Housing ReliefHomelessness is a situation where you don’t want to be for long. Unfortunately, you’ll need to endure it until you can start making money so you can get back into a home or apartment of your own. Where will you stay in the meantime?
If you cannot live with friends or family, the most likely options are a homeless shelter or living on the streets. You do have one more option, though, and that’s to get a hotel/motel voucher.
Homeless Hotel Vouchers Explained
It may seem hard to believe, but there are cases where you can actually stay in a hotel or motel for free. You can do so with a voucher that takes the place of cash from your own pocket, and it’s a form of housing assistance that’s desirable to many homeless people. Let’s explain why.
The Advantages of Homeless Hotel Vouchers
Living in a hotel is much more ideal than a homeless shelter for several reasons. You can enjoy your private room, which comes with peace of mind and quiet that you may need to manage your stress levels right now. You can also expect a more sanitary setting in a hotel or motel versus homeless shelters, as they’re known to have issues with cleanliness.
Safety is another significant advantage of using a hotel voucher instead of a homeless shelter. Many shelters have problems with violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and theft. Such are issues that you may not want to expose your family to.
The Disadvantages of Homeless Hotel Vouchers
The main problem with hotel/motel vouchers is that they can be hard to find. The demand is high, and the supply is usually low, so finding a voucher could be like pinpointing a needle in a haystack.
Even if you do get your hands on a hotel voucher, you probably won’t get to enjoy it for long. Most motel vouchers have maximum stays of three nights, making these very temporary solutions for homeless housing.
How to Find Hotel Vouchers if You’re Homeless
Despite their disadvantages, hotel vouchers can be the perfect solution if you find yourself on the verge of living on the streets and just need a few days to collect yourself.
Here are the best places to find them:
211
Calling 211 is a must if you’re homeless and don’t know what to do. A local operator can connect you with any hotel vouchers in your area. If not, they can at least direct you to a homeless shelter, plus provide other forms of assistance regarding food, healthcare, and more.
Salvation Army and Catholic Charities
Both of these organizations have helped the homeless over the years, and they can help you too.
Homeless Assistance Programs
There may be homeless assistance programs in your area that offer hotel vouchers. To find one, search the Internet for homeless assistance plus your location.
Homeless Shelters
Your local homeless shelter may have information on where to find hotel/motel vouchers.
