Travelers Aid Emergency Assistance Agency—and new city-administered programs, which offer up to 28 days of lodging, renewable for a period of six months.
To obtain emergency motel vouchers for homeless individuals in Sacramento, it is necessary to go through the Coordinated Access System (CAS) by calling 2-1-1 Sacramento. The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), as well as local shelters, do not issue vouchers directly to individuals who walk in without an appointment; obtaining any immediate voucher requires a standardized triage assessment conducted over the phone.
Centralized Application Process (2-1-1)
Call 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1 (or 1-916-498-1000) and press 8 to bypass the main menu and speak directly with a housing intake specialist.
Complete the Shelter Assessment: The specialist will conduct a telephone triage assessment to document your emergency situation and evaluate your vulnerability.
Placement on the Waitlist: Following your telephone assessment, your household will be automatically placed on the unified waitlist for all available shelter vacancies within the city and county, including motel voucher programs.
Maintain Active Status: You must call 2-1-1 and complete your assessment again every 90 days to maintain your active status on the waitlist.
Major Motel Voucher Programs in Sacramento
Depending on your demographic group, you may qualify for specific local voucher funds:
Emergency Shelter Vouchers (ESV) for Families
The Emergency Shelter Voucher (ESV) Program for Families is an official initiative of the City of Sacramento designed to provide rapid shelter to homeless families with minor children. Launched as a reformed, voucher-based version of the former “City Motel Program,” the ESV system actively expands motel options citywide while maintaining a central inventory capable of sheltering approximately 200 families at any given time.
Program Details and Stay Limits
Placement Timeline: The program operates with the goal of placing eligible families in temporary accommodation within 24 hours of a crisis being identified.
Initial 28-Day Stay: Qualifying families receive a voucher valued at $55 per night for a continuous 28-day stay at a participating local motel. Extensions of Up to 6 Months: The initial voucher may be renewed up to five times. This allows for a maximum total shelter stay of six months.
The Case Management Rule: Voucher renewals are strictly conditional. Families must actively cooperate with their assigned case managers and participate in their individualized plan for rapid stabilization and long-term rehousing in order to maintain their eligibility.
Direct Enrollment Process
The City of Sacramento administers this program through a centralized system. You cannot go directly to a city office or a local motel to request an ESV voucher.
Call 2-1-1 Sacramento: Dial 2-1-1 (or call 1-916-498-1000) to access the main intake portal for emergency housing.
Complete the Assessment: Inform the operator that you have minor children and are currently homeless. An intake worker will conduct a “Coordinated Entry” triage assessment over the phone to determine if your household meets the criteria for the ESV program.
Alternative City Intake: The City also administers the Sacramento Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC), which can provide immediate in-person intake and direct emergency shelter resources for families with children.
Note: If you have previously heard about long-term permanent rental assistance under a similar name, please be aware that the federal Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program—administered by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA)—is a separate program and is currently closed to new referrals. New emergency requests must utilize the City’s short-term ESV program by calling 2-1-1.
CalWORKs Homeless Assistance
The CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA) program provides immediate motel vouchers or cash payments for a period of up to 16 calendar days to homeless families who are currently receiving—or appear to be eligible to receive—CalWORKs cash assistance. In Sacramento County, this program is administered directly through the Department of Human Assistance (DHA). By law, the County must either issue or deny your temporary motel assistance on the very same business day that you submit your application.
Temporary Motel Voucher Coverage and Rates
The daily motel subsidy is based strictly on your family size. You are responsible for paying any motel costs that exceed the following daily limits established by the State:
- Family of 4 members or fewer: $85 per day.
- For each additional family member: +$15 per day. Maximum limit per family: $145 per day.
- Payment Structure: Benefits are not issued in a single lump sum. Your first payment covers 3 days, and subsequent vouchers are issued in increments of up to 7 days at a time, provided you submit proof that you are actively searching for housing. You must submit receipts from the commercial motel to the County to verify the expenses incurred.
How to Apply for Assistance
You should not use the 2-1-1 system to obtain CalWORKs housing assistance. You must deal directly with the County:
Visit a local Sacramento County DHA office. Main locations include 1725 Fulton Ave, 2700 Fulton Ave, and 2450 Florin Rd.
You must request and complete Form CW-42 (Statement of Facts: Homeless Assistance). The County cannot impose a daily “cutoff time” for accepting this form; if you appear in person during public business hours, they must process it on that same day.
If you already have an open CalWORKs case and an assigned social worker, call the Sacramento County Service Center at 1-800-560-0976 or the DHA administrative line at 916-874-3100 to request an emergency housing supplement.
Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH)
The Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) program in Sacramento offers temporary shelter with case management—including dedicated placements in motels and specialized interim facilities—for individuals experiencing homelessness who face severe behavioral health challenges. Funded by the California Department of Health Care Services, this program acts as a critical “bridge” to stabilize participants before facilitating their transition into permanent housing.
Unlike general emergency shelter funding, motel rooms or placements through the BHBH program cannot be obtained via standard walk-in access (without an appointment), nor can the 2-1-1 service assign them directly. Access requires undergoing a clinical assessment process.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a BHBH placement or motel voucher, an individual must meet the following three requirements established by the state and county:
Housing Status: The individual must be actively experiencing literal homelessness (e.g., sleeping on the street, in a vehicle, or in an emergency shelter).
Clinical Condition: The individual must have a documented Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and/or a Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
Barrier to Care: The behavioral health condition must be the primary reason the individual is unable to access—or maintain a stay in—conventional emergency shelters.
How the Referral and Admission Process Works
Anyone may submit a referral request for themselves, a loved one, or a client. To initiate a request:
The BHEPS Portal: You must complete the online form via the county’s Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Eligibility and Prioritization System (BHEPS) portal.
Email Alternative: You may download the printable BHEPS assessment form and securely email it to the county at dhs-bhs-bhbhreferral@saccounty.gov.
Clinical Review: Once the request has been submitted, a Sacramento County behavioral health clinician reviews the case. If the individual is deemed eligible, their placement is coordinated into an available BHBH motel room or a contracted program facility (such as those managed by community partners, such as Monarch Recovery Centers).
Priority under the CARE Act: By law, individuals actively participating in court-ordered treatment—under the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act (CARE Act)—receive the highest priority for access to available BHBH beds and vouchers.
Nonprofit & Crisis Aid Agencies
Although they continue to coordinate largely with the 2-1-1 service, these organizations manage local housing assistance for crisis situations:
Travelers Aid Emergency Assistance
Offers emergency motel vouchers for a period of up to one week, aimed at low-income or working-class families with dependent minor children who are experiencing an immediate housing crisis. You must call them directly at 916-399-9646 (walk-ins are not accepted).
The Salvation Army of Sacramento
Provides emergency shelter with case management for a period of 1 to 3 nights, depending on individual vulnerability and current funding availability. The intake process must be completed by phone by calling 916-678-4010.
Francis House of Sacramento
Manages a highly limited program called “Family Rescue,” which coordinates 7-day motel stays and food vouchers for a select group of homeless families. Learn more about their direct resources at Sacramento365.
