What Our House is and who it serves
Our House is a shelter facility that provides temporary housing, meals, and basic services to people experiencing homelessness. The shelter operates as a low-barrier facility, meaning it has minimal restrictions on entry compared to some other shelters — you do not typically need referrals, prior registration, or proof of local residency to stay there.
Our House serves adults and families, though specific policies about age limits, couples, and families with children vary by location and change based on current capacity. The shelter prioritizes people in when ready crisis — those who have nowhere to sleep that night — over those with more stable housing situations.
The shelter is not permanent housing. It is designed as a temporary stop while you work toward more stable arrangements, whether that means reconnecting with family, entering a longer-term program, or finding your own place. Staff can connect you with resources for housing search, income, and other services, but the shelter itself is the bed and the meals, not the full solution.
Key Takeaways
- Our House accepts people without advance notice or referrals, and you can typically arrive any time during intake hours to request a bed for that night.
- The shelter provides a bed, meals, and access to basic hygiene facilities, but policies on length of stay, storage, and guest visits differ by location.
- Staff can point you toward housing programs, job training, mental health services, and other resources, but you will need to follow up with those programs yourself.
- Shelters operate under rules about noise, substances, weapons, and behavior — breaking those rules can result in a temporary or permanent ban.
- If you are turned away due to capacity, ask staff for the phone number of the local shelter hotline or 211 to find other beds in your area that night.
How to get a bed on the night you need it
Arrive during intake hours, which are typically in the early evening (often 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., though this varies by location). Bring a photo ID if you have one — it speeds up check-in — but lack of ID does not automatically disqualify you. Tell staff you need shelter for the night.
You will be asked basic questions: your name, whether you have been to Our House before, and sometimes whether you have any medical needs or safety concerns staff should know about. This information helps staff assign you a bed and flag any when ready needs. Be honest about health issues, medications, or mobility problems so staff can place you appropriately.
If beds are available, you will be assigned one and shown where to store your belongings. If the shelter is full, staff will tell you that night and should provide you with the number for the local shelter hotline or 211, which tracks available beds at other facilities in real time. Do not leave without that number — it is your fastest route to a bed elsewhere.
What you get and what the rules are
Our House provides a bed for the night, usually a cot or bunk in a shared room. You also receive meals — typically dinner on arrival and breakfast the next morning — and access to bathrooms and showers. Some locations offer laundry facilities, phone charging, and a small locker for personal items. Policies on what you can bring, where you can store it, and how long you can keep it vary by location.
The shelter has rules designed to keep everyone safe. These typically include no weapons, no illegal drugs or alcohol, no violence or threats, and quiet hours (usually 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Some shelters have additional rules about smoking, pets, or outside guests. Staff will explain the rules when you arrive. Breaking them can result in being asked to leave that night or being banned for a period of time.
You are expected to leave by a set time in the morning, usually between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. This allows staff to clean and prepare for the next night's intake. If you have nowhere to go during the day, ask staff about day centers, libraries, or other places in your area where you can spend time safely.
How long you can stay and what happens next
Our House is not designed for long-term residence. Most shelters allow stays of 30 to 90 days, though some operate on a night-by-night basis where you must request a bed each evening. A few locations have extended-stay programs for people working toward housing, but these are limited and usually require you to be engaged with a case manager or job program.
When you arrive, ask staff how long you can stay and what the process is if you need to extend your stay. Some shelters require you to meet with a case manager or counselor to discuss your housing plan before they will let you stay beyond a certain number of nights. This is not punishment — it is an attempt to move people toward stability rather than keeping them in temporary shelter indefinitely.
If you are approaching your stay limit and do not have housing lined up, tell your case manager or the front desk staff as soon as possible. They can connect you with housing programs, rapid rehousing, or other shelters that might accept you for a longer period. Waiting until your last night makes it much harder to find the next place.
Connecting with housing and other services
Our House staff can give you information about housing programs in your area, but they cannot place you in housing themselves. Common programs include rapid rehousing (which pays your deposit and first month's rent if you find a place), transitional housing (temporary housing with support services), and permanent supportive housing (long-term housing with ongoing case management).
To access these programs, you typically need to contact them directly or ask your shelter case manager to make a referral. Each program has its own intake process and requirements. Some require you to have income or a job; others do not. Some prioritize people with disabilities or families; others serve anyone. Asking staff which programs might fit your situation saves time.
The shelter can also connect you with job training, mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and benefits programs like SNAP or Medicaid. Again, the shelter provides the connection and information — you will need to follow up with those programs yourself. Having a case manager at the shelter can help you stay on track with applications and appointments.
What to bring and what not to bring
Bring a photo ID if you have one, any medications you take (in their original bottles), and important documents like birth certificates or Social Security cards if you have them. Keep these in a find place — shelters are communal spaces and theft happens. Ask staff about locker availability and whether they can store valuables in an office safe.
Do not bring weapons, illegal drugs, or alcohol — these will be confiscated and you may be asked to leave. Do not bring large amounts of cash; use a bank account or ask staff if the shelter has a safe-deposit option. Bring only what you can carry or store securely, because you will need to leave by morning and cannot leave items behind to claim later.
If you have pets, ask about the shelter's pet policy before you arrive. Some shelters allow small animals; many do not. If your shelter does not allow pets, ask staff about pet-friendly shelters or temporary foster programs in your area.
If you are turned away or banned
If Our House is at capacity, you will be turned away but should receive information about other shelters with available beds. Call 211 or the local shelter hotline when ready — they update bed availability in real time and can tell you which facilities have space that night.
If you are banned due to rule violations, ask staff how long the ban lasts and what you need to do to be readmitted. Some bans are temporary (a few days or weeks); others are permanent. If you believe you were banned unfairly, ask about the shelter's grievance process — most have a way to appeal decisions.
If you are banned from Our House but need shelter, the same approach applies: call 211 or the local hotline to find other facilities. Being banned from one shelter does not mean you cannot access others, though some shelters share information about bans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a local resident to stay at Our House?
No. Our House typically accepts anyone who needs shelter that night, regardless of where they are from. Some shelters ask where you are from for record-keeping purposes, but lack of local residency does not disqualify you. If you are new to the area and need longer-term housing information, tell staff — they can point you toward resources specific to your situation.
What if I have a mental health condition or disability?
Tell staff when you arrive. Our House is required to make reasonable accommodations — for example, a quieter bed if you have sensory sensitivities, or a ground-floor bed if you have mobility issues. If you take psychiatric medications, bring them in their original bottles. Staff can sometimes connect you with mental health services, though you will need to follow up with those programs yourself.
Can I stay at Our House if I have a job but cannot afford housing yet?
Yes. Having a job does not disqualify you from shelter. In fact, staff may prioritize you for rapid rehousing programs, which are designed for working people who need help with deposits and first month's rent. Tell staff about your job and income — it opens doors to specific housing programs.
What happens to my belongings if I leave them at the shelter?
Most shelters do not store items left behind. You must take everything with you when you leave in the morning. If you have too much to carry, ask staff about storage options or day centers where you can leave a bag during the day. Some shelters have lockers; others do not. Ask about this when you arrive.
Can I bring my partner or friend to stay with me?
Outside guests cannot stay overnight at the shelter. If your partner or friend also needs shelter, they can arrive during intake hours and request their own bed. Some shelters have couple-friendly policies that place partners near each other; ask staff about this when you both arrive.