How to Get Into a Homeless Shelter

BY Kyle J. Cassaday. LAST REVISED ON March 7th, 2024.

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without wasting your time

Are homeless shelters easy to get into? This article identifies how to get into a homeless shelter.

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Homeless shelters are typically easy to get into. You basically just show up and go through the shelter's normal intake procedure.

Before you can even begin intake at a homeless shelter, however, the homeless shelter needs to have availability.

In some areas, homeless shelters are incredibly competitive to get into. Some shelters are filled to maximum capacity for weeks and weeks on end.

Therefore, the first step in getting into a homeless shelter is to check whether it has availability.

You'll probably want to do this before you show up.

While you are on the phone with them, you may also want to ask what they need from you to get into the homeless shelter. Some require I.D., and only allow a certain amount of possessions.

To find the number for a homeless shelter near you, google "homeless shelters near me."

Do homeless shelters cost money?

i An assortment of cards on a table.An assortment of cards on a table. | Most homeless shelters DO require I.D.

No. All homeless shelters are 100% free. It may cost money to get to and from the homeless shelter because shelters typically don't provide shuttles, but staying at a homeless shelter costs no money.

Do homeless shelters require I.D.?

Yes. Some do. Therefore, before you go, make sure you have your I.D. If you do not have identification, call ahead and see if the shelter requires it beforehand to prevent wasting your time.

What can I bring with me into a homeless shelter?

You can typically bring a small amount of possessions. Anything more than a backpack, is probably too much. Also, each homeless shelter has their own contraband list, so what you can and cannot bring into the homeless shelter varies by location.

Are homeless shelters easy to get into?

Yes. So long as the homeless shelter that you wish to stay at has availability, and you meet the shelter's requirements, I.e. you have I.D. and are homeless, getting into a homeless shelter is pretty straightforward.

Summary

To get into a homeless shelter, just show up and go through the shelter's normal intake procedure.

Homeless shelters typically do not cost money, but some may require I.D.

You can usually bring with you into a homeless shelter a limited amount of possessions. A good rule of thumb is any more than what can fit into a backpack probably won't be allowed.

So all in all, to get into a homeless shelter just bring your I.D. a no more than a backpack filled with possessions.

further reading

This article focused exclusively on getting into a homeless shelter. What it focused little to none on, however, is where homeless people poop...

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WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE HOMELESS PEOPLE POOP?

Read "Where Homeless People Poop - the most common places."

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