Where to turn, what services cost, who qualifies, and how to take the first step.
Finding help shouldn’t require hours of searching, a working smartphone, or knowing which organization to call.
For people experiencing homelessness, struggling to afford groceries, or worried about losing their housing, Memphis has organizations offering shelter, meals, supplies, housing assistance, and referrals.
The challenge is often knowing where to begin.
Focus has gathered resources across Memphis and Shelby County to help readers identify services based on their immediate needs. Many are free, although eligibility, availability, and intake requirements vary.
This guide is intended for anyone seeking assistance, including LGBTQ+ people who may need additional information about affirming services.
Need help today? Start here.
- Call 211 for referrals to food, housing, utilities, and other community services.
- Call Hospitality Hub at 901-730-1736 for help navigating homelessness and shelter resources.
- Call MIFA at 901-529-4545 if your family has minor children and needs shelter assistance.
- Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or need emergency medical assistance.
Shelter space and food supplies are not guaranteed. Whenever possible, call ahead before traveling.
I Need Shelter Tonight: Emergency Shelters in Memphis
Hospitality Hub
590 Washington Avenue, Memphis
Phone: 901-730-1736
Cost: Free
Hospitality Hub provides services for people experiencing homelessness, including housing navigation, identification assistance, case counseling, and referrals to community resources.
Its Hub Hotel offers emergency shelter for women, including transgender women, and their accompanying children.
Guest services are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–3 p.m.
First step: Visit during guest services hours or call to discuss your situation. Shelter availability changes, and beds cannot be reserved in advance.
Website: https://www.hospitalityhub.org/get-help/
Room in the Inn–Memphis
Registration: First Presbyterian Church, 166 Poplar Avenue, Memphis
Phone: 901-467-0122
Cost: Free
Room in the Inn provides seasonal overnight shelter through participating faith communities.
Its winter shelter season operates November 1 through March 31, with nightly registration from 4:30–5 p.m. on shelter days.
Guests receive transportation to a host location, an evening meal, overnight accommodations, and transportation back downtown the following morning.
Families with children receive priority, followed by single women. Space is limited, and shelter is not guaranteed.
First step: Call to confirm the schedule, or arrive during the designated registration window. Do not go directly to a host congregation.
Website: https://ritimemphis.org/findshelter/
Memphis Union Mission
383 Poplar Avenue, Memphis
Phone: 901-526-8403
Cost: Ask about current free-stay eligibility and any charges.
Memphis Union Mission provides emergency shelter and meals for men experiencing homelessness.
Published check-in windows are 8–10:30 a.m. and 1–6:45 p.m., but confirm these hours before visiting.
First step: Call to ask about bed availability, intake requirements, costs, and whether the program can accommodate your needs.
Website: https://www.memphisunionmission.org/
MIFA: Shelter for Families with Children
Family Hotline: 901-529-4545
Cost: No screening fee listed
MIFA helps Shelby County families with minor children connect with emergency shelter and other resources.
Its family shelter program screens households experiencing homelessness and helps determine whether shelter placement or another intervention may be appropriate.
First step: Call the family hotline or complete the online application.
Website: https://www.mifa.org/housingstability
I Need Food or Supplies: Free Food in Memphis
Community Fridges: Free Food Pickup
Community fridges are shared food resources where neighbors and organizations donate items for others to take.
Food is free, and availability depends on donations. A fridge may be empty when you arrive.
Holy Trinity Community Church
685 S. Highland Street, Memphis
Outdoor community fridge on the south side of the building, with a nearby dry-goods pantry. Reported access is 24 hours a day.
The Memphis Church
7400 Cordova Club Drive E., Cordova
Community fridge with free food. The church also advertises food and clothing assistance on Thursdays, 2–4 p.m., and the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m.–noon. Confirm the current schedule before visiting.
First Congregational Church (First Congo)
1000 S. Cooper Street, Memphis
A community fridge is located on church property. The church also provides food assistance through other programs. Check current access before traveling.
Binghampton Community Church
362 Tillman Street, Memphis
Community fridge documented at this location. Some older resource lists use 360 Tillman Street, so confirm the entrance and access details before visiting.
OUTMemphis: Food, Clothing and Hygiene Supplies
Youth Empowerment Center: 2055 Southern Avenue, Memphis
Cost: Free
OUTMemphis provides food and basic-needs assistance for LGBTQ+ community members.
Services include free hot meals for young adults ages 18–24 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m., pantry access, food boxes while supplies last, and clothing and hygiene resources.
Some programs are age-restricted, while others serve adults more broadly.
First step: Review the current services and eligibility information before visiting.
Website: https://www.outmemphis.org/services
Free Food and Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Not every food resource operates through a traditional food pantry. Memphis residents also share food, clothing, and household necessities through neighborhood networks.
901 Community Fridges
The 901 Community Fridges Facebook group shares information about community fridges, food donations, and local needs.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/901fridges
Memphis Food Not Bombs
A volunteer-led mutual aid effort sharing free food with community members.
Community listings have identified Saturday distributions at Court Square Park, 62 N. Main Street. Confirm the current schedule through the group’s social media before traveling.
Buy Nothing Neighborhood Groups
Memphis-area Buy Nothing groups allow neighbors to offer and request free items such as clothing, bedding, household supplies, and furniture.
Search Facebook for neighborhood-specific groups, including Midtown/Downtown Memphis and East Memphis. Membership requirements and pickup arrangements vary.
Safety reminder: When arranging exchanges with individuals online, use a public pickup location when possible and avoid sharing unnecessary personal information.
I Need Help Keeping or Finding Housing
OUTMemphis: LGBTQ+ Housing Assistance
OUTMemphis offers housing programs for LGBTQ+ young adults ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness, including young people staying temporarily with others because they have nowhere else to live.
Programs include emergency housing and transitional housing support.
OUTMemphis also offers short-term rental assistance for eligible adults living with HIV who are experiencing housing instability.
Cost: Contact the organization for current housing-program terms.
First step: Visit the services page and complete the case-management intake form.
Website: https://www.outmemphis.org/services
Hospitality Hub: Housing Navigation
Hospitality Hub helps individuals experiencing homelessness work toward stable housing.
Services can include case counseling, obtaining identification documents, employment connections, and referrals to housing and support programs.
Cost: Free
First step: Visit 590 Washington Avenue during weekday guest services hours or call 901-730-1736.
Website: https://www.hospitalityhub.org/
MIFA: Housing Stability for Families
MIFA provides screening, referrals, and housing assistance for qualifying Shelby County families.
Eligibility depends on household circumstances and the specific program. Not every applicant will qualify for direct financial assistance.
First step: Call 901-529-4545 or review current housing stability programs online.
Website: https://www.mifa.org/housingstability
Dorothy Day House: Transitional Housing for Families
Dorothy Day House provides transitional housing and supportive services designed to help families experiencing homelessness stay together.
The program focuses on family stability while participants work toward permanent housing.
Cost: Free to families served.
First step: Contact the organization to ask about eligibility, the intake process, and current openings.
Website: https://www.dorothydaymemphis.org/
Catholic Charities of West Tennessee
85 N. Cleveland Street, Memphis
Main housing contact: 901-722-4762
Catholic Charities provides housing-related assessments, support, and referrals for individuals and families, including specialized services for young people and veterans.
Additional contacts:
- Youth housing navigator: 901-722-4729
- Veteran intake: 901-722-4757
Cost: Confirm current program terms.
First step: Call to ask which housing services are available and what information is needed for an assessment.
Website: https://ccwtn.org/
Memphis Public Libraries and LINC 211
Phone: 211
Cost: Free
Memphis Public Libraries and LINC 211 can help connect residents with information about housing, food, utilities, employment, and other assistance.
Library social workers may also help people navigate available resources.
First step: Dial 211 and explain what type of help you need. You can also ask a library branch about social-work services.
When Temperatures Become Dangerous: Emergency Warming Centers
During severe cold weather, Memphis may activate temporary emergency warming centers.
Hospitality Hub participates in emergency warming-center operations when activated. Locations, transportation arrangements, and hours can change depending on weather conditions and official activation plans.
Published Hospitality Hub guidance states that identification is not required for its emergency warming-center services.
First step: Check current City of Memphis and Hospitality Hub announcements before traveling. Call 211 for help locating available resources.
Do not assume a warming center is open simply because temperatures are cold.
Before You Go: Five Questions Worth Asking
When calling a shelter, food pantry, or housing program, consider asking:
- Are you accepting people or applications today?
- Is there a cost, and what are the eligibility requirements?
- Do I need identification, proof of income, or other documents?
- Is the location accessible, and are transportation options available?
- Can you accommodate my household, gender identity, disability-related needs, or service animal?
If one organization cannot assist you, ask whether it can refer you to another program.
How to Help Your Memphis Neighbors
Community support makes many of these programs possible.
Residents who want to help can contact organizations directly about donating food, clothing, hygiene supplies, money, or volunteer time.
Community fridges often need regular donations and maintenance. Housing organizations may need volunteers, financial support, or supplies for people transitioning into stable housing.
Before donating, ask what items are currently needed and whether there are specific drop-off instructions.
Help Us Keep This Memphis Resource Guide Updated
Services, hours, eligibility requirements, and availability can change.
Focus encourages service providers and community members to report incorrect information, closures, or additional resources that should be included.
Report a change: Contact Focus through https://focuslgbt.com.
Last reviewed: November 2, 2026. Individual service details should be reconfirmed before publication.
This guide provides general resource information and does not guarantee shelter placement, food availability, or financial assistance.
