Last updated: May 20, 2026
Urgent help in Florida
If you or your child is in immediate danger, call 911. If calling could put you in more danger, use the safest option you can, such as a trusted person’s phone, a public phone, or a safer device.
For domestic violence help in Florida, call the DCF hotline at 1-800-500-1119. TDD is 1-800-621-4202. Florida Relay can be reached by dialing 711 or 1-800-955-8771. Help is available in English, Spanish, and Creole.
You can also contact the National Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or use chat from a safer device. Deaf survivors can contact the Deaf Hotline through national services.
If you suspect abuse or neglect of a child, an older adult, or a vulnerable adult in Florida, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
Bottom line
Florida has certified domestic violence centers that can help with safety planning, emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling, child-related needs, and referrals. You do not have to know every program name before you call. A trained advocate can help you sort out what is safe and realistic for your situation.
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice or safety-plan advice. Domestic violence situations can be dangerous and can change fast. Before taking steps that could affect your safety, custody, housing, immigration status, money, or job, talk with a local advocate, legal aid office, court clerk, or licensed professional.
Where to start
If you are not sure what you need first, start with safety and support. In Florida, the best first call is often the state domestic violence hotline or your local certified center. The hotline can connect you to a nearby center, and the local center finder can help you find the certified center for your area.
If you need food, housing, utility help, health care, child care, or transportation, call Florida 211. Florida 211 is a free, confidential starting point for local referrals. You can also use our Florida help guide to find state benefit pages in one place.
Use a safer device if possible
Many abuse survivors are watched through phones, email, browser history, apps, shared accounts, or car tracking. If you think you are being monitored, contact an advocate from a safer phone or computer when you can. Do not change passwords, delete messages, or confront the person hurting you if that could make things less safe. Ask an advocate for help first.
Quick reference: who to contact first
| Need | Start here | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | Ask for emergency help and say if children are present. |
| Domestic violence shelter or advocacy | Florida domestic violence hotline | Ask for the nearest certified center and safe next steps. |
| Injunction or legal questions | Local courthouse or legal hotline | Ask how to file safely and what forms may fit your case. |
| Food, cash, or Medicaid | MyACCESS | Ask about SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, and urgent needs. |
| Child care | Early Learning Coalition | Ask about School Readiness and domestic violence circumstances. |
| Housing problem | Advocate, legal aid, or housing provider | Ask if VAWA housing protections may apply to your housing. |
Certified domestic violence centers in Florida
Florida’s Office of Domestic Violence works with certified domestic violence centers across the state. These centers can provide temporary emergency shelter, hotline support, safety planning, referrals, counseling, case management, nonresidential outreach, and help for children staying with a parent in shelter.
Start with the Florida DV page or the hotline if you need help finding the right center. A shelter may not always have an open bed, and the safest plan may be different for each family. If one option is full, ask what backup options or nearby centers may be available.
If you need shelter
Ask whether emergency shelter is available for you and your children. Also ask what to bring, what not to bring, and how to arrive safely.
If you cannot leave today
Ask for nonresidential support. Many centers can help with advocacy, referrals, and safety planning even if you are not in shelter.
If you speak Spanish or Creole
Tell the hotline what language you need. Florida DCF says hotline help is available in English, Spanish, and Creole.
For more nearby emergency resources, see our emergency help guide.
Court protection and injunctions in Florida
Florida courts use the word injunction for certain protection orders. An injunction can be a serious legal step. It may affect contact, housing, parenting time, pets, firearms, and other issues. It is not the right step for every situation, so talk with an advocate or lawyer when you can.
Florida’s injunction law says a petition can be filed where you currently or temporarily live, where the other person lives, or where the violence occurred. The law also says there is no filing fee for this type of petition. Court staff can help with forms, but they cannot be your lawyer.
You can find official court forms on the Florida Courts website. Florida also offers DIY Florida, a free tool for some official court forms. If you use an online tool, think about device safety before saving drafts or logging in from a shared account.
If you need legal help, the Florida Domestic Violence Legal Hotline can offer legal information, advice, referrals, and help with some civil legal needs. Start at the DCF legal hotline page. You can also see our Florida legal help guide for legal aid starting points.
Reality check
An injunction is a court order, not a physical safety shield. Some people follow orders and some do not. Ask an advocate about safety before, during, and after filing. If the other person has not been served yet, ask the clerk or advocate what that means for your case.
Relocation, victim compensation, and address privacy
If you need to move because of domestic violence, ask a certified domestic violence center about relocation help before you spend money you cannot replace. Florida’s Bureau of Victim Compensation has a victim compensation program. It may help with certain crime-related costs, but it is not automatic and it has rules, forms, and proof requirements.
Florida law allows a domestic violence relocation payment of up to $1,500 per claim, with a $3,000 lifetime limit for the same type of relocation claim. The official relocation law includes requirements such as proof of the offense, cooperation with proper authorities, certification from a certified domestic violence center, and a safety plan. The relocation worksheet explains the certification process.
Some survivors also need address privacy. Florida’s Address Confidentiality Program can let approved participants use a substitute mailing address through the Attorney General. This does not hide an address from every person or every record, so ask an advocate or legal aid office how it works before relying on it.
| Help type | What it may help with | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Victim compensation | Certain crime-related costs listed by the state | Claims require forms, proof, and state review. |
| Relocation help | Moving costs tied to domestic violence safety | A certified center must be involved. |
| Address confidentiality | A substitute mailing address for approved survivors | It does not erase all public records. |
| Local charity help | Gas, clothing, food, motel, deposits, or supplies | Funding changes and may run out. |
Food, cash, health care, and child care after abuse
Leaving abuse can create a money crisis. You may need food, medical coverage, child care, transportation, school help, and basic items at the same time. Start with one need at a time. If you have no food, unsafe housing, or no child care, say that clearly when you call.
Florida uses MyACCESS for public assistance such as SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance, and Medicaid. You can also read our Florida food help, Florida TANF, and Florida health care guides for plain-language steps.
For child care, Florida’s School Readiness program may help eligible families pay for child care. The state says parents who are victims of domestic violence may be eligible. Ask your local Early Learning Coalition what proof is needed and whether there are openings or a waitlist. Our child care help guide explains where to start.
For children’s health coverage, check Florida KidCare. For Medicaid rules, use the official Florida Medicaid page. Pregnant mothers and mothers with babies may also want our Florida WIC and baby supplies guides.
Say what changed
When applying for benefits, explain if your household, address, income, child care, or expenses changed because of abuse. Do not guess on forms. If you are worried about giving an address, ask the agency or an advocate about safer mailing options.
Housing, work, and school issues
Domestic violence can affect rent, leases, public housing, school attendance, work schedules, and transportation. If you receive HUD-assisted housing, the federal HUD VAWA protections may help. These protections can cover things such as denial, eviction, termination, emergency transfer requests, confidentiality, and lease changes in covered housing. They do not cover every private rental, so ask a legal aid office before making housing decisions.
If you are behind on rent, need a safer place, or need utility help, call 211 and ask about local openings. You can also use our Florida housing help and transportation help guides.
Florida law gives some workers up to three working days of leave in a 12-month period for certain domestic violence or sexual violence needs. The official leave law has limits, including employer size and how long you have worked there. If you lost work or had to leave work because of abuse, Florida’s unemployment law may matter. Before quitting or giving details to an employer, talk with an advocate or legal aid if you can. Our job loss help guide gives more starting points.
If stress, fear, sleep loss, or trauma symptoms are affecting you or your child, ask your advocate, pediatrician, school counselor, community mental health center, or 988 about support. Our mental health help guide lists Florida starting points.
Documents and information checklist
Do not risk your safety to collect papers. If it is safe, these items can help with benefits, court, housing, school, or victim compensation. If you do not have them, ask the agency what other proof may work.
| Item | Why it may help | Safety note |
|---|---|---|
| ID for you and children | Benefits, school, health care, shelter intake, court | Copies may help if originals are not safe to get. |
| Birth certificates | School, benefits, housing, child-related proof | Ask an advocate about replacing documents. |
| Income and job papers | SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, child care, housing | Use what you have; do not guess. |
| Lease or housing papers | VAWA, rental help, address changes, court | Tell legal aid if the abuser is on the lease. |
| Police or court papers | Injunctions, victim compensation, relocation claims | Keep copies somewhere the abuser cannot access. |
| Medical or counseling bills | Victim compensation and health coverage questions | Ask how to send papers safely. |
Phone scripts you can use
You can change these words to fit your situation. If you are not safe to talk, call from a safer phone or ask if chat, relay, or an advocate callback is possible.
Calling the Florida hotline
“I am a mother in Florida and I need domestic violence help. I may need shelter, safety planning, and help for my children. Can you connect me with the certified center for my county?”
Calling the courthouse
“I need information about filing for an injunction for protection. I am worried about safety and privacy. Can you tell me where to file, what forms are used, and whether an advocate is available?”
Calling child care help
“I am leaving an unsafe situation and need child care so I can work, go to appointments, or handle court and benefits. How do I apply for School Readiness, and what proof do you need?”
Calling 211
“I am a single mother dealing with domestic violence. I need local help with food, housing, transportation, and basic supplies. Can you check what is open in my county today?”
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not assume a shelter has space. Call first if it is safe, and ask for backup options.
- Do not rely on social media advice. Court, benefits, and housing rules vary by case and county.
- Do not skip legal help. Custody, housing, immigration, and protective orders can overlap.
- Do not risk your safety for paperwork. Ask what other proof may work.
- Do not wait until everything is perfect. If you are unsafe, contact an advocate and take one safer step.
If the first place cannot help
If a hotline, shelter, agency, or nonprofit cannot help right away, ask for a specific next referral. Say what county you are in, whether children are with you, whether you can travel, and what is most urgent. Ask if there is a waitlist, a different office, a nearby county option, or a safer time to call back.
For Native survivors, StrongHearts offers confidential, culturally centered support by phone, text, and chat. For broader local needs, keep Florida 211 as a backup search tool for food, shelter, utilities, transportation, and health care referrals.
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para ayuda por violencia doméstica en Florida, llame al 1-800-500-1119. Hay ayuda en español, inglés y criollo. También puede llamar a la LÃnea Nacional de Violencia Doméstica al 1-800-799-7233 o enviar START al 88788.
Un centro certificado de violencia doméstica puede ayudar con refugio, planificación de seguridad, apoyo para niños, referencias, y preguntas sobre la corte. Si necesita comida, vivienda, cuidado infantil o ayuda local, llame al 211. Esta guÃa es información general. No es consejo legal ni un plan de seguridad.
FAQ
What is the first number to call for domestic violence help in Florida?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For domestic violence help that is not a 911 emergency, call Florida’s domestic violence hotline at 1-800-500-1119. The hotline can connect you with a certified local center.
Can a Florida domestic violence shelter help if I have children?
Yes, certified centers may help parents and children with emergency shelter, advocacy, safety planning, referrals, and child-related needs. Space and services depend on the center and current availability.
Does it cost money to file for a domestic violence injunction in Florida?
Florida law says there is no filing fee for a domestic violence injunction petition. Other costs may still come up, so ask the clerk, advocate, or legal aid office about your situation.
Can Florida help pay relocation costs after domestic violence?
Florida has a domestic violence relocation benefit through victim compensation, but it is not automatic. A certified domestic violence center must be involved, and state rules, forms, proof, and limits apply.
Can I keep my address private in Florida?
Florida has an Address Confidentiality Program for some survivors. It may allow approved participants to use a substitute mailing address, but it does not erase all records or protect every situation.
Where can I get food or child care help after leaving abuse?
Use MyACCESS for SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance, and Medicaid. For child care, contact your local Early Learning Coalition and ask about School Readiness and domestic violence circumstances.
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.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.