# Nowhere to sleep tonight Source: https://www.qaravan.org/resources/housing/shelter-tonight/ Where to ask for a shelter bed tonight, and where to go if you stay outside. New York City shelters are operated by the City's Department of Homeless Services (DHS). It is not the federal Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE. Intake sites are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The City takes shelter applications regardless of immigration status. ## Start here - Go to the intake site for your household: single adults, couples and families with children each have their own. - At 32 °F (0 °C) or colder, any DHS shelter or drop-in center takes you without the normal intake. - If you are turned away, go to the Coalition for the Homeless Crisis Intervention Program (129 Fulton Street, Manhattan) by 9 AM, or call [1-888-358-2384](tel:18883582384) and leave your phone number; the line is in English. ## Which intake site is yours DHS intake sites by household type | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Single Adult Intake Center for men Any status Free Single men 18 and over apply here. This site replaced the 30th Street intake on August 1, 2026. The entrance has stairs and a steep ramp; if you cannot manage them, DHS staff help you get to an accessible shelter. The 6 train to Bleecker Street (4 to 7 minute walk) or the B, D, F or M to Broadway-Lafayette Street (5 minute walk). Come in person and say "Russian": a free interpreter is provided on site. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/singleadults/single-adults-applying.page) 8 East 3rd Street, New York, NY 10003 24/7 - Franklin Women's Shelter (intake for women) Any status Free One of two places where single women 18 and over apply. The inside is wheelchair accessible; the accessible entrance is on the side of the building, up a hill with a narrow sidewalk. The 2 or 5 train to 3 Av-149 St, then the Bx15 bus to 166th Street and 3rd Avenue. Come in person and say "Russian": a free interpreter is provided on site. New York City agencies must provide a free interpreter (Local Law 30). [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/singleadults/single-adults-applying.page) 1122 Franklin Avenue, Bronx, NY 10456 24/7 - HELP Women's Center (intake for women) Any status Free The other place where single women 18 and over apply; fully accessible for people with disabilities. The L train to Atlantic Avenue (5 minute walk) or the A train to Liberty Avenue (8 minute walk). Come in person and say "Russian": a free interpreter is provided on site. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/singleadults/single-adults-applying.page) 114 Snediker Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207 24/7 - Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC) Any status Free For adult families with no children under 21: married couples, some unmarried couples and other adults. All of you come together, and each person brings valid original ID (a photo ID, a birth certificate, a Social Security card or a Medicaid card). [311](tel:311) lists four ways to prove you are a family: a married couple with a marriage certificate; registered domestic partners who have lived together for the past 6 months; two or more adults who have lived together for the past 6 months and need to be sheltered together because of a medical condition or other situation; adults whose birth certificates prove a parent and child or sibling relationship. An unmarried couple without a registered domestic partnership has only the third way: you must show you have lived together for the past 6 months and that a medical condition or other situation requires you to be sheltered together. If you lack that proof, call [311](tel:311) before going to AFIC (say "Russian") and ask what to do. Each applicant also shows where the family lived for the last year: bring a lease, eviction papers, a utility bill or a pay stub if you have them. No pets, food, furniture, appliances or visitors. Nobody sleeps here: DHS sends you on to a shelter where your family has its own sleeping area. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/families/adult-families-applying.page) 333 Bowery, New York, NY 10003 24/7 - PATH (Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing office) Any status Free Families with children under 21 and pregnant people apply here. [311](tel:311) says every family member must be present; The Legal Aid Society (August 2025) says children up to 17 do not have to come if PATH staff can see them, by video call for example, but you must bring them to the shelter by curfew the next day. It is safer to bring the children. Bring ID for every household member and proof that you are a family: a child's birth certificate that lists the adult as a parent, proof of custody, paternity papers from a court or the New York City Health Department, or a marriage or domestic partnership certificate. A single pregnant woman does not need proof of family. The 2, 4 or 5 train to 149 Street-Grand Concourse. Come in person and say "Russian": a free interpreter is provided on site. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/families/families-with-children-applying.page) 151 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 24/7; applications processed 9 AM to 5 PM - New to New York: one intake for everyone, and the rules for New Arrivals Any status Asylum applicants Free There is no separate migrant intake any more: the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center at the Roosevelt Hotel closed in July 2025, and everyone uses the same DHS intake sites. The Legal Aid Society calls you a New Arrival if you came to the United States on or after March 15, 2022 and fear returning to your home country. Legal Aid says New Arrivals have no time limit in DHS shelters or in New Arrival shelters (New Arrival Sites, not operated by DHS), get no 30 or 60 day notices and do not need to ask for more time. Most New Arrival sites are closed. The last one, Bruckner, for single men, is expected to close by the end of 2026, News 12 reports, with residents moved to shelters of the Department of Social Services (DSS), which includes DHS. [legalaidnyc.org](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/housing-problems/what-you-need-to-know-about-shelter-in-nyc-if-you-are-a-new-arrival/) ## Your first night, step by step 1. Pick the right site Find your site in the table. If you are a single adult and stayed in a shelter in the last 12 months, go back to that shelter. 2. Get there DHS does not provide transportation, so get there on your own. The sites stay open all night, so you can come late. 3. Bring what you have For single adults, DHS says these help but are not required: any ID with a photo and date of birth (a driver's license, a state ID, a passport, a visa or a green card), a Social Security card, a Medicaid card and your latest pay stub. Adult families and families with children bring ID for every member, and adult families also show where they lived for the last year. 4. Say what you need If you have a disability or a health condition, ask for a reasonable accommodation: an elevator, a ground floor or a special diet, for example. Bring medical papers if you have them. Trans and non-binary single adults choose a men's or women's shelter based on their gender identity. 5. Ask for an interpreter If you do not speak English, DHS provides an interpreter at intake. Ask right away and name your language. 6. Answer the interview honestly Families first talk with a caseworker about where they have been living and what could keep them out of shelter: DHS mediation (a talk with the people you live with), legal help against eviction, or a one-shot deal, a one-time payment from the Human Resources Administration (HRA), the City benefits agency. If none of that fits, a DHS worker asks about your past housing. While DHS checks what you said, you can get a temporary shelter placement for up to 10 days. 7. If you are found ineligible, push back A family that disagrees with a denial can ask for a legal conference (a meeting at AFIC or PATH to challenge the decision) and has 60 days to ask New York State for a Fair Hearing. After a denial at PATH, call [(844) 347-7284](tel:8443477284) and say "Russian" for a free interpreter. The same day, call the Coalition for the Homeless Crisis Intervention Program at [1-888-358-2384](tel:18883582384) (the line is in English) or go there in person by 9 AM: 129 Fulton Street. 8. If you cannot get to an intake site tonight Go to a drop-in center, or ask for an outreach team in the [311](tel:311) app. At 32 °F (0 °C) or colder, any DHS shelter or drop-in center takes you without the normal intake. ## If you are outside tonight Drop-in centers for adults (open 24 hours a day) | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - 311 street outreach Any status Free Nonprofit staff look for people on the streets and in the subway 24/7 and offer help; taking it is up to you. Ask for a team, for yourself or for someone you see outside, in the [311](tel:311) app or by calling [311](tel:311) and saying "Russian" for a free interpreter. If someone is in immediate danger or there is a crime, call [911](tel:911). [311](tel:311) [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/outreach/street-outreach.page) 24/7 - Code Blue (cold) and Code Red (heat) Any status Free Code Blue starts at 32 °F (0 °C) or lower, wind chill included. [311](tel:311) says that while it is on, DHS drop-in centers and shelters, and over 50 hospitals, "operate with a full open-door policy": a homeless person can stay at any DHS shelter or drop-in center without the normal intake. In extreme heat (Code Red) and poor air (Code Grey) the same applies, and outreach teams check on people more often. [311](tel:311) [portal.311.nyc.gov](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02501) 24/7 while the code is in effect - Safe Havens, Stabilization beds and Welcome Centers Any status Free Three kinds of low-barrier DHS beds for people who live outside. Safe Havens are small transitional programs with hands-on case management. Stabilization beds are for people who can care for themselves. Welcome Centers assess your health and start applications for vouchers (rent subsidies) and supportive housing. An outreach team or a drop-in center usually refers you. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/outreach/street-outreach.page) ## If you were turned away or something is wrong - Coalition for the Homeless Crisis Intervention Program Any status The Coalition for the Homeless helps homeless people in New York. If you were denied shelter or need help with benefits or housing, call and leave a message with your number and what happened. They answer about New York City services only. You can also walk in by 9 AM: they see a limited number of people a day. The line is in English, so without English it is better to come in person. [1-888-358-2384](tel:18883582384) [coalitionforthehomeless.org](https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/our-programs/crisis-services/crisis-intervention/) 129 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038 Mon-Fri 9 AM to 5 PM - PATH help line for families found not eligible Any status Free For families and pregnant people told at PATH that they do not meet the shelter rules. The line is open 24/7. Say "Russian" and a free interpreter joins: DHS staff can reach phone interpreters 24/7. [(844) 347-7284](tel:8443477284) [portal.311.nyc.gov](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02501) 151 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 24/7 - The Legal Aid Society Any status Free A nonprofit law office. Its Housing, Homelessness and Foreclosure pages explain intake for single adults and adult families, shelter rights for new arrivals and reasonable accommodations. QARAVAN has no lawyers and gives no legal services; for legal help with housing, contact Legal Aid. [legalaidnyc.org](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/housing-problems/) ## If you are fleeing violence at home - NYC 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline Any status Free For survivors of domestic violence, whether physical, psychological, sexual, emotional or financial: temporary housing, emergency shelter and support for you and your children. If you are in danger right now, call [911](tel:911) first and say "Russian" for an interpreter. On the hotline (Safe Horizon answers it), say "Russian" too: it offers translation in more than 25 languages. There is also an online chat: [safehorizon.org/hotline](https://safehorizon.org/hotline). [1-800-621-4673](tel:18006214673) [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/prevention/domestic-violence.page) 24/7 - Project No Violence Again (NoVA) at PATH Any status Free Human Resources Administration (HRA) social workers on the sixth floor of PATH see families who need emergency shelter because of domestic violence, help with placement and give referrals. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/prevention/domestic-violence.page) 151 East 151st Street, 6th floor, Bronx, NY 10451 7 days a week - The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (for LGBTQIA+ survivors) Any status Free Helps LGBTQIA+ survivors of domestic violence. The City funds this work through HRA: crisis help, case management, counseling and housing help. If you do not speak English, start with the City hotline [1-800-621-4673](tel:18006214673), which offers translation. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/prevention/domestic-violence.page) - Barrier Free Living (older adult survivors and survivors with disabilities) Any status Free A domestic violence provider that the City funds, through HRA, for older adults and people with disabilities. If you do not speak English, start with the City hotline [1-800-621-4673](tel:18006214673), which offers translation. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/prevention/domestic-violence.page) - Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline Any status Free If you may be a victim of human trafficking, call, or text HELP to 233733, for help finding shelter, food, medical care and legal help. Immigrants may also get services and federal help with their immigration status. The hotline works in more than 200 languages: say "Russian". There is also a live chat at [humantraffickinghotline.org](https://humantraffickinghotline.org). [1-888-373-7888](tel:18883737888); text HELP to 233733 [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/prevention/domestic-violence.page) ## Glossary: definitions of special terms and abbreviations - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice. [All pages: Housing](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/housing/) **Sources, checked November 2026** - [portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02501](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02501) - [nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/singleadults/single-adults-applying.p…](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/singleadults/single-adults-applying.page) - [nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/families/adult-families-applying.page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/families/adult-families-applying.page) - [nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/families/families-with-children-apply…](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/shelter/families/families-with-children-applying.page) - [legalaidnyc.org/get-help/housing-problems/what-you-need-to-kno…](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/housing-problems/what-you-need-to-know-about-shelter-in-nyc-if-you-are-a-new-arrival/) - [coalitionforthehomeless.org/our-programs/crisis-services/crisi…](https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/our-programs/crisis-services/crisis-intervention/) - [nyc.gov/site/dhs/outreach/street-outreach.page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/outreach/street-outreach.page) - [legalaidnyc.org/get-help/housing-problems](https://legalaidnyc.org/get-help/housing-problems/) - [nyc.gov/site/dhs/prevention/domestic-violence.page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/dhs/prevention/domestic-violence.page) - [legalaidnyc.org](https://www.legalaidnyc.org/) - [safehorizon.org/hotline](https://www.safehorizon.org/hotline)