Need help with housing? Union County residents who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of losing their housing, or having difficulty maintaining stable housing may be eligible for assistance. Services vary based on eligibility, household circumstances, program availability, and available funding.
Help Available
Housing-related assistance may include:
- Emergency Shelter – Temporary shelter and connections to supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
- Homelessness Prevention – Assistance and case management for households at risk of losing their current housing.
- Rental & Back-Rent Assistance – Financial assistance may be available to eligible households experiencing a housing crisis.
- Security Deposit Assistance – Assistance with a security deposit may be available to help eligible individuals and families secure permanent housing.
- Housing Search & Placement – Help identifying available housing, completing rental applications, understanding leases, addressing housing barriers, and connecting with landlords.
- Rapid Re-Housing & Supportive Housing – Eligible individuals and families experiencing homelessness may be connected to programs designed to help them obtain and maintain stable housing.
- Emergency Assistance (EA) – Eligible recipients of TANF, General Assistance, or SSI may qualify for certain emergency housing-related services through the Division of Social Services. Union County DSS administers Emergency Assistance among its public-benefit programs.
Where to Start
Not sure which housing program is right for you? Contact the Union County Department of Human Services Action Line at 908-677-5405 or DHSAction@ucnj.org. Our team can help connect you with available County programs and community resources based on your needs.
Residents may also contact or be referred to local housing and homelessness providers, including Elizabeth Coalition Homeless and Family Promise Union County. Union County’s resource guide also identifies organizations such as Catholic Charities, PROCEED, the Urban League of Union County, Community Access Unlimited, Plainfield Action Services, local housing authorities, and other community partners as potential resources for rental, security-deposit, shelter, and related housing assistance.
Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers
The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program provides rental assistance to eligible low-income households. Waiting lists open and close based on capacity and funding. Union County’s most recent 2026 waiting-list opening reached capacity and is currently closed, so residents should check for future announcements rather than assuming applications are continuously available.
If You Are Experiencing a Housing Emergency
If you are currently homeless, facing an immediate loss of housing, or need emergency shelter, contact the Union County DHS Action Line at 908-677-5405 for assistance and referrals. Union County’s Continuum of Care coordinates emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, street outreach, rapid re-housing, and supportive housing resources throughout the County.
Please Note: Eligibility and availability vary by program. Financial assistance and housing placement are not guaranteed and may depend on funding, household eligibility, documentation, and available housing or shelter capacity.
Visit the Union County Homeless & Housing Continuum of Care website
Non-Profit Partners
The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Department of Human Services announce the Union County Homeless & At-Risk of Homelessness Chart of Services.
Please be aware that the availability of any service described on this page is contingent upon each client’s program eligibility, as well as sufficient funding. Inclusion of any agency or organization does NOT imply endorsement of its purpose, NOR does omission imply disapproval of any entity.
Emergency Shelter
- Elizabeth Coalition (motel/hotel): (908) 355-2060
- Family Promise: (908) 289-7300
- Gateway Family YMCA: (908) 355-9622
- The Salvation Army – Elizabeth: (908) 352-7057
Transitional Housing
- Community Access Unlimited: (908) 354-3040
- PROCEED: (908) 351-7727
Permanent/Supportive Housing
- Bridgeway Rehab Services: (908) 289-7330
- Community Access Unlimited: (908) 354-3040
- Elizabeth Coalition: (908) 355-2060
- Gateway Family YMCA: (908) 355-9622
- Volunteers of America: (908) 827-2440
- YWCA Union County: (908) 355-4357
Utility Assistance
- Catholic Charities: (908) 497-3966
- PROCEED: (908) 351-7727
- The Salvation Army – Elizabeth: (908) 352-7057
Rental Assistance
- Catholic Charities: (908) 497-3966
- Community Access: (908) 354-3040
- Elizabeth Coalition: (908) 355-2060
- Family Promise: (908) 289-7300
- PROCEED: (908) 351-7727
- The Salvation Army – Elizabeth: (908) 352-7057
- Urban League of Union County: (908) 351-7200
Mortgage/Foreclosure Assistance
- Faith, Bricks, & Mortar: (908) 756-5774
- Urban League of Union County: (908) 351-7200
Security Assistance
- Catholic Charities: (908) 497-3966
- PROCEED: (908) 351-7727
Food Assistance
- Catholic Charities: (908) 497-3966
- Community Access Unlimited: (908) 354-3040
- Elizabethport Presbyterian Center: (908) 351-4850
- PROCEED: (908) 351-7727
- The Salvation Army – Plainfield: (908) 756-2595
- Urban League of Union County: (908) 351-7200
Statewide Homeless Hotline
- Dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-652-1148
Case Management / Information & Referral
- Bridgeway House: (908) 289-7330
- Catholic Charities: (908) 497-3966
- Central Jersey Legal Services: (908) 354-4340
- Community Access Unlimited: (908) 354-3040
- Community Health Law Project: (908) 355-8282
- Elizabeth Coalition: (908) 355-2060
- Family & Children’s Services: (908) 352-7474
- Family Promise: (908) 289-7300
- Gateway Family YMCA: (908) 355-9622
- Jefferson Park Ministries: (908) 469-9508
- Jewish Family Service: (908) 352-8375
- Plainfield Action Services: (908) 753-3519
- PROCEED: (908) 351-7727
- Raphael’s Life House: (908) 354-4750
- The Salvation Army – Elizabeth: (908) 352-7057
- The Salvation Army – Plainfield: (908) 756-2595
- United Family & Children’s Society: (908) 755-4848
- United Way of Greater Union County: (908) 353-7171
- Urban League of Union County: (908) 351-7200
- YWCA Union County: (908) 355-4357
Additional Resources
- Union County Code Blue Homeless Emergency Shelter Initiative: ucnj.org/dhs/code-blue/
- New Jersey 2-1-1: (877) 652-1148 — nj211.org/Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. NJ 2-1-1 connects you to local services, community resources, and government assistance. All calls are free and confidential.Multilingual Call Specialists provide comprehensive information and referral services about a variety of issues, including:
- Basic Human Needs Resources
- Support for Seniors & Persons with Disabilities
- Support for Children, Youth and Families
- Physical and Mental Health Resources
- Employment Supports
- NJ Helps: njhelps.org
- New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition: alliancetoendhunger.org
- NJ Housing Resource Center: njhrc.gov
- Legal Services of NJ: lsnjlaw.org/
- NJ Self-Help Group Clearinghouse: njgroups.org/
- Anti-Poverty Network of NJ: antipovertynetwork.org/
- NJ Department of Human Services: state.nj.us/humanservices/
- NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency: nj.gov/dca/hmfa/
- NJ FamilyCare (health insurance program): njfamilycare.org
- Affordable Care Act (health insurance program): healthcare.gov
- NJ Community Resources: panjcommunityresources.info/nj-community-resources
- NJ Department of Human Services: state.nj.us/humanservices
- NJ Department of Community Affairs – Division of Housing & Community Resources: state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/index.shtml
- Online Application for NJ Health and Social Services: oneapp.dhs.state.nj.us/
The online screening takes approximately 10–15 minutes. The information you provide is private and confidential.
More Information
For more information about these services in Union County and/or additional copies of the flyer, please contact the Union County Department of Human Services Action Line:
- Phone: (908) 677-5405
- Email: DHSaction@ucnj.org