In the city of Baltimore, homeless individuals and families can access emergency hotel vouchers through the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), the Maryland Department of Human Services, and nonprofit organizations such as the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities. The quickest way to make contact is by dialing 211 or calling the Baltimore Shelter Hotline at 443-984-9540 to secure an immediate placement.
Find the complete details below.
Main Local Churches or Organizations You Can Contact for Hotel or Motel Vouchers
Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS)
The Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) does not issue paper hotel vouchers directly to individuals. Instead, MOHS operates a centralized, referral-based system that places eligible individuals and families directly into city-managed properties.
As part of its modern emergency housing model, the City of Baltimore utilized federal funds to permanently acquire local hotels (including the Sleep Inn & Suites and the Holiday Inn Express in Jonestown). These facilities function as individualized (non-congregate) emergency shelters and feature on-site social workers, medical staff, and social services.
How to Access MOHS Hotel and Emergency Housing Placements
You cannot simply show up at a hotel or administrative office to request a room. All placements must be processed through official assessment channels:
The Primary Route: Call the MOHS Shelter Referral Hotline at 443-984-9540. Operators are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to conduct an initial assessment and check for availability.
The 24/7 Backup Option: If you are in an immediate crisis situation outside of business hours or on a weekend, call 2-1-1 to reach 211 Maryland, which coordinates emergency placements for available beds and extreme weather shelters.
In-Person Assessment Centers: If you do not have access to a phone, you can visit a “Coordinated Access Navigator Site” in person. There, case managers will complete your intake paperwork to enroll you in the city’s system. The main in-person care center is Health Care for the Homeless, located at 421 Fallsway (open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.).
Who Gets Priority for Hotel Placements?
Given that capacity in city-owned hotels is strictly limited, priority is determined by a vulnerability score obtained during your initial assessment. Highest priority is granted to:
- Families with minor children in their care.
- Individuals with serious medical conditions or physical disabilities requiring non-congregate housing.
- Pregnant individuals and vulnerable youth (ages 18–24).
Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS)
The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) does not administer a direct, statewide, walk-in program for the issuance of temporary hotel vouchers. Instead, statewide DHS funds are distributed locally through its county offices and the Bureau of Homeless Services to fund Emergency Assistance grants and local shelter systems.
If you are seeking immediate housing, you must apply for specific crisis-related financial assistance programs or visit the state’s regional social services intake offices.
1. The EAFC Crisis Financial Assistance Pathway (for households with children)
If you have minor children, you may access emergency funds through the Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC) program. While this is a cash grant program—rather than a system of physical paper vouchers—funds may be authorized directly to cover emergency housing expenses during crisis situations, such as temporary placement in emergency motels.
Rule: You may utilize this specific crisis fund only once every 24 months.
Requirement: You must have at least one child under the age of 21 living with you.
Required Proof: You must submit formal evidence of your housing crisis (such as an eviction notice or a shelter referral), along with your identification and income details.
How to Apply: You may submit an application online via the Maryland Benefits Portal or visit a physical intake office in your district.
2. Local Baltimore City DHS Intake Centers
In the city of Baltimore, the state DHS office operates through the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS). These locations offer eviction prevention programs that coordinate the direct and emergency allocation of motel lodging. You may apply in person at these main central offices:
Penn-North Center: 2500 Pennsylvania Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217. Phone: 443-423-6400.
Broadway Center: 1910 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21213. Phone: 443-378-4600.
3. The Centralized State Referral Network
If you do not meet the criteria for family financial assistance, the state DHS offices will refer you to the unified regional hotline:
Dial 2-1-1: Always contact 211 Maryland first. This service maintains real-time databases regarding which local DHS-funded agencies have active funds available for motel vouchers on any given night.
State Helpline: You may call the main DHS helpline at 1-800-332-6347 to receive guidance regarding your specific case file, to apply for emergency food assistance (SNAP), or to follow up on financial assistance.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs)
In Baltimore, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) do not issue direct, immediate emergency hotel vouchers to walk-in visitors. Instead, they focus on long-term poverty-fighting services, such as eviction prevention, utility assistance, job training, and comprehensive case management.
If you are facing homelessness or require hotel lodging, the CAAs will refer you to Baltimore’s unified Coordinated Access System or provide financial aid to help you return to stable housing.
1. Baltimore City Community Action Partnership (BCCAP)
In Baltimore City, the designated Community Action Agency is the Baltimore City Community Action Partnership (BCCAP).
What they do: BCCAP utilizes a “Whole Family Approach.” If you are experiencing housing instability, they can assist you with emergency rental arrears payments to prevent eviction or connect you with long-term housing stabilization programs.
The voucher process: They do not manage independent emergency shelter beds or motel accommodations. All urgent requests for shelter or hotel accommodations are channeled directly through the main MOHS shelter hotline at 443-984-9540.
How to contact: Complete an online BCCAP referral form or call the City’s intake service at 410-396-7624 to be assigned to a regional community case manager.
2. Surrounding Regional CAAs (If Outside City Limits)
If you relocate to adjacent counties, neighboring Community Action Agencies have independent and slightly different funding available for emergency shelter and housing relocation support:
Baltimore County: The Community Assistance Network (CAN) serves as the regional CAA. They operate community outreach centers and open-access day shelters, coordinating closely with the Baltimore County Department of Social Services to fund motel stays during crisis situations. Call 410-285-4674.
Harford County: The Harford Community Action Agency (HCAA) offers a specialized Rapid Rehousing Program. If you have stayed in a hotel or motel—with expenses covered by a charity, a church, or a government program—within the last 30 days, the HCAA may step in to provide the security deposit and first month’s rent to facilitate your move into a permanent apartment. Call 410-612-9909.
The Salvation Army in Baltimore
The Salvation Army in Baltimore does not issue emergency hotel or motel vouchers to individuals who walk in without an appointment or make requests over the phone. Instead, they provide physical shelter through their own emergency shelters located on their premises, transitional housing centers, and support for rapid rehousing.
If you are experiencing homelessness in Baltimore, you cannot obtain a hotel voucher directly from a Salvation Army office or online portal. You must access their facilities or seek city-funded hotel rooms through a centralized assessment process.
The Salvation Army’s Central Maryland Area Command manages specific housing programs directly from its local physical locations:
Booth House (Women and Families): Located at 1114 N. Calvert Street. This is a 24-hour facility offering an emergency shelter with 57 beds (with a maximum stay of 60 days) and a transitional housing unit with 19 beds (with a maximum stay of 2 years) for single women and mothers with children. Services include three daily meals, childcare programs, and assistance from social workers dedicated to each case. Call 410-685-8878 to check for immediate bed availability.
Adult Rehabilitation Center (Single Men): Located at 2626 Pennsylvania Ave. This is a long-term residential facility focused on meeting basic needs, providing housing, and facilitating addiction recovery for single men. Food, lodging, and clothing are provided free of charge in exchange for participation in a work therapy and recovery program. Call 410-523-4333.
Catholic Charities of Maryland
Catholic Charities of Maryland does not distribute immediate, direct hotel vouchers to members of the public who walk in without an appointment. Instead, they provide crisis assistance, operate the city’s largest “low-barrier” emergency shelter, and manage long-term subsidized housing programs.
If you are experiencing homelessness or facing eviction in Maryland, you cannot simply walk into a Catholic Charities office to pick up a hotel voucher. You must utilize local government unified placement lines or connect with their specific shelter or rent-related case management programs.
Emergency Shelter Intake (Baltimore City)
Catholic Charities operates the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Housing and Resource Center (WHRC), located at 620 Fallsway, Baltimore, MD 21202.
The Facility: This is a “low-barrier” shelter open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering beds, meals, laundry services, and medical convalescent care for up to 275 single adults.
How to Get a Bed: Under no circumstances does the shelter accept walk-ins seeking a bed for the night. You must call the Coordinated Entry Line of the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) at 443-984-9540 (available 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) to complete an intake assessment and request a direct referral to the WHRC.
Direct Financial and Rental Assistance
If you currently have a place to live but are facing imminent eviction, Catholic Charities may provide financial aid to help you retain your housing, rather than paying for a hotel room:
The Samaritan Center: Located in Baltimore City, this program offers direct financial assistance for crisis situations—specifically for paying back rent and providing basic traveler’s aid. Call 667-600-3230 to inquire about fund availability and application periods.
Required Documentation: If you are able to secure an appointment, you must present a formal eviction notice issued by the courts, proof of household income, an ID, and a valid utility bill (BGE) to qualify for emergency funds.
American Red Cross in Maryland
The American Red Cross in Maryland does not provide general emergency hotel vouchers or long-term housing assistance for financial hardship, eviction, or chronic homelessness. Instead, the Red Cross provides emergency lodging assistance exclusively to individuals and families who have been displaced by an immediate disaster, such as a house fire, a localized flood, or a storm.
How Red Cross Emergency Lodging Assistance Works
If your home is destroyed as a result of a disaster, the Red Cross steps in to provide immediate, short-term relief:
Criteria: Your home must be declared uninhabitable by local first responders (the fire department or building inspectors) due to a direct disaster.
Assistance: The Red Cross provides immediate financial assistance via electronic funds transfer or preloaded debit cards. These funds are intended to cover the immediate cost of a few nights at a local hotel, as well as urgent needs for food, clothing, and the replacement of prescription medications.
How to Request Assistance: If you have recently experienced a house fire or a natural disaster, and initial response teams have not yet contacted the Red Cross on your behalf, you must call the National Disaster Dispatch Line at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). They operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How to Request Emergency Shelter
Dial 2-1-1: Call 211 Maryland immediately. Operators monitor available shelter spaces and the availability of emergency vouchers throughout Baltimore City.
Baltimore City Shelter Hotline: Call 443-984-9540, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shelter intake requests are routed through this line, which is managed by the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS).
Baltimore County Coordinated Entry Line: If you are located near the county border or require assistance outside city limits, call 410-887-8463 (Option 1) between 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Domestic Violence Crisis: If you are fleeing a domestic violence situation, bypass conventional shelters and call the Family Crisis Center at 410-828-6390 for immediate specialized shelter or hotel vouchers.
Social Services and Financial Assistance
The Baltimore City Department of Social Services manages emergency financial aid.
Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC)
If you have children under the age of 21 in your household, you may apply for emergency financial assistance at the local department office or online through the Maryland Benefits Portal.
Required Documentation: To qualify for state-funded emergency assistance, please bring your ID, the Social Security numbers of your household members, proof of income, and documentation regarding your housing emergency (such as an eviction notice or a shelter referral).
Non-profit Rapid Rehousing and In-Person Support
If city-funded hotlines have long waiting lists, these major non-profit centers offer meals, case management, and connections to shelters:
Weinberg Housing and Resource Center: Call 443-824-5326 or visit 620 Fallsway. Operated by Catholic Charities, this center serves as a major intake and day resource center for single adults.
Project PLASE: Call 410-837-1400. They focus on rapid rehousing, temporary shelter, and support services for vulnerable individuals.
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore: Call 410-662-0500. They operate multiple family shelters and offer emergency financial assistance at the community level.
