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Is calling 211 in Florida really free?

Use the free tool — Food & Shelter Tonight

Is calling 211 in Florida really free?

Yes. Calling 211 is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, in any language. It does not cost anything, even from a phone with no minutes or plan left, and you do not have to give your name. Learn more at 211.org.

What 211 can help with tonight

211 is the one call that knows what's open in your county tonight. It can point you toward food, shelter, and other help near you, right now.

• Say your ZIP code first.
• Say what you need — a meal, a bed, somewhere cool, diapers, or help for a pet.
• Ask directly: "What's open near me tonight?"

Other finders you can use yourself

211 is the fastest way to get a person on the phone, but you can also search these finders directly:

• Feeding Florida's Find Food lists partner pantries and mobile distributions by county.
• HUD's Find Shelter lists emergency shelter, food, health care, and clothing near a ZIP code.
• findhelp.org lists food, housing, transit, health, and legal programs by ZIP, with hours where a program has posted them.

If you or your family are in danger right now

If someone is hurting you at home, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline first, not 211: 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. It is free and available 24/7. Domestic violence shelters are confidential and do not appear in public finders like 211 or Feeding Florida. If your phone shares your location, be careful — someone could see where you've been, so consider turning that off before you call or text. Learn more at thehotline.org.

If you have children with you, 211 can tell you which shelters are taking families tonight. Families are generally kept together in family shelters. Neither 211 nor this page can promise you a specific bed — only a phone call can confirm what's available tonight.

If you are a veteran, the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans is also free and available 24/7: 1-877-424-3838. Learn more at VA.gov.

If you are in immediate physical danger, call 911.

What we don't know

We cannot see what's open near you tonight, and no finder or hotline can promise a bed or a meal before you call. Hours change without notice. Always confirm by phone before you travel. This page is not legal or medical advice — call 211 or check with a professional for your specific situation.

What to do next

The free Food & Shelter Tonight tool asks for your ZIP code and what you need — a meal, a bed, somewhere cool, diapers, a place that takes your dog — and reads your own situation to give you a plan: who to call first, the exact words to say, and the finders that list what's actually open near you. It's free, no account, and nothing you type is stored.

Food & Shelter Tonight does not know what is open near you tonight and never names a specific shelter or pantry; it gives you the hotlines and finders that do, and a plan for using them. Confirm by phone before you travel. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Nothing you type is stored.