Emergency Assistance Policy
Our Purpose
The DOT House, Inc. provides limited, short-term emergency assistance to women and families experiencing homelessness, displacement, housing instability, or major life transitions.
The DOT House is not currently a shelter and does not provide ongoing financial assistance. Our goal during this stage of development is to help fill immediate gaps while connecting individuals and families with community resources that may provide longer-term support.
Assistance Is Based on Available Funding
The DOT House is a growing nonprofit currently supported primarily through donations and fundraising.
Submitting an intake form does not guarantee assistance. All requests are reviewed individually and assistance is based on:
• Available funds
• Verification of the emergency or current situation
• Household circumstances and immediate need
• Previous assistance received from The DOT House
• Availability of other community resources
The DOT House reserves the right to approve, partially approve, decline, or modify any request for assistance.
Current Assistance Limits
To ensure that our limited resources can reach as many women and families as possible, the following general limits apply:
Emergency Hotel Assistance
Up to 2 nights, not to exceed $200 per household within a 30-day period.
Food/Grocery Assistance
Up to $75 per household within a 30-day period, depending on household size, circumstances, and available funding.
Transportation Assistance
Up to $50 per household within a 30-day period for approved transportation needs.
Total Emergency Assistance
A household may generally receive no more than $300 in combined financial assistance within a 30-day period.
These amounts are maximum limits and are not guaranteed benefits.
Repeat Requests
The DOT House is designed to provide temporary emergency gap assistance—not continuous or recurring financial support.
Once a household reaches its assistance limit, additional financial assistance will generally not be provided during that 30-day period.
Individuals may still contact The DOT House for resource navigation, referrals, and information about other community programs.
Repeated requests for emergency assistance may require additional verification and/or documentation showing a significant change in circumstances.
Verification Requirements
Before financial assistance is approved, The DOT House may request verification from a:
• Case manager or social worker
• Shelter or housing program
• Community agency
• Employer
• Hotel or temporary lodging provider
• Other professional or organization familiar with the applicant's circumstances
Additional documentation may be requested when necessary. Failure to provide requested verification may result in the request being declined.
How Assistance May Be Provided
Whenever possible, The DOT House may make payments directly to the hotel, vendor, transportation provider, grocery provider, or other approved service provider rather than providing cash directly to the individual requesting assistance.
Gift cards or other approved forms of assistance may be used when direct payment is not practical.
Exceptional Circumstances
The DOT House recognizes that every situation is different. In extraordinary circumstances, the Executive Director may authorize an exception to the standard assistance limits when:
• An immediate health or safety concern exists;
• Additional assistance would reasonably prevent homelessness or displacement;
• Confirmed permanent or stable housing is imminent; or
• Another documented circumstance warrants additional assistance.
Exceptions are dependent upon available funding and should not be considered a guarantee of future assistance.
Fair Use of Limited Resources
Our responsibility is not only to the person requesting assistance today, but also to the next woman or family who may need help tomorrow. For this reason, The DOT House must establish reasonable limits on financial assistance.
We ask applicants to understand that declining an additional request does not mean that their circumstances are unimportant. It means that our organization must responsibly distribute limited donated funds among the women and families seeking help.
Important Notice
The DOT House, Inc.:
• Is not currently an emergency shelter
• Does not guarantee hotel placement or housing
• Does not provide unlimited or ongoing financial assistance
• Cannot guarantee same-day assistance
• May refer applicants to other community organizations when their needs exceed our available resources
If you are experiencing an immediate emergency or are in danger, please contact the appropriate emergency or crisis services.
Applicant Acknowledgment
By submitting a Request for Assistance form, applicants acknowledge that they have reviewed and understand The DOT House Emergency Assistance Policy and understand that submitting a request does not guarantee financial assistance.
The DOT House, Inc.
Love • Hope • Renewal