A Sacred Network of Mutual Aid
Mississippi
Resources & Refuge
"You are not alone. Whatever has brought you here, there is help across the Magnolia State — from Jackson to the Gulf Coast to the Delta. Shelter, food, healing, and hands ready to hold yours. Begin wherever you need to."
Immediate Help in Mississippi
Find Help Now
Real, currently operating resources across Mississippi. Choose a path below — each holds verified shelters, programs, and organizations ready to help today.
The Sanctuary
Emergency shelter and a safe place to rest across Mississippi.
Stewpot Community Services
City: Jackson
Services: Community kitchen, food pantry, emergency shelter for women and children, the Opportunity Center day shelter, and housing assistance
Notes: The Opportunity Center becomes an overnight warming shelter when temperatures fall below 35°F.
Gateway Rescue Mission
City: Jackson
Services: Emergency shelter and meals for men, plus recovery programs (faith-based)
Notes: A clean bed, nutritious meals, and recovery support. Affiliated programs serve women and children.
Address: 410 S Gallatin St, Jackson, MS 39201
Website: gatewaymission.org
The Salvation Army — Jackson
City: Jackson
Services: Adult emergency shelter, meals, and assistance
Notes: A boarding fee usually applies, but it's waived during inclement weather. Call ahead for availability.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Back Bay Mission
City: Biloxi (Gulf Coast)
Services: Emergency assistance, a day center, micro-housing, and meals on the Gulf Coast
Notes: Meets emergency needs and helps people begin their journey out of poverty.
Address: 1016 Division St, Biloxi, MS 39530
Website: thebackbaymission.org
Open Doors Homeless Coalition
City: Gulf Coast (6 counties)
Services: Coordinated entry to shelter and housing programs across the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Notes: The front door to housing help on the Coast. Connects you to the right program.
Website: opendoorshc.org
Mississippi 211 — Shelter Help
City: Statewide
Services: 24/7 help finding a shelter bed or warming center anywhere in Mississippi
Notes: Dial 211 to be connected to your local Continuum of Care and the nearest open shelter.
Phone: Dial 211
No safe place tonight? Dial 211 any time. In winter, Jackson and other cities open warming shelters when temperatures drop — 211 has the current locations.
Bread of Life
Food banks, pantries, and hot meals across Mississippi.
Mississippi Food Network
City: Central Mississippi (56 counties)
Services: The state's largest food bank, supporting hundreds of partner pantries; online pantry finder
Notes: Use the "Get Help" map to find a pantry near you in central Mississippi.
Website: msfoodnet.org/help
Feeding the Gulf Coast
City: South Mississippi
Services: Food distribution for the southern counties — Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone, George, Greene, Perry
Notes: Call to find a partner agency or mobile pantry near you.
Phone: 228-896-6979
Website: feedingthegulfcoast.org
Mid-South Food Bank
City: North Mississippi / Delta
Services: Food distribution for the northern counties — DeSoto, Tunica, Coahoma, Panola, Lafayette, Lee, and more
Notes: Use the Find Food map for the nearest pantry.
Phone: 901-527-0841
Website: midsouthfoodbank.org
Stewpot Community Kitchen
City: Jackson
Services: Hot lunch served every day of the year, plus a food pantry and Meals on Wheels
Notes: All are welcome at the table. See The Sanctuary for full details.
Phone: 601-353-2759
Address: 1100 W. Capitol St, Jackson, MS 39203
SNAP stretches further than any pantry — see The Providence to apply, and you can use a shelter as your address. Mississippi's three food banks together cover all 82 counties.
The Healing Hand
Free and low-cost clinics, behavioral health, and care for people without stable housing.
Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center
City: Jackson & central MS
Services: Community health center — primary care, dental, pediatrics, and behavioral health on a sliding scale
Notes: A federally qualified health center serving everyone regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
Phone: Dial 211 for the nearest site
Coastal Family Health Center
City: Gulf Coast
Services: Medical, dental, and behavioral health care across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, sliding scale
Notes: Serves the coast regardless of ability to pay.
Website: coastalfamilyhealth.org
Community Health Centers (FQHCs)
City: Statewide
Services: Sliding-scale primary, dental, and behavioral health care regardless of ability to pay
Notes: Health centers serve every region of Mississippi. Dial 211 to find the nearest.
Phone: Dial 211
Mississippi Medicaid
City: Statewide
Services: Health coverage for eligible children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities
Notes: Apply through the Division of Medicaid. A caseworker can help determine eligibility.
Website: medicaid.ms.gov
For a mental-health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988 anytime — free, confidential, 24/7.
The Haven
Safe places to shelter from extreme weather, plus guidance on camping in Mississippi.
Cold-Weather Warming Shelters
City: Statewide (winter)
Services: Emergency overnight warming shelters opened by cities and churches during freezing weather
Notes: In Jackson, Stewpot's Opportunity Center opens overnight when temps fall below 35°F, and the city has opened larger sites like Champion's Gym during storms. Dial 211 for the nearest.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Street Outreach
City: Jackson & Gulf Coast
Services: Outreach workers who meet people in encampments and connect them to shelter, services, and storms-warning support
Notes: The Central Mississippi and Gulf Coast Continuums of Care coordinate outreach. Request it through 211.
Phone: Dial 211
Camping & Encampments — Know Before You Stay
City: Statewide
Services: Guidance on where it is and isn't legal to sleep outdoors in Mississippi
Notes: Rules vary by city, and encampments are sometimes cleared. Before settling somewhere, check with local outreach or 211, and see Rights & Laws below.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Mississippi heat and winter storms can both be dangerous outdoors. If you have nowhere safe to go, call 211 — they'll find the nearest shelter or warming site.
Living Waters
Showers, laundry, mail, and personal-care access through day centers.
Stewpot Opportunity Center
City: Jackson
Services: Day shelter with showers, laundry, mail service, phone and computer access, toiletries, coffee, and case management
Notes: A daytime "home base" connecting people to housing, jobs, health care, and more.
Shower Power
City: Jackson
Services: Mobile shower and hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness
Notes: One of Jackson's key partners providing dignity and clean facilities on the street. Locations vary — ask via 211 or Stewpot.
Phone: Dial 211 for schedule
Back Bay Mission Day Center
City: Biloxi
Services: Day center with basic needs, hygiene support, meals, and emergency assistance on the Gulf Coast
Notes: A welcoming place to meet immediate needs and connect to help.
Address: 1016 Division St, Biloxi, MS 39530
Website: thebackbaymission.org
Hygiene and laundry access shifts by site and season. 211 keeps the most current list of open day centers and mobile services near you.
The Guardian
Free civil legal aid — your rights around housing, eviction, benefits, and safety.
Mississippi Center for Legal Services
City: Central & South MS (43 counties)
Services: Free civil legal aid — housing, eviction, benefits, family, and consumer issues
Notes: Call the intake hotline Mon–Thu, 9:30am–3:30pm. Offices in Jackson, Vicksburg, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Natchez, and more.
Phone: 1-800-519-2915
Website: mscenterforlegalservices.org
North Mississippi Rural Legal Services
City: North MS (39 counties)
Services: Free civil legal representation — family, housing, elder law, domestic violence, foreclosure, and consumer
Notes: Serves the northern counties. Call the intake hotline to start.
Phone: 1-800-898-8731
Website: nmrls.com
Mission First Legal Aid Office
City: Jackson (Hinds, Madison, Rankin)
Services: Free legal help with housing, landlord/tenant, expungement, custody, and estate matters
Notes: Serves the three-county Jackson metro.
Phone: 601-608-0056
Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project
City: Statewide
Services: Free pro bono civil legal help — divorces, guardianships, wills, name changes, and more
Notes: Matches low-income Mississippians with volunteer attorneys statewide.
Phone: 601-960-9577
Website: mvlp.org
Facing eviction? Don't wait — contact legal aid as soon as you receive a notice. You have a right to notice and a hearing before you can be removed.
The Providence
Government benefits — food, health coverage, and emergency help.
Mississippi DHS
City: Statewide
Services: SNAP (food benefits) and TANF (cash assistance), with regional offices statewide
Notes: No permanent address is required — you can use a shelter. Homeless applicants may qualify for expedited benefits. Case help: 800-948-3050.
Phone: 800-948-3050
Website: mdhs.ms.gov
Mississippi Division of Medicaid
City: Statewide
Services: Health coverage for eligible children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities
Notes: Apply online or at a regional office. Caseworkers can help determine eligibility.
Website: medicaid.ms.gov
Social Security Administration
City: Statewide
Services: SSI and SSDI disability benefits, retirement, and survivor benefits
Notes: You can apply without a permanent address. Ask about expedited SSI if you're homeless.
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
Website: ssa.gov
Mississippi 211
City: Statewide
Services: Free, confidential help finding any benefit, program, or service in Mississippi
Notes: Available 24/7. Also connects to utility assistance and community action agencies.
Phone: Dial 211
If your benefits are denied or wrongly cut, legal aid (see The Guardian) can help you appeal for free. MDHS has a Homelessness & SNAP guide with answers to common questions.
The Shepherd
Faith-based and community organizations offering food, shelter, and warm support.
Stewpot Community Services
City: Jackson
Services: Interfaith ministry providing meals, shelter, clothing, a food pantry, and housing assistance
Notes: Rooted in Jackson's faith community since 1981. See The Sanctuary for details.
Phone: 601-353-2759
Website: stewpot.org
Gateway Rescue Mission
City: Jackson
Services: Christian shelter, meals, and recovery programs for men, with services for women and children
Notes: See The Sanctuary for shelter details. All are welcome.
Address: 410 S Gallatin St, Jackson, MS 39201
Website: gatewaymission.org
Catholic Charities — Diocese of Jackson
City: Central Mississippi
Services: Domestic-violence services, family support, counseling, and a legal assistance clinic
Notes: Serves people of all faiths. DV legal clinic: 601-366-0222.
Phone: 601-355-8634
Website: catholiccharitiesjackson.org
The Salvation Army of Mississippi
City: Statewide
Services: Shelter, meals, food pantries, and emergency assistance
Notes: Local corps in Jackson, the Coast, and across the state. Find the nearest through 211.
Website: salvationarmy.org
Many Mississippi congregations quietly help neighbors beyond what's listed here. If you have a home church, ask — and 211 can connect you to faith-based aid near you.
Know Where You Stand
Mississippi Rights & Laws
A plain-language look at the laws that affect people experiencing homelessness in Mississippi.
Food Benefits Without an Address
You do not need a permanent address to get SNAP in Mississippi. You can list a shelter or where you usually stay, and have your card sent there or to a trusted contact.
MDHS has a dedicated Homelessness & SNAP guide answering common questions, and homeless applicants often qualify for expedited benefits within 7 days.
If you get SSI, the MSCAP project can streamline your SNAP application. Call 800-948-3050 for help.
Eviction & Tenant Rights
A Mississippi landlord cannot simply put you out. They must go through the court, and you have the right to notice and a hearing.
- "Self-help" evictions (lockouts, removing belongings) are not allowed
- You have the right to a hearing before removal
- Free eviction defense is available through legal aid
- Always respond to court papers — don't ignore them
Cold Weather & Shelter
Mississippi has no statewide right to shelter, but cities, churches, and nonprofits open emergency warming shelters when temperatures drop.
In Jackson, Stewpot's Opportunity Center opens overnight below 35°F, and larger sites open during severe storms.
Dial 211 to find the nearest open warming center on any cold night.
Fair Treatment & Encampments
The federal Fair Housing Act protects you from discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability.
Encampments are sometimes cleared by local authorities; following Grants Pass v. Johnson (2024), cities may enforce camping bans. Belongings taken in a cleanup should generally be stored.
If you face discrimination or lose property in a sweep, contact legal aid.
Across the Magnolia State
Help by Region
Resources reach across Mississippi. Here's where to start in some of the larger communities.
Jackson Metro & Central
Hinds, Rankin & Madison
Stewpot, Gateway Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army, Mississippi Food Network, Mission First Legal Aid, and the Central MS Continuum of Care.
Start: Stewpot 601-353-2759 or dial 211.
The Gulf Coast
Harrison, Hancock & Jackson
Back Bay Mission, Open Doors Homeless Coalition, Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence, Feeding the Gulf Coast, and Coastal Family Health.
Start: Open Doors Coalition or dial 211.
Hattiesburg & the Pine Belt
Forrest & Lamar
Regional shelters, food pantries through Feeding the Gulf Coast, and Mississippi Center for Legal Services (Hattiesburg).
Start: Dial 211 for shelter and food.
Meridian & the East
Lauderdale County
Mississippi Center for Legal Services (Meridian office), area churches, and food pantries.
Start: Legal aid 1-800-519-2915 or dial 211.
North MS & the Delta
DeSoto, Lafayette, Coahoma
North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Mid-South Food Bank, and the Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi.
Start: NMRLS 1-800-898-8731 or dial 211.
Statewide Lifelines
All 82 Counties
Mississippi 211, the three-food-bank collaborative (MFN, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Mid-South), and the legal services coalition reach everyone.
Start: Dial 211 — it covers every Mississippi ZIP code.
Pathways Forward
Mississippi Programs
Larger initiatives that move people from crisis toward stable housing.
Continuums of Care & Coordinated Entry
Through: Central MS CoC, Open Doors (Gulf Coast) & the Balance of State
Helps with: A single assessment that prioritizes you for available shelter and housing in your region.
Start: Dial 211, or contact Open Doors on the Coast and Stewpot in Jackson.
Rapid Re-Housing & Housing Assistance
Through: Stewpot, MUTEH & local agencies
Helps with: Short-term rental subsidies and case management to move from homelessness into stable housing.
Start: Ask a shelter case manager or dial 211.
Mississippi Home Corporation
Through: MHC
Helps with: Affordable rental listings, housing-choice vouchers, and homebuyer assistance for income-eligible residents.
Start: Dial 211 or visit mshomecorp.com for rental and assistance programs.
Find Help Near You
Resource Map
An interactive map of Mississippi resources is on its way as the Network grows.
Interactive Map — Coming Soon
Soon this map will plot shelters, food, clinics, hygiene sites, and warming centers near your location across Mississippi.
Until then, dial 211 anytime for live, location-based help — or choose a city to be pointed in the right direction.
The Network Grows
Angel Outreach in Mississippi
Beyond these public resources, the Angel Network is preparing its own offerings for people in need across Mississippi.
Angel Offerings — Gathering
As angels gather and The Chalice fills, Hope & Grace will extend direct blessings, partner outreach, and community support to souls right here in Mississippi.
These offerings will appear here as the Network grows. If you are in need today, please request a blessing — and lean on the verified resources above in the meantime.
You Are Not Alone
However You Arrived Here
Whether you need shelter tonight or hope to one day become an angel for someone else — there is a place for you in this Network.