How to Find Cold Weather Shelters Near You This Winter
Call 211 or search your ZIP to find nearby cold-weather shelter beds, meals, and health help fast.
Dial 211 to reach local social services for free, confidential referrals to emergency shelter near you this winter. Search your city or ZIP in HUD's Find Shelter tool to map nearby shelter, food, clothing and health providers with contact information. A Continuum of Care program is the local network that arranges temporary or permanent housing for people facing homelessness.
According to USAGov, free referrals through 211 can also connect callers to help with food, utilities and transportation.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 04, 2026.
Call 211 for a local referral
Start with 211 because shelter beds are placed locally, not from a national office. In most U.S. areas, dialing 211 connects you to referral specialists for your county or region.
Callers can ask about emergency shelter, warming centers, meals, utility help and rides. Referral specialists can link people directly to a local agency for help. According to the U.S.
Interagency Council on Homelessness, local agency referrals through 211 work alongside the community Continuum of Care program. HUD states it funds local partners rather than placing people itself, so contact 211 or a local provider for placement.
Search by city or ZIP online
Use HUD resources when you have internet access and need addresses and phone numbers. HUD points shelter seekers to its state local-assistance list, a homeless-help provider directory, and the local public housing agency for moves from homelessness to housing. Keep your ZIP code or city name ready before you search.
According to HUD, nearby providers mapped by city or ZIP include shelter, food, clothing and health services. Write down two or three options with hours and intake rules. Call ahead when possible, since winter beds can fill during cold snaps.
Find open shelters during storms
Disaster shelters open during severe winter storms, power outages and evacuations. To find one by phone, text SHELTER plus your ZIP code to 43362. The FEMA App can also locate emergency shelters and send weather alerts.
For Red Cross locations, search by ZIP at redcross.org/shelter, use the Emergency App, or call 1-800-733-2767. Bring ID, medications, chargers, warm layers and supplies for children or pets. If travel is unsafe, stay where you are and call 211 or emergency services for guidance.
Protect against cold while you wait
According to the CDC, warming steps for hypothermia and frostbite include moving the person to warmth, removing wet clothing, warming with dry blankets, and getting medical care immediately. Do not rub frostbitten skin or use direct high heat.
- Move indoors to a shelter, library, store or other warm room as soon as you can.
- Change out of wet clothes and cover skin from wind.
- Drink warm fluids and eat if food is available.
- Check on older adults, children and neighbors who live alone.
- Keep phones charged for alerts and callback calls from providers.