Where to start if you need shelter tonight

If you need a place to sleep in Boston, call Boston's Central Intake Line at 617-534-5395. This is the main entry point for the city's shelter system. They will ask where you are now, whether you have any medical needs, and whether you are travelling with children or a partner. Based on your situation, they will either direct you to a shelter with an available bed or tell you where to go.

The line operates during business hours, but Boston also runs a 24-hour crisis line at 617-534-5395 — the same number handles both. If you call after hours and need when ready shelter, staff will direct you to a night-time intake location or a warming center. Do not wait until midnight to call; the system works better when you reach out in the afternoon or early evening.

If you are on the street right now and cannot make a phone call, walk into any Boston Police District station and ask for the homeless outreach officer. They can contact intake on your behalf and help you get to a shelter.

Key Takeaways

  • Boston's Central Intake Line at 617-534-5395 is where you start; they match you to a shelter based on your needs and what beds are open.
  • The intake process asks about medical conditions, family members, and your current location so they can place you appropriately.
  • Shelters in Boston are run by different organizations but all funnel through the same intake system — you do not call individual shelters.
  • If you have a pet, mental health condition, or substance use issue, tell intake staff when ready; some shelters specialize in these situations.
  • Shelters provide a bed and usually a meal, but policies on length of stay, curfews, and what you can bring vary by location.

What happens when you call intake

When you reach the Central Intake Line, a staff member will ask basic questions: your name, whether you have identification, whether you are with anyone else, and whether you have any urgent medical or safety needs. They will also ask whether you have stayed in a Boston shelter before. This helps them understand your situation and place you in the right location.

If beds are available that match your needs, intake will tell you which shelter to go to and give you directions or arrange transportation. If no beds are open at that moment, they will either put you on a waiting list or direct you to a warming center — a temporary overnight space that operates during cold weather. Warming centers are not permanent shelter, but they keep you safe until a bed opens.

Intake staff may also ask whether you want to work with a case manager or have other support services. If you say yes, they can connect you with housing navigation programs that help people move from shelter into permanent housing. This is separate from the shelter bed itself but often happens at the same time.

Types of shelters and who goes where

Boston operates several shelter types, and intake directs you based on your situation. Family shelters serve people with children under 18. Adult shelters serve single adults and couples without children. Youth shelters serve people under 21 who are unaccompanied. Some shelters specialize in people with serious mental illness or active substance use; others are low-barrier, meaning they have fewer rules about sobriety or behavior.

The city also contracts with private organizations to run shelters. You may end up at a facility run by Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Pine Street Inn, or another nonprofit. The intake system knows which organizations have beds open and will send you to whichever one has space that fits your needs. You do not get to choose the shelter, but you can tell intake if you have a strong reason to avoid a particular location — for example, if you have a safety concern.

If you have a pet, tell intake when ready. Some shelters allow pets; others do not. If your shelter does not allow animals, intake can sometimes connect you with a pet foster program or a shelter that does accept animals, though this may mean a longer wait or a location farther from the city center.

What to bring and what the rules are

Bring any identification you have — a driver's license, passport, or even a library card helps. Bring medications in their original bottles if you take them. Bring important documents if you have them: birth certificate, Social Security card, lease, or court papers. Shelters will store these safely. Bring a change of clothes and toiletries if you have them, but do not worry if you do not — most shelters provide basic supplies.

Rules vary by shelter, but most have a curfew (usually between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. for entry) and a wake-up time (usually 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.). Most require you to leave during the day, though some allow people to stay if they are working, in school, or have a medical reason. Most provide dinner and breakfast. Some allow you to stay for 30 days; others have longer or shorter limits. Intake will tell you the specific rules for the shelter they assign you to.

Most shelters do not allow alcohol or drugs on the premises. Some are stricter than others about this. If you use substances, tell intake — they can place you in a low-barrier shelter where staff focus on harm reduction rather than abstinence. If you have a mental health condition and take psychiatric medication, the shelter will have staff who can help you manage it.

Moving from shelter to permanent housing

Boston's shelter system is designed as a temporary stop, not a permanent solution. When you enter shelter, intake can connect you with a housing navigator — a staff member who helps you look for permanent housing, understand your options, and explore for programs. This happens while you are in shelter, not after you leave.

Boston has several housing programs that prioritize people coming out of shelter. Rapid Rehousing provides short-term rental information and case management to help you move into an apartment quickly. Supportive Housing combines permanent housing with ongoing mental health or substance use services. Public Housing (Boston Housing Authority) has a long waiting list but offers deeply affordable rent. Your navigator will explain which programs you may be able to access and help you through the process.

The timeline varies. Some people move into housing within weeks; others take months. It depends on how much money is available in each program, how competitive the waiting list is, and whether you have barriers like a criminal record or bad credit. Your navigator will be honest about the timeline and will help you understand what to expect.

If you are turned away or have a problem

If intake tells you no beds are available, ask specifically whether you can go to a warming center that night. Warming centers operate seasonally (usually November through March) and during extreme weather. If it is warm and no warming center is open, ask intake what the next step is — they may put you on a priority list or direct you to a day program where you can rest and get a meal.

If you are in a shelter and staff ask you to leave for breaking a rule, ask to speak with a supervisor before you go. Shelters have grievance procedures, and you have the right to explain your side. If you believe you were treated unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Boston Police Department's Community Ombudsman or contact a legal aid organization like Greater Boston Legal Services.

If you have a disability and need accommodation — a wheelchair-accessible bed, a quiet space because of PTSD, or a specific medication schedule — tell intake and tell shelter staff. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, shelters must provide reasonable accommodations. If they refuse, that is a violation you can report.

Resources and support while in shelter

Most Boston shelters offer more than just a bed. Many have on-site case managers, mental health counselors, and nurses. Some offer job training, GED classes, or help with benefits applications. Ask staff what services are available at your shelter and whether you can sign up.

If you need legal help — for example, to fight an eviction, clear a criminal record, or understand your rights — ask your case manager for a referral. Greater Boston Legal Services and Community Legal Aid provide free help to low-income people. If you need mental health or substance use treatment, your shelter can connect you with providers.

Boston also has drop-in centers where you can shower, do laundry, get a meal, and use a phone or computer during the day. These are open to anyone experiencing homelessness, whether or not you are in shelter. Your case manager can give you the addresses and hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have nowhere to go right now and it is the middle of the night?

Call 617-534-5395 anyway. The line operates 24 hours. If no shelter bed is available, they will direct you to a night-time intake location or a warming center. If it is summer and no warming center is open, ask about a day program or safe parking location where you can wait until morning.

Do I need identification to get into a shelter?

No. Shelters will take you without ID, though having some form of identification helps with services like benefits or medical care. If you do not have ID, ask your case manager about getting one — many shelters can help you explore for a state ID.

Can I stay in a shelter with my partner or family member?

It depends on your relationship and ages. Couples without children can usually stay together in an adult shelter. Families with children go to family shelters. If you are travelling with someone else, tell intake — they will try to place you together, but it is not always possible.

What if I have a criminal record or have been banned from a shelter before?

Tell intake about it. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from shelter. If you were banned from a specific shelter, intake can place you elsewhere. If you were banned from the entire system, you can appeal the ban through the shelter system's grievance process.

How long can I stay in a shelter?

It varies by shelter and your situation. Most shelters allow 30 to 90 days. If you are working with a case manager on housing, you may be able to stay longer. Ask your shelter staff about the specific limit and whether extensions are possible if you are close to finding housing.