Applying for Shelter
Before You Apply
To apply for shelter, you need to:
Have an account - If you don't have one yet, see Creating Your Account
Complete household setup - After logging in, finish all 3 steps of Setting Up Your Household
Not already applied today - You can only submit one application per day
Important Alerts
When you open the application form, you'll see two important messages:
Emergency Warning (Red):
"If you are in danger or having a medical emergency, please call 911. This line is not for emergencies."
Application Limit (Blue):
"You can only submit one inquiry per day. All eligible shelter providers will see your application."
The Application Form
Your Information (Pre-filled)
The form displays your information from your profile:
Primary Contact Name
Email
Phone
Selected Shelter
Required Questions
1. Where did you sleep last night? (Required)
Car
Street
Friend or Family
Fleeing Domestic Violence
Other
2. Which county did you last live in? (Optional)
Oakland County
Wayne County
Macomb County
Livingston County
Genesee County
St. Clair County
Monroe County
Other
3. Additional Notes (Optional)
A text box where you can add any additional information about your housing needs.
Verification Checkboxes
Depending on the shelter type, you may see:
For Adult-Only Shelters (18+):
☐ "I confirm that all household members seeking shelter are 18 years of age or older."
For Family Shelters:
☐ "I confirm that our family has children and is seeking family shelter."
For All Applications (Required):
☐ "By clicking on the box you provide your consent for Shelter Oakland to share your information with Oakland County shelter providers for the purpose of locating an available shelter bed."
Submitting Your Application
Fill in "Where did you sleep last night"
Check all required boxes
Click Submit Application
You'll see a loading spinner while it processes. If successful, you'll receive confirmation.
Priority Scoring
Your application receives a priority score based on your circumstances:
Sleeping on the street / unsheltered
Highest
Living in a car / vehicle
High
Fleeing domestic violence / abuse
High
Facing eviction / losing home
Medium-High
Staying with friends / family
Medium
Other situations
Standard
Applying multiple times in a short period may also increase your priority score.
Shelters use this score to help prioritize who gets beds first. People in the most urgent situations are prioritized.
What Happens Next
Your application goes to all eligible shelter providers (not just one)
Shelter staff review applications based on availability and priority
You'll be notified via email or text when there's an update
If approved, follow the shelter's instructions to check in
Common Issues
"Please complete your household information"
You haven't finished the 3-step household setup
Go to your Profile or start the household setup process
"You can only submit one inquiry per day"
You've already applied today
Wait until tomorrow to apply again
Check your Applications page to see your current application
Required checkbox not checked
Make sure you've checked the information sharing consent box
Check any age/family verification boxes if shown
Last updated