Last updated: May 20, 2026
Urgent help in Connecticut
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call or text 911. If it is not safe to talk, follow the dispatcher’s questions as best you can.
For domestic violence help anywhere in Connecticut, contact Safe Connect at 888-774-2900. Safe Connect is open 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 for 24/7 help. If you think your phone or computer is being watched, use a safer device when you can, such as a trusted friend’s phone, a library computer, or a phone at a service office.
Bottom line
Connecticut has a statewide domestic violence entry point called Safe Connect. Start there if you need shelter, safety planning, court advocacy, counseling, help for your children, or a connection to one of Connecticut’s local domestic violence programs.
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal 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, and child needs. You can also read ASMOM’s national DV guide for broader help paths.
If you need court protection
Ask Safe Connect or a court clerk about a family restraining order. The Connecticut court court packet explains the forms, service rules, and hearing steps.
If bills are urgent
Use the Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | Ask for police, medical help, or a safe response for children. |
| Domestic violence advocacy | Safe Connect | Ask for shelter, safety planning, counseling, court help, and a local advocate. |
| Emergency shelter outside DV system | shelter system | Call 2-1-1 and ask for Coordinated Access Network screening. |
| Restraining order | Superior Court clerk | Ask for the relief from abuse packet and Court Service Center help. |
| Crime-related expenses | OVS compensation | Ask whether medical, counseling, lost wage, child witness, or funeral costs may qualify. |
| Benefits and cash help | ConneCT | Apply or update SNAP, HUSKY, TFA, or other DSS benefits. |
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 or threatening 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, a child-related affidavit. The court can review the request and may issue a temporary order before the hearing if the facts support it. The same packet says there is no court fee to file and the Judicial Branch pays the service fee for certain papers.
If firearms are involved, court timing may be faster. If not, the hearing is usually scheduled within a short court window. The respondent must be served before the hearing. Ask the clerk, a Court Service Center, or a Safe Connect advocate what this means in your case.
| 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. | You must tell the court what happened. Bring facts, dates, messages, photos, or other proof 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 the victim advocate or prosecutor how to report safety concerns. |
| Civil protection order | May help in certain sexual assault, stalking, or sexual abuse situations when the person is not covered by family restraining order rules. | 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 restraining order hearings. | The court packet explains a written request and timing rules. Ask early. |
For legal help, start with Connecticut legal help. You can also use CTLawHelp for plain-language legal information. If you believe your rights as a crime victim were ignored, the Office of Victim Advocate can review complaints about victims’ rights.
Shelter and housing help
If you need to leave because of abuse, Safe Connect is usually the first call. The CCADV members page lists local domestic violence programs across Connecticut. These programs can offer advocacy, support for children, court help, safety planning, emergency shelter, and other 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. The state also warns that shelter beds and housing resources are not guaranteed. This is why it is smart to contact both Safe Connect and 2-1-1 when housing is unsafe.
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 or landlord for VAWA forms if abuse is being used as a reason to evict you, deny housing, or end assistance.
Connecticut also has state housing protections. The CCADV law guide summarizes early lease termination and lock-change rights for survivors. These rules have requirements, so talk with an advocate or legal aid before you give notice or change locks. For broader rent and housing programs, use Connecticut housing help 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. It can provide a substitute mailing address for eligible survivors whose new address is not known 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 |
|---|---|---|
| OVS compensation | Crime-related costs not paid by insurance or another source, such as certain medical, counseling, lost wage, or child witness costs. | Use the OVS application page or ask your advocate for help. |
| CT Paid Leave | Income replacement for approved safe leave reasons, including care, victim services, relocation, or court related to family violence or sexual assault. | Read safe leave and the document checklist. |
| DSS benefits | SNAP food help, HUSKY health coverage, and TFA cash assistance for eligible families. | Use ConneCT or compare ASMOM’s Connecticut TANF and Connecticut SNAP guides. |
| Child support safety | Questions about child support cooperation when contact with the other parent may be dangerous. | Read federal child support safety guidance and ASMOM’s Connecticut child support page. |
| Child care | Help keeping work, court, school, and appointments possible. | Use Connecticut child care and ask your advocate about emergency options. |
| Health and counseling | Medical care, HUSKY, counseling, and mental health support for you or your child. | Start with Connecticut health coverage and Connecticut mental health. |
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or caring for young children, check Connecticut WIC. If getting to court, shelter, work, school, or appointments is the barrier, use Connecticut transportation and ask Safe Connect about local help.
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.
| 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 letters 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 waitlists. 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, 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 a legal aid office about good cause or safety options.
- Waiting until benefits stop. If you cannot meet a DSS deadline because of abuse, call the worker and ask what proof or extension is possible.
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 or supervisor review. 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.
For a wider list of state programs, use the Connecticut help page as your main state guide. For community agencies, food pantries, and basic needs, see Connecticut 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 o mande texto al 911. Para ayuda por violencia doméstica en Connecticut, comuníquese con Safe Connect al 888-774-2900. Atienden 24 horas al día y 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 or text 911 if there is immediate danger. If you can safely reach an advocate, contact Safe Connect at 888-774-2900 for domestic violence help anywhere in Connecticut.
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 some state housing protections, 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 that 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 May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org with details.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.