Last updated: June 18, 2026
Urgent help in Connecticut
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. Connecticut says residents can also text 911 when calling is not safe or when someone cannot speak. Call if you can, text if you cannot.
For domestic violence help anywhere in Connecticut, contact Safe Connect at 888-774-2900. Safe Connect is Connecticut’s statewide domestic violence resource line. It is available 24/7 by call, text, chat, or email, and can connect you with a local advocate.
You can also contact the National Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. If you think your phone, computer, car, or online accounts may be watched, use a safer device when you can, such as a trusted phone, a library computer, or a phone at a service office.
Bottom line
Connecticut has one main statewide entry point for domestic violence help: Safe Connect. Start there if you need shelter, safety planning, counseling, help for your children, court advocacy, or a connection to one of Connecticut’s local domestic violence programs.
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice, safety advice, or a personal safety plan. A trained advocate or lawyer can help you decide what is safest for your situation.
Where to start if you are a single mother
Domestic violence can affect housing, work, child care, benefits, school, transportation, and your child’s routine. You do not have to solve everything in one call. Start with the safest next step.
If you need a safe place
Contact Safe Connect first. Ask for help with shelter, a local advocate, transportation options, child needs, and safe ways to communicate. You can also read ASMOM’s domestic violence hub for broader help paths.
If you need court protection
Ask Safe Connect, a legal aid office, or a court clerk about a restraining order. The Connecticut court court packet explains the forms, service rules, hearing steps, and fees.
If bills are urgent
Use ASMOM’s emergency help page along with Safe Connect. You may need food, utilities, child care, transportation, or rent help while you work on safety.
Quick reference: who to contact first
| Need | Start here | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | Ask for police, medical help, or a safe response for children. | Text 911 only if calling is not safe or not possible. |
| Domestic violence advocacy | Safe Connect | Ask for shelter, safety planning, counseling, court help, and a local advocate. | You only need to share what feels safe to share. |
| Emergency shelter | shelter access | Call 2-1-1 and ask for Coordinated Access Network screening. | Shelter beds and housing resources are not guaranteed. |
| Restraining order | Superior Court clerk | Ask for relief from abuse forms and Court Service Center help. | Court staff can explain forms but cannot be your lawyer. |
| Crime-related costs | OVS compensation | Ask whether counseling, medical, lost wage, or child witness costs may qualify. | It is not instant cash and may require follow-up proof. |
| Benefits and cash help | ConneCT | Apply or update SNAP, HUSKY, TFA, or other DSS benefits. | Ask about safety or good-cause issues if contact with the other parent is dangerous. |
Getting court protection in Connecticut
A family restraining order is a civil court order. You may be able to ask for one if the person hurting, stalking, threatening, or abusing you is a family or household member, a current or former spouse, a dating partner, someone you share a child with, or another person covered by Connecticut law.
The court packet says the basic forms include an Application for Relief from Abuse, an affidavit, and, when children are involved, child-related forms. The court can review the request and may issue a temporary order before the hearing if the facts support it. The packet says there is no court fee to file the application, and the Judicial Branch pays certain service fees.
Service matters. The respondent usually must receive the papers before the hearing. If you do not know where the respondent lives or works, ask the clerk, Court Service Center, or advocate what information may help the marshal. Do not try to serve the papers yourself.
| Option | What it may do | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Family restraining order | May order the person not to contact you, stay away, leave the home, or follow child-related orders the judge allows. | Bring facts, dates, messages, photos, or other proof only if you safely have them. |
| Criminal protective order | May be issued in a criminal case after an arrest. | You do not control the criminal case. Ask a victim advocate how to share safety concerns. |
| Civil protection order | May help in some sexual assault, stalking, or sexual abuse situations when family rules do not apply. | The rules are different. Ask court staff or legal aid before choosing forms. |
| Remote testimony request | May let you ask to testify from another place in some hearings. | Ask early. The judge decides whether the request is allowed. |
For legal help, start with ASMOM’s legal help page. You can also use CTLawHelp orders for plain-language court information. If you believe your rights as a crime victim were ignored, the Victim Advocate office can review victims’ rights concerns.
Shelter and housing help
If you need to leave because of abuse, Safe Connect is usually the first call. The CCADV local programs page lists local domestic violence agencies across Connecticut. These programs may offer advocacy, support for children, court help, safety planning, emergency shelter, counseling, and housing help when available.
If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, Connecticut’s Department of Housing says households begin the shelter process through 2-1-1 and the Coordinated Access Network. You can also review 211 housing help. Ask both Safe Connect and 2-1-1 when housing is unsafe, because domestic violence shelter and the general shelter system may use different paths.
If you live in subsidized housing, a voucher unit, public housing, or another covered program, the federal HUD VAWA notice explains housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Ask your housing authority, landlord, advocate, or legal aid office about VAWA forms if abuse is being used as a reason to evict you, deny housing, or end assistance.
Connecticut also has state housing protections for some tenants. These rules can involve notices, proof, timing, and safety concerns. Talk with an advocate or lawyer before sending legal notices, ending a lease, or changing locks. For broader rent and housing programs, use ASMOM’s housing help guide before you sign papers or move.
Privacy tip
If you have moved and need to keep your address private, ask an advocate about Connecticut’s Address Confidentiality Program. The state says it can provide a substitute mailing address for eligible survivors whose new location is unknown to the abuser.
Money, leave, food, and child support issues
Abuse often causes missed work, sudden moving costs, medical bills, counseling needs, food shortages, and child care gaps. No program can fix everything fast, but these are real places to ask.
| Help path | What it may help with | Where to start | Ask this |
|---|---|---|---|
| OVS compensation | Some crime-related costs not paid by insurance or another source. | Office of Victim Services | Can an advocate help me apply? |
| CT Paid Leave | Income replacement for approved safe leave reasons. | CT Paid Leave | Which documents prove safe leave? |
| DSS benefits | SNAP food help, HUSKY health coverage, and TFA cash assistance. | DSS or ConneCT | Can I use a safe mailing address? |
| Child support safety | Questions about cooperation when contact may be dangerous. | child support safety | Can I ask about good cause? |
| Child care | Help keeping work, court, school, and appointments possible. | Care 4 Kids or DSS referrals | Are there emergency options? |
For benefit details, compare ASMOM’s TANF help, SNAP help, child support, child care, and health coverage pages. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or caring for young children, also check WIC help. If transportation is blocking court, shelter, school, or medical care, use transportation help.
Children, school, and daily routines
Domestic violence can affect children even when they are not physically hurt. A local advocate can help you think through school pickup, safe contacts, counseling referrals, and which court orders or protection orders the school needs to see.
Do not give every detail to every person. Schools and child care providers usually need clear pickup rules, emergency contacts, and copies of orders that affect the child. Ask the advocate or lawyer what is safe to share.
If your child needs counseling, medical care, food, school supplies, or support after a move, ask Safe Connect and 2-1-1 for child-specific referrals. If your child has a disability or special needs, the national ASMOM special needs guide can help you think through school and benefits questions.
Documents and information to gather when safe
Do not risk your safety to collect paperwork. If you cannot get a document, ask the office or advocate what else they can accept. Use ASMOM’s documents checklist when you are also applying for benefits, housing, or legal help.
| Item | Helpful for | Safer note |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID, birth certificates, Social Security cards | Benefits, shelter, school, court, health care | Copies may help if originals are unsafe to take. |
| Lease, rent notice, voucher papers | Housing, VAWA, lock change, lease questions | Ask legal aid before sending notices to a landlord. |
| Messages, photos, call logs, police reports | Court, victim compensation, legal aid | Save only in a place the abusive person cannot access. |
| Pay stubs, benefit letters, EBT or Medicaid cards | DSS, CT Paid Leave, rent help | Ask for replacement cards if documents were taken. |
| School, daycare, custody, and medical papers | Children’s safety planning and services | Give schools only the orders or contact rules they need. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming shelter is guaranteed. Connecticut’s shelter system may have limited space. Ask Safe Connect and 2-1-1 about more than one option.
- Trying to handle court alone. Court staff cannot be your lawyer, but advocates and legal aid may help you prepare.
- Posting plans online. Avoid sharing moves, court dates, school changes, or new addresses where the abusive person or shared contacts can see them.
- Ignoring child support safety. If child support cooperation could put you or your child at risk, ask DSS or legal aid about good cause or safety options.
- Waiting until benefits stop. If abuse makes it hard to meet a DSS deadline, call the worker and ask what proof, extension, or safety option is possible.
- Using unsafe devices. If you suspect monitoring, use a safer device before reading about shelters, court, or leaving.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
If one office says no, ask what rule they used, what document is missing, and whether there is an appeal, supervisor review, or another office that handles the issue. Write down the date, time, name of the person you spoke with, and next step.
For benefit problems, go back through DSS, ConneCT, or legal aid. For housing denial or eviction tied to abuse, ask about VAWA and legal help. For court concerns, ask the clerk, Court Service Center, Safe Connect advocate, or a lawyer. For victim-rights concerns in a criminal case, contact the Office of the Victim Advocate.
ASMOM’s benefits problem guide can help you organize notices and calls. For a wider list of state programs, use the Connecticut help page. For community agencies, food pantries, and basic needs, see community support before calling around.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling Safe Connect
“I am a single mother in Connecticut. I may be experiencing domestic violence. I need help with safety, shelter options, and what to do next. I need to talk in a way that is safe for me.”
Calling the court clerk
“I need information about applying for a relief from abuse restraining order. Can you tell me where to get the forms, whether a Court Service Center is available, and how service works?”
Calling 2-1-1 about shelter
“My children and I may need emergency shelter. There is domestic violence involved. Can you screen us for the Coordinated Access Network and tell me what to do if no bed is open?”
Calling DSS or CT Paid Leave
“Domestic violence is affecting my work, income, or benefits. I need to know what documents are needed, whether any safety exception applies, and how to keep my address private.”
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. En Connecticut también puede mandar texto al 911 si no puede llamar o si hablar no es seguro.
Para ayuda por violencia doméstica en Connecticut, comuníquese con Safe Connect al 888-774-2900. Atienden 24 horas al día por llamada, texto, chat o correo electrónico. Pueden conectar a una madre con refugio, consejería, ayuda en la corte y recursos locales.
También puede pedir ayuda con una orden de restricción, vivienda, beneficios de DSS, compensación para víctimas, licencia por violencia familiar y apoyo legal. No arriesgue su seguridad para buscar documentos. Si no tiene papeles importantes, pregunte qué otra prueba puede servir.
FAQs
What should I do first if I am not safe?
Call 911 if there is immediate danger. In Connecticut, you can also text 911 if calling is not safe or you cannot speak. If you can safely reach an advocate, contact Safe Connect at 888-774-2900.
Does Connecticut have a statewide domestic violence hotline?
Yes. Safe Connect is Connecticut’s statewide domestic violence resource line. It is available 24/7 by call, text, chat, or email.
Can I ask for a restraining order without paying a court fee?
The Connecticut court packet says there is no court fee to file the Application for Relief from Abuse, and the Judicial Branch pays certain service fees. Ask the clerk about your exact papers.
Can domestic violence help with housing?
It may. Safe Connect can connect you to local programs. Connecticut has shelter access through 2-1-1, and federal VAWA protections may apply in covered housing programs.
Can I use CT Paid Leave for domestic violence issues?
CT Paid Leave says safe leave may provide income replacement for approved family violence or sexual assault reasons, including care, victim services, relocation, or court.
What if child support cooperation is unsafe?
Tell DSS or child support staff there is a safety concern. Ask about good cause or safety options. A domestic violence advocate or legal aid office may help you explain the risk.
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 18, 2026, next review September 18, 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.