Emergency Housing and Shelter Resources in Sumner County

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For emergency housing or shelter referrals in Sumner County, call 211 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central, or use 211 online 24/7. After hours, text your ZIP code to 898-211, call 615-279-1410 or 800-318-9335. Good Neighbor Mission handles temporary emergency shelter referrals at 615-452-7337. HomeSafe’s confidential helpline is 615-452-4315 for domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Gallatin CARES may help with short-term assistance at 330 N Durham Avenue, Gallatin, 615-452-5732.

If you need a safe place tonight, use the resource that matches your situation rather than calling agencies at random. Call 911 for immediate danger, a medical emergency or a crime in progress. For homelessness, housing loss or shelter referrals, call 211 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central. United Way’s online 211 search is available 24/7. After hours, text your ZIP code to 898-211, call 615-279-1410 or call 800-318-9335.

For temporary emergency shelter in the Gallatin area, call Good Neighbor Mission at 615-452-7337 before traveling. If domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking is involved, call HomeSafe’s confidential helpline at 615-452-4315. Gallatin CARES may be able to help with short-term financial needs at 330 N Durham Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066, phone 615-452-5732.

This Sumner County guide is for residents in crisis, families and advocates. Services may have eligibility rules, limited capacity or event-specific activation requirements, so call ahead whenever it is safe to do so.

If you need a safe place tonight

Immediate danger or medical emergency

Call 911 if someone is threatening you, you are injured, a child is in immediate danger, or you need police, fire or ambulance response. The Sumner County Emergency Communications Center identifies 911 as the number for emergency police, fire and medical response. Its published non-emergency number is 615-451-3838.

Do not delay an emergency call while searching for a shelter bed. Tell the dispatcher your current location, whether children or pets are with you, whether anyone is injured, and whether weapons or immediate threats are present.

Homelessness or loss of housing

Start with 211 if you need help identifying a shelter, housing program, transportation option or other local service. United Way of Sumner County describes 211 as a free and confidential referral service covering housing, shelter, food, transportation, health services, domestic-violence help and other crisis resources. Live information-and-referral specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.

For help outside those hours, use United Way’s online search, text your ZIP code to 898-211, call 615-279-1410, or call 800-318-9335. These options are important if you are trying to find help at night or on a weekend.

You can also call Good Neighbor Mission at 615-452-7337. The City of Gallatin identifies Good Neighbor Mission as serving Sumner County with temporary emergency shelter and supportive services for homeless families and individuals.

Domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking

If you are fleeing violence, do not publish or share your location if doing so could increase your risk. Call HomeSafe’s helpline at 615-452-4315. United Way’s current partner listing says HomeSafe provides residential and nonresidential services, including emergency shelter, crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, counseling, case management and referrals. Its services are free and confidential through the helpline.

Do not seek out a confidential shelter address without instructions from HomeSafe. If calling could be unsafe, ask a trusted person, advocate, law-enforcement officer or 911 dispatcher to help you make contact.

Disaster-related evacuation or sheltering

For severe weather, flooding, winter weather or another disaster, check the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s sheltering information and follow local emergency-management instructions. TEMA lists storm shelters, overnight shelters, warming centers, cooling centers and evacuation centers. It says days and hours may vary, so readers should check the notes for the specific location.

Do not assume that a shelter listed for a previous storm is open now. A facility may be activated only for a specific event, and local authorities may change the location or hours.

Step-by-step: How to request emergency housing

1. Identify the immediate need. Say whether you need a place tonight, help avoiding eviction, protection from violence, disaster shelter, transportation, medical support or help for a child.
2. Give your current location. A ZIP code, city or nearby landmark helps the referral worker search for resources serving your part of Sumner County.
3. Explain the household. State how many adults and children need help, whether anyone is pregnant, elderly or disabled, and whether you have a service animal or pet.
4. Ask about intake before traveling. Confirm whether the program is accepting referrals, whether it has space, what time to arrive, and whether identification or other documents are required.
5. Ask for a backup plan. If the first program is full or does not serve your household, request the next available shelter, transportation option, motel-assistance program or countywide referral.
6. Write down the information. Record the agency name, phone number, address or meeting location, appointment time and required documents.
7. Call back if circumstances change. Tell the agency if you lose transportation, receive an eviction notice, become unsafe, develop a medical need or are separated from a child.

Sumner County emergency housing and shelter resources

Resource — Best starting point for — Contact or official information — Important note

United Way 211 — Countywide housing, shelter and human-service referrals — Dial 211 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT; after hours use online search, text 898-211, 615-279-1410 or 800-318-9335 — Ask for current Sumner County options.

Good Neighbor Mission — Homeless families and individuals seeking temporary emergency shelter — 615-452-7337 — Call before traveling to ask about intake and current availability.

HomeSafe — Domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking — 615-452-4315 — Confidential emergency shelter and advocacy; do not seek out a confidential shelter address.

Gallatin CARES — Short-term relief and economic assistance in Gallatin and surrounding Sumner County — 330 N Durham Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066; 615-452-5732 — Ask whether current funds can address rent, utilities or another urgent need.

Gallatin Housing Authority — Public housing or longer-term subsidized housing — 401 N Boyers Avenue; 615-452-1661 — The authority says it is not set up for emergency housing; applicants are drawn from a waiting list as units become available.

TEMA shelter information — Storm, winter-weather, warming, cooling or evacuation shelter information — Tennessee Emergency Management Agency sheltering page — Locations and operating conditions can change by event.

Good Neighbor Mission

Good Neighbor Mission is a local starting point for people experiencing homelessness who need temporary shelter. The City of Gallatin lists the organization as serving Sumner County, including Gallatin, Hendersonville and Portland, with temporary emergency shelter and supportive services.

Because a public listing does not establish current bed availability, call 615-452-7337 before going in person. Ask whether the program currently accepts individuals, families with children, or both; whether there is a wait; and whether another agency should make the referral.

United Way 211

211 is useful when you do not know which agency handles your situation. Call Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central to speak with a trained information-and-referral specialist. Online searching is available 24/7. After hours, text your ZIP code to 898-211, call 615-279-1410 or call 800-318-9335.

Use direct language: “I am in Sumner County and need emergency housing tonight,” or “I am at risk of losing housing and need rent or utility assistance.” Ask the specialist to search by your current ZIP code and household needs.

HomeSafe

HomeSafe serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in Sumner County. Its listed services include emergency shelter, safety planning, crisis intervention, counseling, case management and court or law-enforcement advocacy. The helpline is 615-452-4315, and United Way identifies the service as free and confidential.

If you are calling for someone else, explain that when you speak with the advocate. Do not leave identifying information in a voicemail unless you know it is safe to do so.

Gallatin CARES and short-term assistance

Gallatin CARES lists its current contact location as 330 N Durham Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066, with phone number 615-452-5732. Its official contact page lists the same address and phone number.

The City of Gallatin and United Way describe Gallatin CARES as a source of short-term or emergency assistance for people experiencing financial hardship. Contact the organization before traveling to ask about current funding, eligibility, required paperwork and whether an appointment is needed.

Gallatin Housing Authority

The Gallatin Housing Authority is not an emergency shelter. Its official emergency-housing page says applicants are pulled from a waiting list as units become available. The office is listed at 401 N Boyers Avenue in Gallatin, with a main phone number of 615-452-1661 and lobby hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Apply to the waiting list if you need longer-term subsidized housing, but use 211 or an emergency shelter referral for an immediate housing crisis.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency shelter information

TEMA maintains statewide shelter information for facilities established by local counties. The page’s categories include storm shelters, overnight shelters, warming centers, cooling centers and evacuation centers. TEMA advises users to review the notes for each location because hours and operating details vary.

Use this resource during an active weather or disaster situation—not as a substitute for a permanent homeless shelter or domestic-violence program.

What to gather before calling

Gather whatever you safely have, but do not delay a safety call because you lack paperwork. Helpful information may include:

• Names and ages of everyone needing shelter
• Current location and a safe callback number
• Identification, Social Security numbers or benefit information, if available
• Eviction notice, utility-disconnection notice or other housing documents
• Medication list and medical or mobility needs
• School or childcare information for children
• Service-animal or pet information
• Preferred language and interpretation needs
• Whether transportation is available

Programs may require different information. Ask the agency what is actually needed rather than assuming you must produce every document before receiving help.

Special considerations for families, children, pets and disabilities

Tell the referral worker about children, pregnancy, mobility limitations, medical equipment, medication, service animals and pets during the first call. These details can affect which programs are appropriate and whether transportation or additional planning is needed.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. If the issue is homelessness without immediate danger, ask 211 or the shelter referral agency specifically for family options. Do not assume that an adult-only shelter can accept children.

For language assistance, request an interpreter when you call 211 or a local agency. The City of Gallatin identifies United Way 211 as offering tele-interpreter and Spanish-speaking support.

What to do if the first option is full

A full shelter is not the end of the process. Ask the person answering the phone to:

• Search the entire Sumner County service area rather than only Gallatin
• Identify the next available family, individual or domestic-violence placement
• Check whether transportation or a same-day referral is available
• Connect you with rent, utility or eviction-prevention assistance
• Tell you when to call back and what circumstances could change the referral
• Provide an official disaster-shelter option if severe weather is the immediate concern

If you are outside in dangerous heat, cold, flooding or severe weather, tell 211 or emergency responders exactly where you are and what conditions you face. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 instead of waiting for a referral.

Last verified and next steps

Last verified: August 16, 2026. This guide was checked against the City of Gallatin’s social-services page, Gallatin CARES’ current contact page, United Way of Sumner County, Gallatin Housing Authority, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Sumner County Emergency Communications Center and Sumner County’s resident-resources page.

Because shelter capacity, intake rules, funding and disaster activation can change quickly, call the responsible agency before traveling.

For the fastest starting point:

1. 911 for immediate danger, injury or an emergency.
2. HomeSafe: 615-452-4315 for domestic-violence shelter and advocacy.
3. 211 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT; after hours use online search, text 898-211, 615-279-1410 or 800-318-9335.
4. Good Neighbor Mission: 615-452-7337 for temporary emergency shelter referrals.
5. Gallatin CARES: 615-452-5732 at 330 N Durham Avenue for possible short-term economic assistance.
6. TEMA’s sheltering page for activated storm, warming, cooling or evacuation shelters.

For broader local help, browse the [Community Support & Essential Help resources](/search?q=Community%20Support%20%26%20Essential%20Help) and [Gallatin government and civic services](/search?q=Gallatin%20government%20civic%20services). Sumner County also maintains a resident-resources page with municipal contacts and local service information.