Learn more about the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Contact List

This page explains what the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter Contact List is, how it works and what to do after you are found EA eligible.

The state is not able to expand shelter capacity. The contact list is used when the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter system does not have enough space or funding to shelter every eligible family. This page explains how the Contact List works, the EA Family Shelter Tracks, and what to do after you are found EA eligible.

What is the EA Family Shelter Contact List?

If there is no longer space in the EA Family Shelter System, you may be placed on the EA Family Shelter Contact List. The Contact List is the order we contact EA eligible families for placement in EA Family Shelter if there is no capacity. Your spot on the Contact List will depend on when you were found eligible and your shelter track. here are two shelter tracks, the Rapid Shelter Track and the Bridge Shelter Track (defined below).

• The Rapid Shelter Track is for families who may be able to quickly find permanent housing with high intensity support. Families can stay in shelter for 30 business days.
• The Bridge Shelter Track is for families with more challenging needs who may require other types of support before finding permanent housing. Families can stay in shelter for 9 months. 

What determines the order of the EA Contact List?

The order of the EA Contact List is based on when your family was found EA eligible and your family’s needs and risks. Your family’s needs and risks will also inform which EA shelter track your family is placed in. To determine this, each EA eligible family will complete a Needs/Risk assessment during the application process which includes a Clinical and Safety Risk Screening. This helps identify the shelter track for families and depending on capacity, the order of the Contact List. More information is below.

Needs/Risk Criteria

Starting December 10, 2024, your family will be placed on tracks based on priority criteria.

The Bridge Shelter Track placements and the order of the contact list will be for based on the following priority 1, 2, 3 criteria if:

1. You have certain medical needs that meet EA priority criteria:

• Family member aged 0-9 months
• Family member with high-risk pregnancy
• Family member in 3rd trimester of pregnancy
• Family member with immunocompromised condition
• Family member with medical device
• Family member with three or more chronic conditions
• Family member with medications requiring refrigeration
• Family with primary caregiver aged 70 years or more
• Family member who has an intellectual or developmental disability

2. You are at risk of domestic violence,
3. You received a DCF Health and Safety Assessment that identified a risk of harm,
4. You are homeless because of fire, flood, or other disasters,
5. You are homeless from a “no-fault eviction”,
6. You have at least one family member who is a veteran, or
7. You are leaving a DCF Young Parent Living Program due to age limits
8. Families who have similar needs and/or risks will be ranked on the EA Contact List based on when they were found eligible if there is not capacity in the Bridge Shelter Track.

The Rapid Shelter Track placements and the order of the contact list will be for families who do not meet the above criteria and are Priority 4 and may be able to quickly find permanent housing with high intensity support.

To learn more, read EA Guidance on Contact List and Prioritization Procedures.

Can I change tracks within EA Family Shelter?

Once your family has been assigned to a shelter track, you cannot change this track unless you are reassessed because of a significant change to family status (like a health condition). Families should report any changes as soon as possible. 

If you have a change that may impact your priority or eligibility:

Call us at [phone] 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed weekends and state holidays) in the following situations:

• If there has been a change in your health condition
• If there has been a change that may impact your priority or eligibility  

What’s next after my family is found eligible for EA Family Shelter?

If your family found eligible for EA Family Shelter, you will be placed onto one of two tracks. If you are eligible, you will receive a list of documents you need to provide. You will have 30 days to provide all documents. These documents will verify your eligibility.

*IMPORTANT* If you do not give the state all documents needed within 30 days, you will be denied from the EA Family Shelter program and may be removed from the Contact List if there is one. Please continue to work with staff helping you apply to make sure you have given us all documents. 

If there is a space in your track, your family will be contacted by the state.

If there is not space in your track, your family will be placed on the EA Contact List. You will be placed on the EA Family Shelter Contact List based on your priority number. All families will need to continue to work with their Homeless Coordinator (the person helping you to apply for EA) while they wait for a space in their EA Shelter track.

We have specific sites where families that meet priority criteria may be able to stay while they are on the Contact List and waiting for shelter placement. These are called Clinical and Safety Risk Assessment sites. Your Homeless Coordinator (the person helping you apply for EA) will tell you if you meet the priority criteria and can stay at one of these sites if space is available.  

How can I confirm I am on the EA Family Shelter Contact List?

To confirm you are on the EA Contact List, call [phone] 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed on weekends and state holidays). 

How long will I need to wait for shelter if I am on the Contact List?

Shelter units are limited, and eligible families are put on the EA Family Shelter Contact List until there is availability in their respective shelter track. Your priority number and shelter track will determine how long you may have to wait. Even once you are placed, please note EA Family Shelter is temporary and not permanent housing and is limited in most cases to either 30 business days on the Rapid Shelter Track or 9 months on the Bridge Shelter Track. Families in EA must be engaged with case management and housing search efforts and follow shelter rules to stay in the program.

Once I'm on the Contact List, how will I know if a unit becomes available?

The state will call, email and text you that shelter is available for you. Please make sure we have your U.S. cell phone number and email.

To accept your space in shelter:

• You have until 12pm the NEXT business day to respond.
• For example: You get a call, email, and text at 11am on Monday. To get placed, you must call OR email OR text back by Tuesday at 12pm

If you do not respond by 12pm the next business day:

• The state will go to the next person on the Contact List.
• You will NOT be removed from the Contact List or lose your spot in line for not responding in time the first time.
• You will NOT be removed from the Contact List or lose your spot in line for not responding in time the first time. HOWEVER, you will be terminated from the program if you are offered a shelter spot three times and do not respond by 12pm the next day each time. You can reapply immediately.

How will I get to the shelter?

Most families will need to arrive at the shelter with their things by 5pm.

You can only bring two bags per person. Each bag can only be about the size of a large suitcase.

If you need help getting to shelter, the state will help you get a ride. You must be ready to be picked up as soon as possible after the ride has been confirmed.  

Resources that may help you while you're on the Contact List

Resources for EA Eligible Families