Does the Salvation Army Help With Housing?

Yes. The Salvation Army often helps with housing, but what they offer and who qualifies depends heavily on your local area, their funding, and your situation. They may provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, rental assistance, or referrals to other agencies.

HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational guide only; you must contact the Salvation Army or other official providers directly to apply or get services.

How the Salvation Army Typically Helps With Housing

The Salvation Army is a faith-based nonprofit that runs local programs, not a single national housing system, so housing help can look very different from one community to another.

Common types of housing-related help include:

  • Emergency shelters: Short-term beds for people experiencing homelessness, sometimes with meals and case management.
  • Transitional or longer-term housing: Structured programs (often 3–24 months) that combine housing with services like counseling, job support, and budgeting help.
  • Rent and utility assistance: One-time or short-term financial help to prevent eviction or utility shutoff when funding is available.
  • Rapid rehousing / homelessness prevention: In some regions, they partner with local governments to move people from homelessness into permanent housing more quickly.
  • Referrals and case management: If they cannot help directly, they may connect you to local housing authorities, shelters, or other nonprofits.

Key point: Not every Salvation Army location offers every service, and some locations only provide referrals rather than direct housing or financial aid.

Does This Apply to Me? (Typical Eligibility Clues)

Eligibility is set locally, but some patterns are common across many Salvation Army housing and assistance programs.

You are more likely to qualify if you meet one or more of these conditions:

  • You are currently homeless or about to lose housing (eviction notice, foreclosure notice, or staying in a place not meant for long-term living).
  • You have very low or no income compared with local rent costs.
  • You have a sudden crisis (job loss, medical emergency, domestic violence, or unexpected expense) that directly caused the housing problem.
  • You are in a priority group where such programs operate—such as families with children, veterans, older adults, or survivors of domestic violence.

Many programs do not require church membership or religious participation, but some locations incorporate faith-based components; ask directly if this matters to you.

A state- or county-level variation is common: local Salvation Army units work under local rules, funding contracts, and landlord markets, so what’s available in one city may not exist in another only a few miles away.

Key Terms You May Hear (Plainly Explained)

  • Emergency shelter: A place that offers short-term overnight stays, usually for days to a few months.
  • Transitional housing: Time-limited housing (often several months to a couple of years) with required case management or program participation.
  • Rental assistance: One-time or short-term payments to a landlord to help cover rent or back rent.
  • Case manager: A staff person who helps you make a plan, connect to benefits, and track required steps.

What You’ll Need Ready Before You Contact Them

Not every location will ask for everything below, but having these ready often speeds things up:

  • Photo ID (for adults): state ID, driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID if available.
  • Proof of income or lack of income: recent pay stubs, unemployment letter, Social Security or disability award letter, or a statement that you have no income.
  • Proof of housing crisis:
    • Eviction notice or letter from your landlord.
    • Lease agreement showing your address and rent amount.
    • Notice of utility shutoff (if you’re seeking utility help).
    • For homelessness, some programs may ask you to sign a statement about where you are staying.
  • Household details: names, dates of birth, and basic information for all people in the household.
  • Contact information: a reliable phone number or email so they can reach you about openings, appointments, or paperwork.

Real-world friction to watch for: a common reason housing assistance gets delayed is incomplete paperwork—especially missing eviction notices, leases, or ID—so it usually helps to gather these before calling, then ask exactly what else they require so you don’t make multiple trips.

Your Next Steps to Seek Housing Help From the Salvation Army

Use this sequence to connect with the right Salvation Army office and prepare for what usually happens next.

1. Find Your Local Salvation Army Housing Contact

  1. Search for “Salvation Army [your city or county] housing assistance” or “Salvation Army [ZIP code].”
  2. On the official Salvation Army website (usually ending in .org), look for:
    • “Locations,” “Programs,” or “Housing & Homeless Services.”
    • A local “Corps” or “Service Center” page with a phone number and address.
  3. If you’re not sure which location covers you, dial 2-1-1 or visit the official 211.org site and ask for the nearest Salvation Army that handles housing or rent assistance.

Do this next:Call the local Salvation Army office or shelter directly and ask what housing help they are currently offering and how to get screened.

A simple phone script:
“Hello, I’m calling because I am [homeless / about to be evicted / behind on rent]. Do you currently have any housing or rent assistance programs open, and how can I be screened for them?”

2. Ask What Specific Programs Are Open

When you reach someone:

  1. Describe your situation briefly: where you are staying now, whether you have children, and whether you have an eviction or shutoff notice.
  2. Ask exactly which programs they have right now, such as:
    • Emergency shelter beds or motel vouchers
    • Transitional or program-based housing
    • One-time rent or deposit assistance
    • Utility assistance
  3. Ask if they accept self-referrals or if you need a referral from another agency (like a county homeless hotline, Continuum of Care, or coordinated entry system).

What to expect next: some areas require you to first call a county homeless hotline or coordinated entry number to be placed on a community-wide list before you can enter a Salvation Army shelter or housing program.

3. Complete Intake or Screening

If they say you might qualify:

  1. Ask whether intake is by phone, walk-in, or appointment.
  2. Bring or have ready the documents they list (ID, eviction notice, lease, proof of income).
  3. Be prepared to answer questions about:
    • Where you slept last night
    • Household members and ages
    • Income and benefits
    • Safety risks (such as domestic violence or medical needs)

What to expect next:

  • For shelter, you may get an answer the same day if a bed is available, or be placed on a waiting list.
  • For rent or deposit help, there is often a review period while they verify your documents, contact your landlord, and confirm funding; this can take days to weeks, and approval is not guaranteed.

4. Stay in Contact and Respond Quickly

If you are waitlisted or under review:

  1. Check voicemail and email daily and return calls as soon as you can.
  2. If your phone number changes, immediately call back and update your contact info.
  3. Ask how often you should follow up; calling too often can clog lines, but checking in once a week is commonly acceptable if you have not heard back.

Common Snags (and Quick Fixes)

  • Phone lines always busy or no answer: Call at different times of day, leave one detailed voicemail with your name, phone number, and situation, then try again the next business day if needed.
  • Told they are out of funds: Ask if they expect more funding soon and whether they can refer you to other local agencies or your county housing office.
  • No shelter beds available: Ask if they maintain a waitlist and whether there is a central homeless hotline or coordinated entry you must register with for bed openings.
  • Language barriers: Ask if they have staff, volunteers, or partner agencies who speak your language, or if you may bring a trusted interpreter with you.

Quick Summary: Salvation Army & Housing Help

  • The Salvation Army often provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, or rent/utility help, but availability is local and changes with funding.
  • You typically need proof of identity, income, and your housing crisis (like an eviction notice or lease).
  • First step: find your local Salvation Army office or shelter and call to ask what housing programs are currently open.
  • Many areas now use a county homeless hotline or coordinated entry system that may handle referrals into Salvation Army shelters and housing.
  • If they cannot help or are out of funds, they often can refer you to other nonprofits, your local housing authority, or government programs.

If the Salvation Army Can’t Help: Backup Options

If your local Salvation Army has no open housing programs or no funding, you still have several other paths to try:

  • Call 2-1-1 and ask for:
    • Local homeless shelters or family shelters
    • Agencies offering rental assistance or security deposit help
    • Your area’s homelessness prevention or rapid rehousing programs
  • Contact your local housing authority (usually a city or county office) about:
    • Public housing waiting lists
    • Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
    • Emergency housing programs, if funded in your area
  • Check your county human services or social services department website (commonly ending in .gov) for emergency housing, general assistance, or crisis funds.
  • If you are a veteran, ask about VA-supported housing programs (like HUD-VASH) through the Department of Veterans Affairs or your local VA office.

For official local service directories and referrals, 211 and your city or county .gov housing or human services website are typically the safest starting points.

Safety and Scam Warnings for Housing Help

  • Legitimate Salvation Army staff do not charge application fees for housing or rent assistance.
  • Be cautious of anyone who asks for cash, gift cards, or wire transfers in exchange for “guaranteed” approval or faster processing.
  • When in doubt, verify phone numbers and addresses through the official Salvation Army website or your local 211 directory before sharing personal information.
  • Share Social Security numbers and bank details only with verified agencies that clearly explain why the information is needed (for example, to check eligibility for government funds).

Using these steps, you can quickly find out whether your local Salvation Army can help with housing right now and, if not, move on to other verified options without losing time.