A Sacred Network of Mutual Aid
Washington
Resources & Refuge
"You are not alone. Whatever has brought you here, there is help across the Evergreen State — from Seattle to Spokane to the Cascades. Shelter, food, healing, and hands ready to hold yours. Begin wherever you need to."
Immediate Help in Washington
Find Help Now
Real, currently operating resources across Washington State. Choose a path below — each holds verified shelters, programs, and organizations ready to help today.
The Sanctuary
Emergency shelter and a safe place to rest across Washington.
Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)
City: Seattle
Services: Low-barrier emergency shelters, supportive housing, crisis services, and healthcare for chronically homeless adults
Notes: Serving Seattle's most vulnerable since 1979. Operates multiple shelters and 15+ housing projects.
Seattle's Union Gospel Mission
City: Seattle
Services: Men's Shelter (Pioneer Square), a 106-bed Women & Children's Shelter, three meals a day, recovery, and medical respite
Notes: Women or women with children seeking shelter: call the Referral & Intake team at 206-501-4357 or email gethelp@ugm.org.
Phone: 206-501-4357 (206-501-HELP)
Website: ugm.org
Mary's Place
City: Seattle / King County
Services: Emergency shelter and day services for families with children, plus outreach and housing support
Notes: Focused on ending family homelessness. Reach the outreach team through their family centers.
Website: marysplaceseattle.org
Tacoma Rescue Mission
City: Tacoma
Services: Men's, women's, and family shelters with meals, showers, laundry, and case management
Notes: 425 South Tacoma Way. Men's intake ext. 1106; women's ext. 1183 (sign-up 6:30pm). Family shelter open daily.
Union Gospel Mission — Inland Northwest
City: Spokane
Services: Men's and Women & Children's shelters, meals, recovery programs, and job training — all free of charge
Notes: Serving Spokane and North Idaho since 1951. No one is turned away based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Washington 211 & Coordinated Entry
City: Statewide
Services: 24/7 help finding a shelter bed, plus the door to housing programs through your county's coordinated entry
Notes: Dial 211 to be connected to the nearest open shelter and coordinated entry.
Phone: Dial 211
No safe place tonight? Dial 211 any time. In winter and wildfire-smoke season, severe-weather shelters open across Washington — 211 has the current locations.
Bread of Life
Food banks, pantries, and meals across Washington.
Northwest Harvest
City: Statewide
Services: Washington's own hunger-relief organization, supplying food banks statewide, plus the SODO Community Market in Seattle
Notes: The SODO market offers free groceries with dignity and choice. Use the site to find food near you.
Website: northwestharvest.org
Food Lifeline
City: Western Washington
Services: Supplies more than 300 food banks, shelters, and meal programs across western Washington
Notes: Use the online Find Food tool or dial 211 for the nearest pantry.
Website: foodlifeline.org
Second Harvest — Inland Northwest
City: Spokane / Eastern WA
Services: Food bank serving eastern Washington and North Idaho with pantries and mobile markets
Notes: Check the website for mobile market dates and partner-pantry locations.
Website: 2-harvest.org
Meals at the Missions
City: Seattle, Tacoma & Spokane
Services: Free hot meals served daily at Seattle UGM, Tacoma Rescue Mission, and Spokane UGM
Notes: Open to anyone who is hungry. See The Sanctuary for locations.
Phone: Dial 211 for meal times
Basic Food (SNAP) stretches further than any pantry — see The Providence to apply, and you can use a shelter as your address. Homeless applicants may qualify for expedited benefits within 7 days.
The Healing Hand
Free and low-cost clinics, behavioral health, and care for people without stable housing.
Neighborcare Health
City: Seattle
Services: Seattle's largest provider of community-based primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care on a sliding scale
Notes: Serves people regardless of insurance or housing status, including dedicated homeless-health programs.
Website: neighborcare.org
CHAS Health
City: Spokane & Eastern WA
Services: Medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health on a sliding scale regardless of ability to pay
Notes: A network of community health centers across eastern Washington.
Website: chas.org
Community Health Centers (FQHCs)
City: Statewide
Services: Sliding-scale medical, dental, and behavioral health care across Washington
Notes: Health centers serve every region. Dial 211 to find the nearest, including Health Care for the Homeless clinics.
Phone: Dial 211
Apple Health (Medicaid)
City: Statewide
Services: Free health coverage for eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant people, and people with disabilities
Notes: Apply any time through Washington Healthplanfinder or Washington Connection.
Website: wahealthplanfinder.org
For a mental-health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988 anytime — free, confidential, 24/7.
The Haven
Safe places to shelter from the weather, plus guidance on camping in Washington.
Severe Weather Shelters
City: Statewide (seasonal)
Services: Emergency shelters opened during dangerous cold, heat, or wildfire smoke
Notes: Counties and cities activate these on short notice. Dial 211 for what's open near you right now.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Tiny House Villages (LIHI)
City: Seattle & King County
Services: Managed tiny-house villages offering a lockable, heated space with hygiene facilities and case management
Notes: Run by the Low Income Housing Institute as a step between the street and permanent housing. Access via coordinated entry or 211.
Phone: Dial 211
Street Outreach
City: Seattle, Spokane & beyond
Services: Outreach teams who meet people outdoors and connect them to shelter, healthcare, and weather alerts
Notes: DESC and other agencies run outreach in the metros. Request outreach through 211.
Phone: Dial 211
Washington weather swings from freezing cold to summer wildfire smoke. If you have nowhere safe to go, call 211 — they will direct you to the nearest open shelter or clean-air/warming site.
Living Waters
Showers, laundry, restrooms, and personal-care access through day centers.
Urban Rest Stop (LIHI)
City: Seattle
Services: Free showers, restrooms, and laundry in a clean, welcoming setting — no questions asked
Notes: Locations downtown, in Ballard, and in the University District. A program of the Low Income Housing Institute.
Website: lihi.org
Tacoma Rescue Mission
City: Tacoma
Services: Showers, laundry, and a clothing room alongside shelter and meals
Notes: Clothing room open Wednesdays 1–3pm at 425 South Tacoma Way. See The Sanctuary for details.
Phone: 253-383-4493
Address: 425 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA 98402
Day Services at the Shelters
City: Statewide
Services: Showers, hygiene supplies, and basic-need access through DESC, the Union Gospel Missions, and other shelters
Notes: Hours vary by site. Dial 211 for the nearest open day services.
Phone: Dial 211
Hygiene and laundry access shifts by site and season. 211 keeps the most current list of open day centers and rest stops near you.
The Guardian
Free civil legal aid — your rights around housing, eviction, benefits, and safety.
Northwest Justice Project — CLEAR
City: Statewide
Services: Washington's free civil legal aid hotline — eviction, housing, benefits, and consumer help
Notes: Call CLEAR for intake outside King County. King County residents call 211 for civil legal aid. CLEAR*Sr (age 60+): 1-888-387-7111.
Phone: 1-888-201-1014
Website: nwjustice.org
WashingtonLawHelp.org
City: Statewide (online)
Services: Free legal information, self-help guides, and court forms — including eviction and protection-order packets
Notes: A clear starting point for understanding your rights in Washington.
Website: washingtonlawhelp.org
Right to Counsel in Eviction
City: Statewide
Services: Free legal representation for low-income tenants facing eviction — Washington was the first state to guarantee it
Notes: If you're served eviction papers, ask the court for an appointed attorney and call CLEAR right away.
Phone: 1-888-201-1014
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
City: Statewide
Services: Free and low-cost immigration legal help, including for survivors of violence and people in detention
Notes: Offices in Seattle, Tacoma, Wenatchee, and Granger.
Website: nwirp.org
Facing eviction? Don't wait — call CLEAR the day you're served. Washington guarantees low-income tenants a free attorney, but you have to ask and act quickly.
The Providence
Government benefits — food, health coverage, cash assistance, and emergency help.
Washington Connection (DSHS)
City: Statewide
Services: Apply for Basic Food (SNAP), cash assistance (TANF), and Apple Health — online or by phone
Notes: No permanent address required — you can use a shelter. Homeless applicants may qualify for expedited Basic Food. DSHS line: 877-501-2233.
Phone: 877-501-2233
Website: washingtonconnection.org
AREN — Emergency Cash
City: Statewide
Services: Additional Requirements for Emergent Needs — emergency cash for shelter, housing, and utility costs
Notes: Available to families and pregnant people receiving TANF or State Family Assistance. Ask your DSHS office.
Phone: 877-501-2233
Social Security Administration
City: Statewide
Services: SSI and SSDI disability benefits, retirement, and survivor benefits
Notes: You can apply without a permanent address. Ask about expedited SSI if you're homeless.
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
Website: ssa.gov
Washington 211
City: Statewide
Services: Free, confidential help finding any benefit, program, or service in Washington
Notes: Available 24/7. Also connects to energy assistance and rent help.
Phone: Dial 211
If your benefits are denied or wrongly cut, Northwest Justice Project / CLEAR (see The Guardian) can help you appeal for free.
The Shepherd
Faith-based and community organizations offering food, shelter, and warm support.
Seattle's Union Gospel Mission
City: Seattle
Services: Christ-centered shelter, meals, recovery, and search-and-rescue street outreach
Notes: See The Sanctuary for intake details. All are welcome.
Phone: 206-501-4357
Website: ugm.org
Tacoma Rescue Mission
City: Tacoma
Services: Christian shelter, meals, and self-sufficiency programs for men, women, and families
Notes: See The Sanctuary for details. Serves all in need.
Phone: 253-383-4493
Website: trm.org
Catholic Community Services
City: Western Washington
Services: Shelter, family support, rental assistance, and homelessness services across western Washington
Notes: Help offered to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Website: ccsww.org
The Salvation Army
City: Statewide
Services: Shelter, meals, food banks, domestic-violence programs, and emergency assistance
Notes: Local corps across Washington. Find the nearest through 211.
Website: salvationarmyusa.org
Many Washington congregations quietly help neighbors beyond what's listed here. If you have a home church, ask — and 211 can connect you to faith-based aid near you.
Know Where You Stand
Washington Rights & Laws
A plain-language look at the laws that affect people experiencing homelessness in Washington.
You Have a Right to an Eviction Attorney
Washington was the first state in the nation to guarantee low-income tenants a free, court-appointed attorney when facing eviction.
If you're served with an eviction summons, you can ask the court for an appointed lawyer — and you should call CLEAR (1-888-201-1014) right away.
Washington also requires a 14-day pay-or-vacate notice and "just cause" to end most tenancies. Don't ignore court papers.
Food & Cash Benefits
You do not need a permanent address to get Basic Food (SNAP) in Washington. You can list a shelter or where you usually stay.
- Homeless applicants may qualify for expedited Basic Food in 7 days
- AREN offers emergency cash for housing to TANF families
- Benefits lost in a fire, flood, or power outage can be replaced
- Apply at washingtonconnection.org or call 877-501-2233
Income & Fair Housing Protections
Washington's Law Against Discrimination protects you in housing based on race, disability, family status, and more.
Since 2018, it is also illegal for landlords to refuse you because your income comes from a voucher or other public assistance (source-of-income protection).
If you're denied housing for using a voucher, that may be unlawful — contact legal aid.
Camping, Safety & Survivors
Camping rules vary by city, and after Grants Pass v. Johnson (2024), bans may be enforced even when shelter is full.
- Check local rules before settling outdoors
- The state Address Confidentiality Program shields survivors' addresses
- Seattle-King County DV Hotline: 1-877-737-0242
- Protection orders can be prepared at washingtonlawhelp.org
Across the Evergreen State
Help by Region
Resources reach across Washington. Here's where to start in some of the larger communities.
Seattle & King County
King County
DESC, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, Mary's Place, Neighborcare Health, Northwest Harvest, and LIHI's Urban Rest Stops.
Start: DESC 206-464-1570, or dial 211 (King County DV Hotline 1-877-737-0242).
Tacoma & Pierce County
Pierce County
Tacoma Rescue Mission anchors shelter, meals, and family services, alongside Pierce County coordinated entry and food banks.
Start: Tacoma Rescue Mission 253-383-4493 or dial 211.
Spokane & Eastern WA
Spokane County
Union Gospel Mission of the Inland Northwest, Second Harvest, and CHAS Health serve the Spokane area and beyond.
Start: Spokane UGM 509-535-8510 or dial 211.
Everett & Snohomish
Snohomish County
Everett Gospel Mission, Volunteers of America Western Washington, and Housing Hope serve the north Puget Sound.
Start: Dial 211 for shelter and food.
Vancouver & SW WA
Clark County
The Council for the Homeless, Share, and area food banks serve southwest Washington near the Oregon border.
Start: Dial 211 for the nearest resources.
Statewide Lifelines
All 39 Counties
Washington 211, DSHS for benefits, Northwest Justice Project / CLEAR, and Northwest Harvest reach every corner of the state.
Start: Dial 211 — it covers every Washington ZIP code.
Pathways Forward
Washington Programs
Larger initiatives that move people from crisis toward stable housing.
Coordinated Entry
Through: Each county's Continuum of Care
Helps with: A single assessment that prioritizes you for available shelter and housing in your community.
Start: In King County, dial 211; in Pierce, Spokane, and other counties, ask a shelter or dial 211.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Through: DESC, LIHI, Catholic Community Services & partners
Helps with: Long-term housing paired with on-site case management, healthcare, and behavioral-health support.
Start: Ask a shelter case manager or dial 211 about supportive housing.
Housing & Essential Needs (HEN)
Through: WA Dept. of Commerce & local partners
Helps with: Rental assistance and essential-needs items for adults unable to work due to a physical or mental incapacity.
Start: Apply through DSHS (877-501-2233), which refers eligible people to HEN.
Find Help Near You
Resource Map
An interactive map of Washington resources is on its way as the Network grows.
Interactive Map — Coming Soon
Soon this map will plot shelters, food, clinics, hygiene sites, and warming centers near your location across Washington.
Until then, dial 211 anytime for live, location-based help — or choose a city to be pointed in the right direction.
The Network Grows
Angel Outreach in Washington
Beyond these public resources, the Angel Network is preparing its own offerings for people in need across Washington.
Angel Offerings — Gathering
As angels gather and The Chalice fills, Hope & Grace will extend direct blessings, partner outreach, and community support to souls right here in Washington.
These offerings will appear here as the Network grows. If you are in need today, please request a blessing — and lean on the verified resources above in the meantime.
You Are Not Alone
However You Arrived Here
Whether you need shelter tonight or hope to one day become an angel for someone else — there is a place for you in this Network.