What Is HUD’s Find Shelter?

LINK to HUD Website for Find Shelter

How It Works

1. Select a category — shelter, food pantry, health clinic, or clothing.
2. Enter your zip code or city.
3. Review mapped results and contact information.
4. Use filters or keywords to narrow the search search.211dupage.gov+2hud.gov+2dscc.uic.edu+2archives.hud.gov+2nhhfa.org+2planetizen.com+2.
5. Access printable QR‑enabled posters and palm cards to share in community centers or public spaces search.211dupage.gov+5content.govdelivery.com+5hud.gov+5.

Key Benefits

• Accessible & mobile‑optimized: Fully functional on smartphones with easy QR‑code access .
• Multilingual support: Available in English and Spanish; no documents or fees required .
• Holistic assistance: Go beyond emergency shelter with tools for rent assistance, Section 8 vouchers, housing counseling, and discrimination reporting usich.gov+14planetizen.com+14hud.gov+14.
• Community engagement: Encourages local leaders to display materials at libraries, fire stations, and worship centers to guide people toward support .

Broader Context & Impact

HUD's assessment reveals that homelessness dropped in many areas between 2010 and 2019. Still, Western states saw increases in unsheltered homelessness; on any single night in 2019, around 568,000 people experienced homelessness nhhfa.org+1archives.hud.gov+1. HUD emphasizes Find Shelter as part of its mission to build “strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for all” nhhfa.org+1archives.hud.gov+1.

How Communities Can Use It

• Hotline referral: 2‑1‑1 operators and shelter providers often direct callers to use HUD’s tool hud.gov.
• Resource hub: Social service agencies, nonprofits, and local governments can integrate it into support plans.
• Newcomer aid: Ideal for immigrants, refugees, or anyone unfamiliar with local services .

Getting Started

• Visit HUD.gov/findshelter.
• Choose services you need, enter your location, and let the map guide you to the nearest provider.
• If you're a service organizer, download the digital posters or palm cards to help others find essential aids facebook.com+14content.govdelivery.com+14hud.gov+14.

Final Thoughts

HUD’s Find Shelter tool is a powerful, user‑friendly platform tackling immediate needs—shelter, food, health care, clothing—while connecting people to broader housing and financial stability services. For those working in community outreach, social services, or simply wanting to help, it's a pivotal resource to share and use.