DV Shelters & Housing for Domestic Violence Survivors

The fastest way to find an emergency shelter is to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Advocates are available 24/7, the call is free and confidential, and they maintain a comprehensive database of shelters nationwide. You can also chat online at thehotline.org if calling is not safe.

Other ways to find a shelter: call 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local referrals, contact your local police department's victim services unit, visit a hospital emergency room and ask to speak with a social worker, or search the DomesticShelters.org database which allows you to search by zip code.

What you need to know before calling: you do not need money, ID, or proof of abuse to enter a shelter. You can bring your children. Many shelters now accept pets or can help arrange temporary foster care for animals. Shelter locations are confidential — you will be given the address only after intake, and it is never shared publicly. If the shelter nearest to you is full, advocates will help you find alternatives.

Arriving at a shelter can be overwhelming, but the staff are trained to help you feel safe and supported. Here is what to expect:

Intake process: A staff member will meet with you, gather some basic information, explain the rules, and help you settle in. This is also when you will discuss your immediate safety needs and begin creating a safety plan.

Living arrangements: Most shelters provide shared rooms (you and your children in a room together) within a communal living space. Some shelters have private rooms or apartments. You will have access to shared kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, and laundry facilities.

Length of stay: Emergency shelter stays typically range from 30 to 90 days, depending on the shelter and your needs. Extensions are often available, and staff will work with you on a transition plan well before your stay ends.

Services typically provided include three meals a day or access to a shared kitchen, individual and group counseling, children's counseling and activities, legal advocacy (help with protective orders, custody, immigration), case management and goal planning, job search assistance, housing assistance, transportation help, clothing and personal care items, and referrals to community resources.

Rules and structure: Shelters have rules to keep everyone safe. These typically include maintaining the confidentiality of the shelter location, no alcohol or drugs on the premises, curfews, participation in house chores, attending meetings and counseling sessions, and no contact that could reveal the shelter's location. Rules vary by shelter, and they will be explained during intake.

Your rights: You have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. You can leave at any time — shelters are voluntary. You have the right to confidentiality. Staff cannot force you to file a police report, get a protective order, or leave the relationship.

Transitional housing programs provide longer-term safe housing (typically 6 months to 2 years) as a bridge between emergency shelter and permanent independent housing. These programs are designed specifically for DV survivors and offer continued support.

Transitional housing usually provides a private apartment or shared housing unit, reduced or subsidized rent (some programs are free), continued case management and counseling, life skills development (budgeting, job readiness, parenting), help finding permanent housing, and continued safety planning.

To find transitional housing, ask the staff at your emergency shelter, call the National DV Hotline, contact your local housing authority about DV-specific programs, or contact local community action agencies.

Some transitional housing programs are part of HUD's Continuum of Care system and are funded through federal grants. Others are operated by nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, or state agencies.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides important housing protections for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking survivors in federally subsidized housing. These protections apply to public housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, project-based Section 8, USDA Rural Housing, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties.

Key VAWA housing protections include:

You cannot be denied housing because you are a DV survivor. Your status as a survivor is not a legitimate reason to deny a housing application.

You cannot be evicted because of the abuse. If the abuser commits violence at the property, the landlord cannot evict you because of the abuser's criminal actions. The landlord can evict the abuser while allowing you to remain.

You can request an emergency transfer. If you are in danger at your current housing, you can request an emergency transfer to another unit or another property in the same program. You must submit a written request and self-certify that you are a survivor.

You can terminate your lease early. If you need to move for safety reasons, VAWA allows you to break your lease without penalty by providing documentation (a protective order, police report, or certification from a DV service provider).

VAWA protections also apply to the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program. You can port your voucher to a new location if you need to move for safety, even if your voucher normally would not be portable yet.

Beyond shelters and transitional housing, DV survivors have several other housing pathways:

Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers: DV survivors may qualify for emergency or preference status for Section 8 vouchers. Contact your local housing authority and explain your situation. Some housing authorities have set-aside vouchers specifically for DV survivors.

Rapid Rehousing Programs: These programs help you move quickly into permanent housing with short-term rental assistance (typically 3 to 12 months) and supportive services. Ask your shelter or local Continuum of Care about rapid rehousing programs.

Hotel/motel vouchers: When shelters are full, many DV programs can provide short-term hotel/motel vouchers. Call the National DV Hotline for help.

Safe homes: Some communities have networks of volunteer families who open their homes to DV survivors for short-term stays. Your local DV program can tell you if this option exists in your area.

Faith-based housing: Many churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based organizations provide temporary housing assistance to people in crisis.

Second chance apartments: Some apartment communities specifically work with people rebuilding their lives, including DV survivors. See our second chance apartments guide for options by city.

Family and friends: If you have trusted family or friends who can provide temporary housing, make sure the abuser does not know where you are staying. Change your routines and be cautious about sharing your location.

Shelter capacity is a real challenge — on any given day, DV programs across the country are unable to meet all requests for shelter due to lack of space. If the shelter near you is full, do not give up. Here is what to do:

Call the National DV Hotline (1-800-799-7233) and explain that your local shelter is full. Advocates can search for openings at other shelters in your area or in nearby areas.

Ask about hotel/motel vouchers. Many DV organizations have emergency funds for temporary lodging when shelters are at capacity.

Ask to be placed on a waitlist. Shelters often have turnover, and a spot may open up quickly.

Consider shelters in neighboring cities or counties. The hotline can help you find options within a reasonable distance.

Contact your local 211 line for additional emergency housing resources in your community.

If you are in immediate danger and cannot find shelter, go to a hospital emergency room and ask to speak with a social worker. Hospitals can provide a safe place while arrangements are made.

Remember: the lack of shelter space does not mean you are without options. DV advocates are trained to help you find safety even when the system is at capacity.

Some DV survivors also have criminal records, often related to the abuse itself (charges from incidents where the survivor fought back, or charges the abuser coerced the survivor into). Having a criminal record can make finding housing harder, but it is not a barrier to getting help.

DV shelters generally do not conduct background checks and do not deny services based on criminal history. The focus is on safety, not your record.

VAWA housing protections apply regardless of criminal history. You cannot be denied VAWA protections because of a criminal record.

Expungement may be an option for conviction records that resulted from the abusive situation. Some states have specific laws allowing DV survivors to expunge or vacate convictions that were a direct result of being trafficked or abused. See our expungement guide for state-specific information.

Second chance apartments and housing programs may be helpful for long-term housing. Visit our housing guides for city-specific options.