Domestic Violence Resources and Safety for Single Mothers in Wisconsin

Where to start in Wisconsin

If you feel overwhelmed, start with one safe contact. You do not need to know the right program name before you call. Say what is happening, what county you are in, whether children are with you, and what you need today.

For a broader state map, use ASMOM’s Wisconsin help guide. For a national safety overview, use the domestic violence hub.

Quick contact table

Restraining orders and legal help

Wisconsin has different types of restraining orders, including domestic abuse, harassment, child abuse, and individual-at-risk orders. The right form depends on what happened and who is involved. The Wisconsin Court System’s forms assistant can help fill out a petition for a restraining order and a confidential address information sheet.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice explains that if a temporary restraining order is granted, the court schedules an injunction hearing. The DOJ order page says an injunction can last up to 4 years for domestic abuse, harassment, and individuals at risk, and up to 2 years for child abuse. The court form for a domestic abuse TRO says the hearing date is not to exceed 14 days, unless the law allows an extension.

Use Wisconsin Law Help for a plain-language overview, then confirm your county steps with the Clerk of Court. Court staff can usually share forms and process information, but they cannot give legal advice.

Legal aid may be able to help with restraining orders, custody, placement, child support, housing, benefits, and crime victim issues. Legal Action of Wisconsin says its family law work focuses on clients who are or have been victims of domestic violence and other specialized groups. ASMOM’s legal safety guide and Wisconsin legal help guide can help you plan who to call next.

Address privacy and victim costs

If your location must stay private, ask an advocate about Wisconsin Safe at Home before you put a new address on school, court, benefits, work, license, or housing paperwork. Safe at Home is Wisconsin’s address confidentiality program. It gives approved participants a legal substitute address for public and private use and forwards mail.

You must work with a designated Application Assistant before applying. DOJ says Application Assistants are victim service providers, advocates, and other trained professionals who provide safety planning and help complete the application.

If you have crime-related costs, Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation may help with certain unreimbursed eligible expenses from a violent crime. DOJ says the intake process can take 90 to 120 days because of application volume, so this is not same-day help. The CVC application page says to apply as soon as possible and not wait until a court case or treatment is finished.

Shelter and housing help

If home is not safe, call a domestic violence advocate before you call general shelters when possible. An advocate may know safer shelter options, family shelter rules, transportation help, and what to do if beds are full. They may also help you document domestic violence for housing, school, benefits, or work needs.

Housing help is local and often limited. A call does not mean a bed, motel room, apartment, or voucher is open. Ask to be placed on callback lists, ask about family shelters, and ask whether domestic violence changes how your situation is screened.

For homelessness or risk of homelessness outside Dane, Milwaukee, and Racine counties, the Balance of State Continuum of Care supports local housing coalitions. Dane County has a separate Dane entry system. In other areas, call 211 or your local shelter and ask how coordinated entry works in your county.

ASMOM’s Wisconsin emergency help, Wisconsin housing help, rent assistance guide, and Section 8 guide explain more housing paths, but local availability controls what is actually open.

Food, cash, child care, health, and energy help

Abuse can cause lost work, lost child care, school moves, medical needs, and sudden bills. Wisconsin programs can help with some basic needs, but each program has rules, proof requests, and wait times. Start with ACCESS when it is safe to do so. You can also call or visit your local agency.

For 2025-2026, WHEAP lists income limits from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The WHEAP limits table shows annual income examples of $50,243 for a household of 2, $62,065 for 3, and $73,888 for 4. Check the state table before applying because energy rules change by program year.

Wisconsin Shares child care uses income rules that update. The 2026 DCF FPL memo lists 200% federal poverty level monthly amounts of $3,607 for a group of 2, $4,553 for 3, $5,500 for 4, and $6,447 for 5 at application. You may also need an approved activity, a child care authorization, and a provider that participates in YoungStar.

If child support cooperation could create danger, ask the benefit worker about good cause before sharing unsafe details. Wisconsin DCF’s good cause page explains cooperation and good cause. A domestic violence advocate or legal aid office can help you ask more safely. ASMOM’s Wisconsin child support, Wisconsin SNAP, and Wisconsin child care guides may help with the next steps.

Documents to gather if it is safe

Only gather documents if it is safe. Do not risk harm to get paperwork. An advocate can help you decide what matters most and how to store copies safely.

Use ASMOM’s documents checklist if you are also applying for food, health care, cash, child care, housing, or utility help.

Related Wisconsin help

Domestic violence can affect food, housing, child care, transportation, school, work, and bills. If one office cannot help, ask for the next safe local referral instead of starting over alone.