You have a right to apply for and receive shelter if you have no other safe, available housing option. You must be allowed to apply for shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information on where to access shelter, please click here.
There is no application process for a single man or woman to receive shelter. You should receive a shelter bed the same day you apply. You also have certain rights in terms of the conditions in shelter and resources the shelter must make available, click here to learn more about your rights in shelter. You may be transferred to an assessment site or program shelter where an assessment will be completed.
Shelter staff will ask you to come to a number of meetings, including meeting with a psychiatrist, to discuss the reason that you are in need of shelter now. These meetings are intended to help the shelter staff and Department of Homeless Services to understand how they can best help you. Following these meetings, you may be transferred again to another shelter or may stay in the shelter where you are already placed. Regardless, the workers at your shelter should be focused on helping you come up with a plan to help you leave shelter, including helping you to apply for benefits, complete assessments and applications for housing programs. Click here to learn more about housing programs for which you might qualify.
Some clients report pressure to leave shelter by a specific deadline by DHS or shelter staff, you have a right to shelter until, working with your case manager and shelter staff, you locate permanent housing that is accessible.
However, under Department of Homeless Services rules, shelter residents can be ejected from shelter for a minimum of 30 days if DHS claims that you have not accepted a suitable, available housing option, have been non-compliant in other ways, or have broken a shelter rule. Click here to learn more about sanctions and your rights.
