In the United States, homelessness is a growing problem. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than 580,000 people are experiencing homelessness. Churches can play a vital role in helping people experiencing homelessness. Many churches offer motel vouchers, which provide immediate shelter for people and families in urgent need.
This article explores some of the best churches that help with motel vouchers for the homeless.
List of Churches That Help With Motel Vouchers
Lutheran Church Motel Vouchers
Lutheran churches and social service agencies across the country provide emergency motel vouchers to prevent homelessness.
For example, Lutheran Social Services in Orange County and Ventura County provides Motel/Rental Assistance Vouchers as Short-term housing for crisis situations or Rent subsidies for specialized individualized cases
Lutheran churches also provide various goods and services, including food pantries, hot meals, clothing, emergency hotel vouchers for homeless, buses, gas, and utilities, housing and rental referrals, eviction prevention, prescription assistance, and holiday, school, or hygiene packs.
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic churches often provide motel vouchers as part of emergency assistance to the homeless.
St. Vincent de Paul chapters help people who are facing financial difficulties. They have volunteer networks in Catholic communities all over the country.
If you tell them about your housing crisis, they might be able to give you emergency motel vouchers.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is one of the largest and most widespread church organizations providing assistance with emergency motel vouchers. With over 7,500 centers in the US, they serve millions of people each year with basic necessities, including shelter.
According to 2021 statistics, around 11.6% of Americans live below the poverty line and experience housing insecurity at some point. Reports show the number of individuals utilizing homeless shelters increased 20% from 2020 to 2021 as well.
Given these rising needs, The Salvation Army offers several resources for those facing challenges with securing temporary lodging:
- Emergency Motel Shelters – Many local Salvation Army corps have emergency funds to pay for motel rooms for a limited number of nights when no other shelter is available.
- Transitional Housing – They operate transitional housing facilities for those moving out of homelessness but still working towards independent housing. Stays can range from several months to 2 years.
- Rapid Re-Housing – Through partnerships, they provide rapid re-housing assistance to move those experiencing homelessness quickly out of shelters and into permanent homes with rent support.
If you are experiencing homelessness, contact the nearest Salvation Army center as soon as possible. They offer motel vouchers to those who qualify and prioritize helping the most vulnerable individuals.
Episcopal Church Assistance Programs
The Episcopal church provides motel voucher assistance through local parishes and community assistance ministries in many areas.
Contact a local Episcopal church to find out if they offer emergency motel vouchers or temporary housing programs.
United Methodist Church
Several United Methodist churches have discretionary funds available for pastors to assist both church and community members in need of emergency motel stays.
Contact local United Methodist churches to inquire about their voucher assistance programs.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross helps people affected by disasters by providing emergency shelters and temporary accommodation. They help senior citizens, children, and families who have lost their homes. If someone has recently become homeless, they offer vouchers to stay in nearby motels.
Additionally, the American Red Cross offers transitional lodging assistance programs that include:
- Skilled nursing care and health services along with temporary motel housing
- Assistance with meals, medication, and transportation related to medical motel stays.
If you need urgent assistance with getting a motel voucher, Contact to your local American Red Cross chapter.
Love INC
Love INC (In the Name of Christ) is an interdenominational Christian organization that partners with local churches to provide poverty relief services. With 200+ affiliates across the U.S., they are a valuable resource for motel voucher assistance.
Jewish Federation of North America
The Jewish Federation of North America oversees numerous Jewish communities and non-profit organizations in the United States and Canada. They provide a wide range of social services, including free motel vouchers for homeless.
While the national Federation does not directly supply voucher funds, they coordinate a vast array of local agencies that can possibly help.
You can contact these organizations:
- Jewish Family Services – With over 100 branches, they currently offer more than 30 programs and services, including food security, housing stability, mental health counseling, employment support, senior care, and disability services.
- Hebrew Free Loan Societies – They provide interest-free loans that may help cover emergency motel costs.
- Jewish Community Centers – JCCs offer food, counseling, and senior services. They can refer people to lodging resources.
- Synagogues – Local congregations and rabbis often have discretionary funds and connections to help congregants in need.
Local Jewish non-profits may offer emergency motel vouchers and support for families in need of stable housing.
Who Is Eligible to Get Motel Vouchers from Churches?
Churches offer motel vouchers to individuals and families in need, including those who are experiencing:
1. Domestic violence victims: If you are a victim of domestic violence and need to leave your home for your safety, you may be eligible for motel vouchers from a church.
2. Elderly adults: If you are an elderly adult who is homeless or has no one to care for you, you may get motel vouchers from a church.
3. Eviction victims: If you have been evicted from your home and have no place to go, you may be eligible for motel vouchers from a church.
4. People affected by disasters: If you have been affected by a natural disaster, such as a flood, hurricane, or earthquake, you may be eligible for motel vouchers from a church.
5. Single mothers: If you are a single mother who is struggling to provide for your children, you may be eligible for motel vouchers from a church.
6. People with disabilities: If you have a disability and are unable to find affordable housing, you may be eligible for motel vouchers from a church.
To be eligible for motel vouchers from a church, you will typically need to meet certain requirements. These requirements may vary from church to church, but they may include:
- showing financial need
- Being a resident of the church’s community
- Agreeing to follow the church’s rules and regulations
If you want motel vouchers from a church, you should contact your local church or a church organization in your area.
How to Find Churches That Offer Motel Vouchers
If you need a place to stay temporarily and are looking for a motel voucher, local churches may be able to help. To find churches that offer motel vouchers in your area, you can use the following methods:
1. Contact your local 2-1-1 for referral:
2-1-1 is a non-profit organization that assists individuals in finding local community resources throughout the United States. To request information on churches providing motel vouchers in your area, simply dial 2-1-1 on your phone to reach the call center and receive immediate assistance.
2. Explore your local United Way:
If you need help finding a place to stay for a short period of time, you can contact United Way. Visit the United Way website in your area or call them to enquire about churches offering motel vouchers.
3. Get Help from the National Alliance to End Homelessness:
The National Alliance to End Homelessness supports initiatives to eliminate homelessness.
Their website maintains a listing of churches and organizations that provide motel vouchers and other homelessness support services
4. Reach out to local homeless shelters:
Homeless shelters are well-connected to the network of organizations providing assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
Ask about motel voucher programs offered by churches when contacting your local homeless shelter.
5. Utilize online resources:
To find churches that offer motel vouchers, search for websites or directories that compile information on these churches in your area.
6. Contact your local churches:
Many churches operate their own motel voucher programs or collaborate with other organizations to provide such assistance.
Contact your local churches to ask about their motel voucher availability.
What to Ask When Contacting Churches About Motel Vouchers
If you plan to contact a church to ask about motel vouchers, it’s a good idea to have some questions ready. Here are a few important things to ask:
- What eligibility requirements do you have for people seeking motel voucher help?
- Do you have funds available for emergency motel vouchers? If so, how much can you assist with?
- What documents or paperwork do I need to provide to apply for a voucher?
- How soon can I receive assistance if approved? Is the voucher help immediate?
- How many nights can you pay for with your motel voucher program?
- Do you partner with certain motels or can I choose where to stay?
- Besides the voucher, can you help with any other temporary housing costs like food and transportation?
- What other shelter or housing resources do you recommend I contact for additional help?
- What is the application process and who exactly should I speak with about motel vouchers?
- Are there certain days/times I should call or visit to inquire about vouchers?
- Do I need to be a member of your church to be eligible for a motel voucher?
How Churches Fund Motel Voucher Programs
To fund emergency motel voucher programs, churches rely on member support and partnerships with other organizations. A few sources are:
- Donations – Church members often donate generously to support these urgent needs.
- Outreach Budgets – Some churches allocate funds specifically for local assistance programs.
- Grants – Larger churches may get government or foundation grants to underwrite vouchers.
- Partnerships – Local motels may provide reduced rate rooms for church voucher recipients.
- Fundraisers – Special events like bake sales raise funds for shelter programs.
- Private Donors – Wealthy church members sometimes establish voucher endowments.
When you know this information in advance, you can collect the details you need to get a motel voucher as fast as possible. It also helps the church help you more effectively.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the best churches that help with motel vouchers. You can search for their local branch near your location.
If you are facing homelessness or housing crises and need temporary motel voucher assistance, there are several churches you can contact.
To find permanent solutions, research government and nonprofit housing assistance programs in your area.
