If you have nowhere to stay tonight, there is help in Hartford. Emergency shelters serve single adults, women and children, and families, and homeless-services offices can connect you to a bed and to longer-term housing support.
Shelter space changes by the hour, so always call ahead before you go. The resources below are the verified shelters and housing-help options in our Hartford directory. For help any time of day or night, call 211 and ask for emergency shelter.
Who can get help
Emergency shelter is for anyone who has nowhere safe to stay. Different shelters serve different groups (single men, single women, women with children, families), so the listing or 211 can point you to the right one. You do not need ID or money to call, though some shelters ask for ID at intake.
Shelters and housing help in Hartford
Connecticut Fair Housing Center
Free legal services for housing discrimination cases. Sends testers to collect evidence of discrimination, helps file complaints with state and federal agencies. Handles cases involving race, disability, family status, source of income, and other protected classes.
CRT McKinney Shelter
Community Renewal Team
Overnight emergency shelter for adult males with 88 beds. Provides case management, counseling, referrals, and medical day services.
Habitat for Humanity of North Central Connecticut
Habitat for Humanity of North Central CT
Builds and repairs homes for low-income families in Greater Hartford. Offers new construction, rehab projects, existing homeowner repair programs, and financial literacy education. Also operates ReStore thrift stores.
Hands On Hartford - Supportive Housing
Hands On Hartford
Safe, affordable housing and supportive services for individuals with complex health issues. Also provides homeless outreach team connecting individuals living outdoors with resources to secure stable housing.
Housing Authority of the City of Hartford
HACH
Public housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for very low-income families, elderly, and disabled individuals. Manages multiple properties including Betty Knox Apartments, Charter Oak Terrace, Smith Tower, and others.
Housing Education Resource Center
HUD-approved housing counseling agency offering pre-purchase workshops, budget counseling, rental assistance, and homeless services assistance. Services available in English and Spanish.
ImmaCare - Emergency Shelter for Men
ImmaCare Inc. (formerly Immaculate Conception Shelter)
24-hour emergency shelter for men who are most vulnerable to life on the streets, including those with debilitating health issues, severe substance abuse addictions, and mental health issues. Provides safe beds, meals, clothing, showers, laundry, and comprehensive case management. Operating since 1981.
InterCommunity - Recovery House (Residential)
InterCommunity Inc.
Recovery house program providing safe, substance-free housing with 30 hours/week of group and individual therapy, psychiatric and nursing support, and peer support. Also operates a 12-bed Intermediate Enhanced long-term residential program for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Interval House - Domestic Violence Shelter
Interval House
Largest domestic violence agency in Connecticut, serving survivors since 1977. Provides up to 6 weeks of emergency housing for battered women and children, counseling, safety planning, court advocacy, and support groups.
Mercy Housing and Shelter - Shepherd House
Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation
70-bed shelter providing meals, clothing, personal necessities, day shelter services, healthcare access, social work, and nursing services. Also operates transitional housing for people living with HIV/AIDS.
My Sisters' Place - Women's Housing Services
My Sisters' Place
Nonprofit committed to ending homelessness by empowering women, families, and others in Greater Hartford. Provides transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and wraparound services to help residents achieve independence and stability.
Open Hearth Association - Emergency Shelter
Open Hearth Association
Oldest continuously operating shelter on the East Coast, founded in 1884. Provides 25 emergency beds for men, plus an 84-bed transitional living program with addiction recovery support, life skills training, and career planning.
Oxford House Sherwood - Men's Sober Living
Oxford House of Connecticut
Self-run, self-supported recovery house for men recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Democratically operated by residents with no time limit on stay. Part of the national Oxford House network with over 4,000 locations.
Rebuilding Together Hartford - Free Home Repair
Rebuilding Together Hartford
Provides free home repairs to low-income homeowners in Hartford including emergency repairs for heat, hot water, plumbing, electrical, and equipment to aid in daily living. Helps people live in warmth, safety, and independence.
Salvation Army - Adult Rehabilitation Center
The Salvation Army
Free 180-day residential rehabilitation program for adults struggling with addiction. Combines group and individual therapy, life skills training, recreational activities, work therapy, and spiritual support. Provides housing, meals, and clothing during the program.
How to get started
Call 211 or a shelter below first
Ask whether they have a bed tonight and who they serve. 211 can check availability across the region in one call.
Ask about the intake process
Some shelters take you directly; others go through a coordinated-entry list. Ask what time to arrive and what to bring.
Get connected to housing help
Homeless-services offices can start you on rental assistance and housing programs while you are in shelter, so ask about next steps.
Common questions
Where can I sleep tonight in Hartford?
Call 211 or one of the emergency shelters listed on this page and ask if they have a bed tonight. Because availability changes constantly, calling first is the fastest way to find an open spot.
Do I need ID to get into a shelter?
You do not need ID to call and ask for help. Some shelters request ID at intake, but a missing document should not stop you from reaching out. Ask what they accept.
I am in immediate danger. What should I do?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For domestic violence, the listings include confidential shelters and a 24/7 hotline. For a mental-health crisis, call or text 988.
Not sure where to start, or do not see what you need?