Emergency hotel vouchers and shelter placements within the City of Baltimore are managed centrally through the Coordinated Entry System of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS). To check for the availability of a temporary hotel voucher or an emergency shelter bed, individuals must complete a telephone assessment by calling the City of Baltimore Shelter Hotline at 443-984-9540. Operators are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Since the availability of hotel rooms and shelter beds fluctuates daily, it is recommended to call early in the morning.
Emergency Hotel Vouchers Assistance & Intakes
MOHS Coordinated Entry Hotline
To obtain a temporary hotel voucher or a spot in an emergency shelter in Baltimore City, you must complete a telephone assessment through the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) Coordinated Entry System by calling the Baltimore City Shelter Hotline at 443-984-9540.
Hotel vouchers are not issued automatically; they are distributed strictly based on vulnerability assessments, current availability, and specific criteria (such as families with minor children or individuals with severe medical vulnerabilities).
How to Request a Voucher or Shelter Spot
Call the Hotline: Dial 443-984-9540. Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Practical Tip: Call early in the morning. Shelter beds and hotel room allocations fluctuate dynamically and fill up quickly each day.
The Process: A social worker will conduct an initial telephone interview to assess your current situation, check the inventory of available hotels or emergency shelters, and assign you to an available unit if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Are You Outside City Limits?
If you are physically located in the surrounding county rather than in Baltimore City, you must use the Baltimore County Homeless Services Coordinated Entry Hotline by calling 410-887-8463 (Option 1). Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
211 Maryland Helpline
The 211 Maryland Helpline does not directly issue or fund emergency hotel vouchers. Instead, 211 operates as a centralized, statewide resource database—available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—that connects you with local municipal programs, non-profit organizations, and faith-based charities, which are the entities that actually manage and distribute hotel vouchers.
When you call 2-1-1, a specialist will speak with you personally to assess your situation, search regional databases in real time, and refer you to the specific agency in your county that currently has funding available for vouchers or available beds in emergency shelters.
How to Use 211 to Find Hotel Vouchers
Dial 2-1-1: Call from any phone in Maryland. If your mobile carrier is unable to connect you, dial 1-866-406-8156 for the Central Maryland region.
Texting Option: You can text your zip code to 898-211 to receive an immediate list of local housing resources sent directly to your phone.
Online Search: If you prefer to avoid waiting on the phone, use the 211 Maryland Housing and Shelter Database to search for “Motel vouchers for the homeless,” filtering the results by your specific location.
Baltimore County Coordinated Entry
To check for the availability of an emergency hotel voucher or a shelter bed within Baltimore County, you must call the Baltimore County Coordinated Entry Hotline at 410-887-8463 (select Option 1).
Hotel vouchers are neither guaranteed nor issued directly over the counter; they are allocated strictly on a case-by-case basis through this centralized telephone assessment process, with absolute priority given to families with young children, pregnant individuals, or those with critical medical vulnerabilities.
How the Screening Process Works
Call the Screener Line: Dial 410-887-8463 (Option 1).
Operating Hours: Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m..
Leave a Voicemail: If phone queues are long, you will be prompted to leave a message. Clearly state your full name and phone number to secure your place and receive a callback within 24 hours.
Assessment and Placement: A social worker from the Baltimore County Department of Social Services (DSS) will assess your eligibility for diversion to shelter alternatives, the immediate availability of shelter beds, or the issuance of a local voucher for an emergency motel stay.
Alternative Contact: You may also contact the team via email at coordinatedentry@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Community Action Agencies
In the Baltimore region, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) do not independently issue immediate hotel vouchers. Instead, they serve as essential operational partners for county and city governments. They utilize local emergency grants to house eligible individuals in emergency shelters or contracted motel spaces; however, all placements must be approved through centralized government assessment systems.
If you go directly to a Community Action Agency, they will assist you with diversion to shelter alternatives, eviction prevention, or help you navigate the system to obtain a voucher.
Baltimore County: Community Assistance Network (CAN)
The primary designated Community Action Agency for Baltimore County is the Community Assistance Network (CAN). CAN manages the region’s largest emergency housing, shelter, and resource programs.
The Voucher Process: CAN manages physical shelter beds and motel partnerships across various locations throughout the county. However, they cannot issue you a voucher if you simply show up at their facilities without an appointment. You must call the Baltimore County Coordinated Entry Hotline at 410-887-8463 (Option 1) to be assessed and referred to a CAN facility.
In-Person Support: You may visit the CAN Community Outreach Center to receive in-person assistance with your housing search and management:
Address: 7900 East Drive, Rosedale, MD 21237 | Phone: 410-285-4674
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Eviction Prevention: If you have an active court notice or a “Failure to Pay Rent” order—but are not yet experiencing homelessness—CAN can issue an Emergency Rental Assistance Grant to pay your landlord directly and prevent your displacement.
Baltimore City: Community Action Partnership (CAP)
In Baltimore City, the local network of Community Action Agencies is administered directly by the municipal government, under the Community Action Partnership (CAP) centers.
The Voucher Process: CAP centers do not manage emergency hotel placements. In the city, all temporary hotel vouchers are managed exclusively by the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS). You must call the Shelter Hotline at 443-984-9540 to undergo an assessment.
What CAP Centers Can Do: If you visit a local CAP center, social workers will assist you in applying for emergency grants to cover utility payments, provide food assistance, and help you complete the extensive paperwork required for long-term Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8).
Address: 141 Regent Street, Baltimore, MD 21225. Phone: 410-396-9442.
Faith-Based Organizations and Charities
In the Baltimore area, faith-based organizations and religious charities do not independently distribute on-demand hotel vouchers to walk-in visitors. Instead, these organizations act as frontline service providers for municipal governments. They operate emergency shelters, drop-in resource centers, and diversion programs, utilizing a combination of private donations and government grants.
While they do not issue hotel vouchers directly at their front desks, their social workers can assess your situation and formally refer you to the city or county’s centralized housing and hotel voucher systems.
Major Faith-Based Housing Resource Networks
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
How They Help: They do not issue direct hotel vouchers at their facilities; however, they provide critical shelter diversion services and guidance for rapid rehousing. Their social workers help families and individuals bypass traditional shelter waiting lists when alternative options are available.
Key Access Point: Beans & Bread Day Resource Center (400 S. Bond Street, Baltimore, MD 21231). Case managers are available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., to enroll clients directly into the housing database.
Catholic Charities of Baltimore
How They Help: Catholic Charities operates the city’s largest low-barrier emergency facilities, providing shelter, case management, and administrative voucher tracking. They do not independently fund separate hotel rooms, unless a client is placed in their specialized medical convalescence unit.
Key Access Points:
Weinberg Housing and Resource Center (620 Fallsway, Baltimore, MD 21202). To secure a bed at this location, you must first call the city hotline at 443-984-9540.
My Sister’s Place Women’s Center (17 W. Franklin Street, Baltimore, MD 21201). A day center dedicated to women and children, offering case management and emergency shelter coordination.
The Salvation Army of Central Maryland
How They Help: They provide local crisis intervention, eviction prevention funds, and direct emergency shelter. Occasionally, they have access to flexible emergency funds for temporary hotel stays; however, this is strictly reserved for emergency disaster cases or for families when local shelters reach maximum capacity.
Key Access Point: The Salvation Army Booth House Shelter (1114 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202). This is a 24-hour emergency shelter designed specifically for women and families. Call 410-685-8878 to inquire about admission availability.
Baltimore Rescue Mission
How they help: A faith-based Christian ministry offering free, immediate overnight shelter, hot meals, and medical screenings. They do not utilize commercial hotels, but they do offer immediate shelter alternatives in the event that city-funded voucher programs are at capacity.
Key Access Points:
Men’s Shelter: 4 N. Central Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202 (410-342-0325) |
Women’s and Children’s Shelter (Kari’s Home): 1228 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21203 (410-342-1323)
Key Baltimore City Shelter Resources
Weinberg Housing and Resource Center
Address: 620 Fallsway, Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 667-600-3230
Details: Operated by Catholic Charities of Baltimore; offers emergency shelter, meals, and case management.
Sarah’s Hope Family Shelter
Address: 1114 N Mount Street, Baltimore, MD 21217
Details: A comprehensive 145-bed facility, managed by St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, dedicated to keeping families safe and together.
My Sister’s Place Women’s Center
Address: 17 W Franklin Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 | Phone: 667-600-3700
Details: A drop-in day resource center, managed by Catholic Charities, offering meals, showers, and housing search guidance to women and children.
Beans & Bread
Address: 400 S Bond Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
Details: Managed by St. Vincent de Paul; offers day shelter, medical care, laundry services, and direct assistance with housing placement.
Housing Navigators with Walk-in Service
If you need in-person assistance to complete housing profiles or applications for waitlists, the City provides dedicated Housing Navigators at selected branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library:
Cherry Hill Branch: 606 Cherry Hill Road (443-835-0764) Walbrook Branch: 3203 West North Avenue (443-615-1232)
Waverly Branch: 400 E 33rd Street (443-546-6157)
Long-Term Housing Vouchers
Temporary vouchers and shelters are intended to provide immediate safety. For stable, long-term options, you can explore rental subsidies through local housing authorities:
Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC): Administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), which limits rental costs based on household income. Check your application status via the portal or call 443-984-2222.
Maryland Department of Housing: Offers the State Voucher Program and waitlists with open lotteries. Contact dhcd.hcv@maryland.gov for assistance with your application.
