Last updated: June 19, 2026
Bottom line
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are not in immediate danger but need help now, contact the NYS hotline by calling 800-942-6906, texting 844-997-2121, or using live chat. The hotline is confidential, secure, open 24/7, and available in most languages.
If you are in New York City, you can also call NYC HOPE at 800-621-4673. NYC can connect survivors to safety planning, shelter help, Family Justice Centers, counseling, legal help, and other support.
This guide is general information. It is not legal advice, safety advice, medical advice, or a promise that a program will approve help. A trained advocate can help you think through the next safest step for you and your children.
Urgent help first
If someone may see your phone, computer, location, or browser history, be careful. Computer and phone use can be monitored. Use the safest option you have, such as calling 911, using a safer device, contacting an advocate, or asking a trusted person to call for you.
- Immediate danger: Call 911.
- Statewide help: Call 800-942-6906, text 844-997-2121, or chat through OPDV.
- New York City: Call 800-621-4673, also known as HOPE.
- Emotional crisis: Call or text 988 Lifeline.
- Local food, rent, utility, and transport help: Search or dial 211 New York.
You do not need to know the right program name before you call. Say what you need first: safety, shelter, help with children, legal help, money, transportation, food, medicine, school, pets, or documents.
Where to start
Domestic violence help in New York is not one single office. The right first step depends on what is safest and most urgent for you. Some mothers need shelter tonight. Some need a court order. Some need public benefits, child care, or help staying safely housed. Some are not ready to leave and only want to talk.
If you need safety now
Call 911 for immediate danger. If you can call, text, or chat safely, contact the statewide hotline or NYC HOPE and ask for an advocate.
If you need shelter
Call a hotline or local program before searching shelter addresses online. Domestic violence shelters often keep locations private.
If you need court help
Ask about an order of protection, custody, visitation, child support, safe service of papers, and whether legal aid intake is open.
If money is the barrier
Ask about SAFE funds, OVS compensation, Temporary Assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, child care, and local nonprofit help.
For a broader safety overview, see ASMOM’s domestic violence hub. For statewide non-safety help, use New York help as a starting page.
Quick contacts in New York
| Need | Start here | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Safety planning or shelter | NYS hotline or NYC HOPE | “Can I speak with a domestic violence advocate today?” |
| Local DV program | OPDV directory, OCFS providers, or NYSCADV directory | “Which program serves my county and helps parents with children?” |
| NYC walk-in support | Family Justice Centers | “Which center is safest for me to contact or visit?” |
| Court protection | Family Court, Criminal Court, legal aid, or an advocate | “Can someone explain orders of protection and safety issues?” |
| Crime-related costs | New York Office of Victim Services | “Can I apply for reimbursement or victim assistance?” |
| Food, cash, Medicaid, child care | Local DSS, HRA in NYC, or myBenefits | “Can I speak with the Domestic Violence Liaison?” |
Hotlines and local programs
The statewide hotline can connect you to a local domestic violence program. Local programs may offer hotline help, safety planning, shelter referrals, legal advocacy, counseling, support groups, child-focused services, hospital accompaniment, and help dealing with benefit offices or courts.
Use county and state directories only when it is safe to browse. The OPDV and OCFS directories list providers and explain which programs are residential, non-residential, or both. The NYSCADV help page also points readers to shelter, advocacy, counseling, and legal assistance.
If you recently moved, are staying outside your home county, or are afraid to contact a program near your home, say that when you call. Ask the advocate which county, borough, or nearby program can safely help now.
Shelter and housing help
If you need a safe place, start with the hotline or a local domestic violence program. Do not assume a program has space because it appears in a directory. Open beds, family size, disability access, location, school needs, and safety concerns can change quickly.
New York City’s HRA DV support page says survivors may receive temporary housing, emergency shelter, and support services for themselves and their children. NYC Family Justice Centers can help with safety planning, shelter referrals, case management, legal help, counseling, and benefits support.
If you are trying to stay in your home in New York City, ask about Home+. This program may help with lock changes, door or window repairs, alarm devices, and some housing-related costs. Home+ is not a 24/7 emergency shelter program, so call NYC HOPE if you need urgent help.
Federal VAWA housing protections may help survivors in covered housing programs. These protections can apply to some public housing, Section 8, and other covered housing. They do not cover every apartment. New York Homes and Community Renewal posts VAWA forms, notices, and transfer documents for covered housing programs.
For general housing help that is not specific to abuse, see ASMOM’s New York housing guide page.
| Housing path | May help with | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| DV shelter | Emergency safe placement and support | Space changes fast. Call first. |
| NYC Home+ | Locks, repairs, alarms, housing safety costs | It is not a 24/7 crisis program. |
| VAWA housing rights | Covered housing denials, eviction, transfers | Coverage depends on the housing program. |
| 211 and local agencies | Rent, utility, food, transport referrals | Funding and openings vary by area. |
Court and legal help
An order of protection is a court order that can limit the behavior of someone who harms or threatens another person. New York courts explain the basics on the court protection page. Depending on the facts, you may be dealing with Family Court, Criminal Court, Supreme Court in a divorce, or more than one court.
A Family Court domestic violence case can start with a family offense petition. New York courts explain the filing process on the family offense page. Court staff can explain forms and filing steps, but they cannot be your lawyer or tell you what to say.
Legal issues can overlap with custody, visitation, child support, housing, benefits, immigration questions, and divorce. Use LawHelpNY safety to find legal information and legal aid referrals. In NYC, Family Justice Centers can also connect survivors to civil legal and social service providers.
Legal safety note
Court can help some survivors, but it can also affect safety, housing, custody, and money. When you can, talk with a domestic violence advocate or legal aid lawyer before sharing an address, changing a child’s routine, responding to papers, or deciding what to request.
For ASMOM next steps, see New York legal help, family safety help, and New York support.
Money, benefits, food, and child care
Leaving abuse can bring sudden costs: transportation, child care, food, storage, locks, medical care, replacement documents, missed work, and a safer place to stay. New York does not have one guaranteed cash grant for every survivor. Real help usually comes through several programs.
SAFE flexible funding
New York’s OPDV runs Survivors Access Financial Empowerment, called SAFE. OPDV says SAFE funds are distributed through approved domestic violence providers and can help with a range of survivor needs. Availability depends on the provider and funding. Ask a local domestic violence program how SAFE works in your area.
OVS victim compensation
The New York State Office of Victim Services may reimburse eligible victims for certain crime-related, out-of-pocket expenses. Start with OVS compensation. You can also use OVS Resource Connect to look for a victim assistance program. An advocate can help with forms, documents, and deadlines.
Temporary Assistance and waivers
Temporary Assistance is supervised by OTDA and handled through local social services districts. OPDV explains that a Domestic Violence Liaison can assess whether some public assistance requirements should be delayed or waived when meeting them could create danger or make it harder to escape abuse. This may matter for work rules, child support cooperation, treatment requirements, or other case rules.
Start with Temporary Assistance, your county Department of Social Services, HRA in NYC, or myBenefits. If child support cooperation feels unsafe, ask about good cause before skipping a notice or interview.
Food, health coverage, and child care
SNAP may help with groceries. Medicaid or Child Health Plus may help with health coverage. New York’s Child Care Assistance Program may help eligible families pay for child care. Start with official pages for New York SNAP, Medicaid applications, and child care assistance.
ASMOM also has related New York guides for emergency assistance, New York SNAP, TANF in New York, child care help, healthcare help.
Address privacy, work rights, and discrimination
If you moved or plan to move because of safety, the New York Address Confidentiality Program may help you use a substitute mailing address. The ACP application page says victims of domestic violence who have moved or are planning to move for safety reasons may apply, and household members may also be eligible. ACP does not hide every record or replace a full safety plan.
New York’s paid sick leave rules include safe leave for covered reasons tied to domestic violence, family offenses, sexual offenses, stalking, or human trafficking. The state paid sick leave page explains employee rights. If you work in New York City, check the city’s protected time off page.
New York’s Human Rights Law also protects survivors from discrimination based on status as a victim of domestic violence. The Division of Human Rights lists this on its protected traits page. If you believe you were denied housing, a job, or another covered opportunity because of domestic violence victim status, contact DHR or legal aid.
What to gather, only if safe
Do not delay urgent help because you do not have papers. Advocates are used to helping people who left quickly. If it is safe, this list can help you prepare for benefits, court, shelter, school, or housing help.
| Information | Why it may help | If you do not have it |
|---|---|---|
| ID for you and children | Benefits, shelter, school, medical care | Ask how to replace documents safely. |
| Benefit notices or case numbers | SNAP, Medicaid, cash aid, child care | Ask the office to look up your case. |
| Court papers | Protection, custody, support, divorce | Ask the clerk or lawyer for copies. |
| Lease, voucher, or shelter papers | Housing rights or transfer requests | Ask what other proof is accepted. |
| Police, medical, or advocate records | OVS, court, housing, work leave | Ask whether a letter or form works. |
For a broader list, use ASMOM’s documents checklist. If gathering papers would put you at risk, talk with an advocate first.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not post plans online. Shared devices, location tools, and public posts can increase risk.
- Do not assume shelter space. Call a hotline or local program first.
- Do not ignore benefit notices. Ask about good cause, reopening, or a fair hearing if abuse affected your case.
- Do not guess on court forms. Ask court staff what the form is for, and ask legal aid or an advocate about safety impact.
- Do not give up after one no. Ask for another program, county option, appeal, or advocate referral.
If help is denied, delayed, or closed
If one office says no, ask what rule was used, whether there is another program, and how to appeal. Domestic violence programs may be full. Legal aid may have intake limits. Benefit offices may need more documents. That does not always mean there is no help.
- Call the hotline again and ask for another local provider or county option.
- Ask OVS Resource Connect for a victim assistance program near you.
- Use 211 for rent, food, utility, transportation, and local referrals.
- Ask social services or HRA for the Domestic Violence Liaison.
- Ask legal aid about court, benefits, housing, or custody deadlines.
For benefit problems, see ASMOM’s benefits problem guide. For basic local support, see community support and Community Action help.
Phone scripts
Calling the NYS hotline
“I am a single mother in New York and I need to speak with a domestic violence advocate. I may need help with shelter, my children, court, money, or benefits. What is the safest next step?”
Calling an NYC FJC
“I am in New York City and need help from a Family Justice Center. I need safety planning and may need legal help, shelter information, or benefits help. Can I come in or speak with someone remotely?”
Calling social services
“I am applying for benefits and domestic violence affects my ability to meet some rules. Can I speak with the Domestic Violence Liaison about waivers or good cause?”
Calling legal aid
“I need help with a domestic violence-related legal issue. It may involve an order of protection, custody, child support, housing, or benefits. Do you have intake today, or can you refer me?”
Resumen en español
Si está en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Si necesita ayuda por violencia doméstica en Nueva York, puede llamar a la línea estatal al 800-942-6906, enviar texto al 844-997-2121, o usar el chat de OPDV. En la Ciudad de Nueva York, también puede llamar a NYC HOPE al 800-621-4673.
Un defensor puede ayudarle con seguridad, refugio, niños, corte, beneficios públicos, vivienda, compensación para víctimas y recursos locales. Esta guía es información general. No es consejo legal ni un plan personal de seguridad.
FAQ
What number should I call for domestic violence help in New York?
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. For statewide help, call 800-942-6906, text 844-997-2121, or use OPDV live chat. In New York City, call NYC HOPE at 800-621-4673.
Can I get help if I am not ready to leave?
Yes. You can speak with an advocate even if you are not ready to leave, do not want shelter, or are unsure what to do. An advocate can help you look at options without forcing one path.
Can I bring my children to a domestic violence shelter?
Many domestic violence programs help survivors with children, but space and placement rules vary. Tell the hotline how many children are with you, their ages, and any medical, school, disability, or transportation needs.
Where can I ask for an order of protection in New York?
You may be able to ask Family Court, Criminal Court, or Supreme Court in a divorce case, depending on the facts. Ask a domestic violence advocate, court help center, or legal aid office where to start.
Does New York have money help for domestic violence survivors?
Possible help includes SAFE funds through approved providers, OVS victim compensation, public assistance, SNAP, child care help, and local referrals. None of these is guaranteed for every person.
Can I keep my address private after moving?
The New York Address Confidentiality Program may help eligible survivors use a substitute mailing address. It does not hide every record, so ask an advocate if it fits your safety plan.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified June 19, 2026, next review September 19, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.