In Louisville, Kentucky, emergency hotel vouchers are distributed through the Coordinated Shelter Access (CSA) system rather than directly by individual hotels. To check voucher availability, you must call the “Bed One Stop” line at 502-637-2337; the line operates daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Because local emergency vouchers are very limited—and typically reserved for families with children, the elderly, or situations involving severe weather—this central intake line serves as the sole point of access for all temporary housing options.
Centralized Intake & Direct Shelter Routing
Coordinated Shelter Access (Bed One Stop)
The Coordinated Shelter Access (CSA) system—also known as Bed One Stop—does not issue immediate or on-demand hotel vouchers. Instead, the Coalition for the Homeless’s CSA line serves as the single centralized intake point for reserving available emergency beds at physical shelters throughout Louisville. If you need emergency housing, you must call 502-637-2337 (502-637-BEDS) daily between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to check availability and secure a spot.
Hotel or motel vouchers for genuine emergencies are rarely issued via the standard daily phone line; these are strictly reserved for high-risk individuals or severe weather situations.
How the Bed One Stop system handles assignments
Daily intake hours: Reservation phone lines are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. You also have the option to visit in person Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at 1300 S. Fourth St., Suite 250.
Assignment to partner shelters: When a bed is available, the CSA team makes a reservation in your name at partner centers, such as the Salvation Army Center of Hope, Wayside Christian Mission, or St. Vincent de Paul.
Retaining your bed: If you leave the shelter and wish to return the following night, you must notify the specific center before leaving so they can keep the bed reserved in your name. If you do not use your scheduled reservation for a night, you must call CSA’s Bed One Stop to re-register. Transition to permanent housing vouchers
If you are currently staying in an emergency shelter or living on the street, you may qualify for long-term federal housing assistance by undergoing an independent assessment process:
Common Assessment Screening: This system, administered by Family Health Centers (Phoenix Health), replaces traditional first-come, first-served housing waiting lists. You can call 502-637-2080, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., to complete the intake process.
Referrals to permanent programs: Completing this assessment directs vulnerable individuals to specialized programs, such as the municipal “Home for Good” initiative, the Rapid Re-Housing program, and permanent supportive housing programs.
Metro 311 / 211
Call 311 (if you are in the area) or dial 211 to contact Louisville’s Homelessness Response, Evaluation, and Care Team (HEART) to request emergency dispatch or obtain immediate, day-to-day updates.
Temporary Housing & Transitional Programs
The Arthur Street Hotel (ASH)
The Arthur Street Hotel (ASH) does not accept or issue standard emergency hotel vouchers. Rather than operating as a conventional commercial hotel partnered with voucher programs, the ASH is a specialized transitional shelter offering non-congregate housing (private rooms) located at 1620 Arthur St, Louisville, KY 40208. It is operated by the non-profit organization C.A.R.E. (Community Advocates for Resources and Empowerment).
Because it operates as a private transitional program, walk-ins are not accepted, and you cannot request a voucher directly at the facility. Accessing a room or obtaining long-term housing assistance through the ASH requires a structured referral process.
How room assignments and vouchers work at the ASH
Referral-only assignments: To secure a free room at the ASH, individuals must be referred directly through local street outreach teams, the Coalition for the Homeless, or the city’s centralized intake network. The facility is specifically designed to move individuals directly from encampments or the streets into temporary private rooms.
Long-term voucher assistance: Instead of distributing temporary emergency hotel vouchers, ASH staff actively assist current residents in securing federal permanent housing vouchers (such as Section 8 or Permanent Supportive Housing).
On-site joint assessments: The Common Assessment Team visits the Arthur Street Hotel every other Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This assessment is the mandatory first step to getting on Louisville’s priority list for a long-term housing voucher.
Immediate alternative steps
If you need immediate shelter tonight or wish to start the process of obtaining a housing voucher, do not go to the ASH facility; Instead, use these direct resources:
To secure shelter for tonight: Call the Coordinated Shelter Access line (also known as Bed One Stop) at 502-637-2337, daily between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., to secure an immediately available bed within the city’s network.
To obtain a permanent housing voucher: Call the Common Assessment line at 502-637-2080 (Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) to complete the intake process by phone, or visit the office in person at 1300 S. Fourth St., Suite 100, Louisville, KY 40208.
Family Promise of Louisville
Family Promise of Louisville does not issue hotel vouchers immediately or directly to walk-ins. Instead, they operate a structured Emergency Shelter Program utilizing hotel rooms at various locations, fixed shelter centers, and community spaces—exclusively for families with children. Because their funds are pre-allocated, it is not possible to secure a hotel room by contacting Family Promise directly; all families must enter their network through Louisville’s central intake system.
How to access Family Promise shelter and hotel accommodation services
The mandatory first step: You must call Louisville’s centralized shelter access line (CSA Bed One Stop) at 502-637-2337 between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Intake staff will assess your family’s situation and make an emergency reservation at Family Promise or a suitable family shelter, depending on space availability.
Alternative method: Dial 211 to reach the local helpline; they can refer your case directly to the Homelessness Evaluation, Assessment, and Response Team (HEART) if your family is currently forced to live on the street or in a vehicle.
What the Family Promise emergency program offers
Once a family is admitted to the Family Promise program through the central system, they receive comprehensive support designed to facilitate their transition to permanent housing:
Private temporary accommodation: Locations vary between designated fixed shelter centers and hotel rooms at various sites, allowing families to stay together and safe.
Intensive case management: Families are assigned a social worker who helps them find employment opportunities, childcare services, and medical care follow-ups.
Rapid rehousing and permanent housing vouchers: The program’s ultimate goal is to avoid prolonged shelter stays by facilitating a direct transition for families into permanent apartments through specialized housing placement services and rental agreements with landlords.
The Salvation Army Center of Hope
The Salvation Army’s “Center of Hope” in Louisville, Kentucky, is a comprehensive social services complex offering emergency overnight shelter, transitional housing, and daytime support services. Located at 911 S. Brook St., Louisville, KY 40203, the facility features dormitory-style beds for up to 98 men and 34 women, as well as dedicated beds for young adults aged 18–24 and temporary rooms for families in crisis.
Please note that you cannot simply show up at the location to request an emergency overnight bed. All overnight shelter reservations must be made through the city’s centralized intake network.
Shelter Access and Intake Requirements
Overnight Bed Reservations: To secure an available bed at the Center of Hope for the night, you must call the Coordinated Shelter Access (CSA) line at 502-637-2337 (502-637-BEDS). The line is open daily between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Check-in Times: Once a bed has been reserved through the central system, check-in at the facility takes place between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. If you do not arrive during the evening intake window, your spot may be reassigned.
“Operation White Flag” Days: During severe winter freezes or extreme summer heat, the facility relaxes standard capacity rules under the “Operation White Flag” program. On these specific days, individuals may request immediate shelter directly at the door, without a prior reservation.
Programs Available at the Center
Adult Day Shelter: The center operates as an adult-only day shelter on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting at 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Red Kettle Cafe: Offers free hot meals to anyone in the community experiencing hunger. Breakfast is served from 6:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Dinner is served prior to overnight check-in (at 4:45 p.m. for women and children, and at 5:15 p.m. for men).
Veterans Housing & Support: Offers specialized transitional housing (based on a daily rate model) for up to 40 homeless veterans. Veterans may reside in this stable environment for up to two years while arranging long-term healthcare benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
ShelterWorks Employment Pathway: A dedicated housing option featuring apartment-style units for individuals seeking employment. Participants work with an active Salvation Army case manager to establish a financial savings plan and transition directly into sustainable housing leases.
St. Vincent de Paul (Ozanam Inn)
St. Vincent de Paul’s Ozanam Inn is an emergency shelter and transitional housing program located at 1034 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40203. The facility provides safe overnight shelter for up to 63 homeless men daily. In addition to emergency beds, the center offers structured case management, hot meals, and support for permanent housing placement to help residents overcome homelessness.
As with other emergency shelters in Louisville, walk-ins are not accepted; all overnight reservations must be arranged through the city’s centralized intake network.
Shelter Intake & Check-In Rules
Overnight Bed Reservations: To reserve a bed at the Ozanam Inn for the night, you must call the Coordinated Shelter Access (CSA) line at 502-637-2337 (502-637-BEDS). The reservation line operates daily between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Evening Check-in: Once the CSA line confirms your reservation, you must arrive at the Ozanam Inn for the nightly intake process between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
“White Flag” Days (Operation White Flag): When extreme winter cold or intense summer heat triggers an official city weather alert, the Ozanam Inn opens its doors as an emergency shelter without requiring a prior reservation through CSA.
Severe Weather Assignments
Homelessness Initiative Fund (HIF)
The Louisville Metro Government authorizes a specific emergency weather voucher program during extreme heat waves or drastic drops in winter temperatures to provide temporary hotel accommodations for highly vulnerable individuals.
Connection to Day Shelters
During severe weather alerts, day shelter providers coordinate directly with the Office of Social Services to assign emergency spaces in real time.
