How does Homeless Intake Shelters & Drop-In Centers (DICs) work?

Homeless Intake Centers offer services to help you avoid homelessness, and temporary shelter as a last resort. There are different intake centers for: Single adults (ages 18+) Adult families (without children under 21) Families with children. This includes: families with children younger than 21 pregnant women families with pregnant women Once you’re in shelter, you have certain responsibilities including: Developing a plan to leave shelter and move into permanent housing Applying and maintaining eligibility for Public Assistance Finding and staying in a job if you are able to work Seeking permanent housing and accepting a suitable option Following shelter rules Homeless Drop-In Centers (DICs) offer services to help you transition off the street. Help includes: Hot meals and clothing Showers and laundry facilities Counseling, case management services, and connections to health care, including medical care and mental health care Help finding a job or applying for benefits Help to transition you off the streets if you choose to do so. On-site staff can help you explore transitional housing options. Immigration status is not a consideration for Homeless Intake Centers or Homeless Drop-In Centers. Interpreter assistance is available if you don’t speak English.

Am I eligible for Homeless Intake Shelters & Drop-In Centers (DICs)?

Homeless intake centers Workers will interview you about your living situation to see if you’re eligible for shelter. In some cases, workers might offer you services to help you avoid shelter. Homeless Drop-In Centers Available to everyone.

What do I need in order to apply to Homeless Intake Shelters & Drop-In Centers (DICs)?

When applying at an intake center, it’s best if you bring some documents. Single adults should bring ID. Adult families should bring ID, proof of residence, and proof of relationship. Families with children should bring ID and proof of residence. Below are some kinds of documents you can bring.

How do I Apply to Homeless Intake Shelters & Drop-In Centers (DICs)?

Go to an intake center based on your situation. Bring documents with you. Single Adult Men – 30th Street Intake Center For Men 400-430 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016 (near East 30th Street and 1st Avenue) Take the 6 train to 28th Street. Walk east to 1st Avenue, turn left, and go north to 30th Street. Entrance is now at 30th Street and 1st Avenue. Single Adult Women – Franklin Shelter For Women 1122 Franklin Avenue, Bronx, NY 10456 (near Franklin Avenue and 166th Street) Take the 2 train to 149th Street, followed by the #55 bus to 166th Street and 3rd Avenue. Single Adult Women – HELP Women’s Shelter 116 Williams Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207 (near Williams Avenue and Liberty Avenue) Take the C train to Liberty Avenue. Adult families (no children under 21) – Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC) 400-430 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016 (Near East 30th Street and 1st Avenue) Take the 6 train to 28th Street. Walk east to 1st Avenue, turn left, and head north to 30th Street. Families with children – Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing Office (PATH) 151 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 (near Walton Avenue and East 151st Street) 718-503-6400 Take the 2, 4, or 5 train to 149th Street/Grand Concourse Station. Head west on East 149th Street toward Grand Concourse. Walk north on Grand Concourse two blocks, to East 151st Street and turn left. Walk two blocks to Walton Avenue. The PATH office is located at the corner on your right. Other Options For Drop-In Centers (DICS) , see this list of locations in every borough . For Youth ages 14–24 , learn about Runaway and Homeless Youth Drop-In Centers managed by NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). Contact Homebase if you’re not homeless but are at risk of entering shelter.

Homeless Intake Shelters and Drop-In Centers (DICs)

1. How it Works

Help is available to those experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis.

Homeless Intake Centers offer services to help you avoid homelessness, and temporary shelter as a last resort.

There are different intake centers for:
- Single adults (ages 18+)
- Adult families (without children under 21)
- Families with children. This includes:
  - families with children younger than 21
  - pregnant women
  - families with pregnant women
Once you’re in shelter, you have certain responsibilities including:
- Developing a plan to leave shelter and move into permanent housing
- Applying and maintaining eligibility for Public Assistance
- Finding and staying in a job if you are able to work
- Seeking permanent housing and accepting a suitable option
- Following shelter rules

Homeless Drop-In Centers (DICs) offer services to help you transition off the street.

Help includes:
- Hot meals and clothing
- Showers and laundry facilities
- Counseling, case management services, and connections to health care, including medical care and mental health care
- Help finding a job or applying for benefits
- Help to transition you off the streets if you choose to do so. On-site staff can help you explore transitional housing options.

Immigration status is not a consideration for Homeless Intake Centers or Homeless Drop-In Centers. Interpreter assistance is available if you don’t speak English.

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2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

Homeless intake centers

Workers will interview you about your living situation to see if you’re eligible for shelter.
In some cases, workers might offer you services to help you avoid shelter.

Homeless Drop-In Centers

Available to everyone.

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3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

When applying at an intake center, it’s best if you bring some documents.

Single adults should bring ID.
Adult families should bring ID, proof of residence, and proof of relationship.
Families with children should bring ID and proof of residence.

Below are some kinds of documents you can bring.

The following forms of ID are very helpful during the intake process (but are not required):

Any form of ID with a picture and proof of age, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport or visa, welfare card or green card
Social Security card
Medicaid card, if available
If working, your most recent pay stub

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4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Go to an intake center based on your situation. Bring documents with you.

Single Adult Men – 30th Street Intake Center For Men

400-430 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016
(near East 30th Street and 1st Avenue)

Take the 6 train to 28th Street.
Walk east to 1st Avenue, turn left, and go north to 30th Street.
Entrance is now at 30th Street and 1st Avenue.

Single Adult Women – Franklin Shelter For Women

1122 Franklin Avenue, Bronx, NY 10456
(near Franklin Avenue and 166th Street)

Take the 2 train to 149th Street, followed by the #55 bus to 166th Street and 3rd Avenue.

Single Adult Women – HELP Women’s Shelter

116 Williams Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207
(near Williams Avenue and Liberty Avenue)

Take the C train to Liberty Avenue.

Adult families (no children under 21) – Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC)

400-430 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016
(Near East 30th Street and 1st Avenue)

Take the 6 train to 28th Street.
Walk east to 1st Avenue, turn left, and head north to 30th Street.

Families with children – Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing Office (PATH)

151 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY 10451
(near Walton Avenue and East 151st Street)
718-503-6400

Take the 2, 4, or 5 train to 149th Street/Grand Concourse Station.
Head west on East 149th Street toward Grand Concourse.
Walk north on Grand Concourse two blocks, to East 151st Street and turn left.
Walk two blocks to Walton Avenue. The PATH office is located at the corner on your right.

Other Options

For Drop-In Centers (DICS), see this list of locations in every borough.
For Youth ages 14–24, learn about Runaway and Homeless Youth Drop-In Centers managed by NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).
Contact Homebase if you’re not homeless but are at risk of entering shelter.

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Homeless services and shelters

Homeless Intake Shelters & Drop-In Centers (DICs) | NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS)

1. How it Works

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More ways to get help with this program

2. Determine your eligibility

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3. What you need to include

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4. How to apply

Here are your options.

More ways to get help with this program

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