Domestic Violence Help for Single Mothers in Pennsylvania

Where to start

Pick the safest first step. You do not have to explain everything at once. A short sentence like, “I am not safe at home and I have children with me,” is enough to start a call.

Quick help table

Protection From Abuse orders in Pennsylvania

A Protection From Abuse order can tell the other person to stop abuse, stay away, leave a home, surrender weapons in certain cases, and follow other court rules. The exact order depends on your facts and what the judge decides.

The Pennsylvania court process includes emergency, temporary, and final orders. If you need protection outside regular court hours, Pennsylvania says an emergency PFA may be issued after hours by a Magisterial District Judge and usually lasts until the next business day when court reopens. A temporary PFA is reviewed at the courthouse, and the final hearing is scheduled no more than 10 business days from the temporary filing. A final PFA may last up to three years.

You can review forms through the PFA forms page, but it is often safer and easier to ask a local domestic violence advocate for help before filing. An advocate may help you think through safety, service of papers, school pickup, housing, pets, and what to bring to court.

Keep your address off public records

Pennsylvania’s Address Confidentiality Program can give eligible survivors an alternate mailing address. The state says the program may help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, or child abduction keep their real address out of public records.

The Address Confidentiality Program can be used for some court and state government records, driver’s licenses, ID cards, vehicle registrations, voter registration, school records, utility bills, and employment records. Participants renew every three years. You can apply online, through a local victim service program, or by calling the Office of Victim Advocate at 800-563-6399.

Reality check: this program does not erase information already online, and it is not witness protection. Ask an advocate how to use it with school, custody, court, housing, and benefits paperwork.

Food, cash, child care, and utilities while you stabilize

Leaving abuse often creates a money emergency. Benefits are not special domestic violence grants, but they can help with food, child care, heating, health coverage, and basic needs while you make a safer plan.

For Pennsylvania-specific ASMOM guides, see Pennsylvania SNAP help, Pennsylvania TANF help, Pennsylvania WIC help, Pennsylvania child care, and Pennsylvania utility help.

For WIC income limits, Pennsylvania lists the 2025-2026 chart on its WIC income page. For child care, the state says a family must generally be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines to start Child Care Works, with 2026 income examples on the program page. Use the ELRC finder to contact the office for your county.

Shelter and housing rights

If you need a safe place tonight, do not start with a general housing waitlist. Start with a domestic violence advocate through PCADV or call 211. DV programs may know which safe houses are full, which counties can take families, and whether transportation or motel help is possible.

If you live in public housing, Section 8, or certain HUD-assisted housing, the Violence Against Women Act may protect you from being denied housing, evicted, or punished because of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. HUD also has forms for VAWA rights, emergency transfer requests, and self-certification on the HUD VAWA page.

Housing rules vary by program and landlord. If you receive a notice, do not ignore it. Contact legal aid quickly. You can also read ASMOM’s Pennsylvania housing help for rent, shelter, and housing program starting points.

Legal, medical, and victim services

For legal information about PFAs, custody, divorce, immigration-related safety issues, or housing, start with PA Safe Law. It provides civil legal information and referrals for people affected by domestic violence and sexual violence. For legal aid offices by county, use PLAN legal help.

For a Pennsylvania-focused overview of family law and safety resources, see ASMOM’s Pennsylvania legal help. If child support action could put you or your children at risk, talk with your County Assistance Office and a legal advocate before giving unsafe contact information. You can also review Pennsylvania child support.

If you experienced sexual assault, a forensic medical exam should not be billed to you in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape explains this on its hospital fees page. You do not need to decide every legal step before asking for medical care or an advocate.

If the abuse has affected sleep, anxiety, depression, panic, parenting stress, or your child’s behavior, ask your domestic violence program, clinic, school, or health plan for trauma-informed counseling options. ASMOM also has Pennsylvania mental health resources.

Documents and information checklist

Do not delay urgent help because you do not have every paper. Apply or call first, then ask what can be added later.

If you are denied, delayed, ignored, or overwhelmed

Start by asking for the reason in writing. For benefits, ask what proof is missing and the deadline to send it. For SNAP, TANF, Medical Assistance, or LIHEAP status, Pennsylvania offers an application tracker, and the DHS helpline is 1-800-692-7462.

If a court, landlord, school, or agency is not responding, call a local DV advocate and legal aid. If a benefits case is denied or closed, see ASMOM’s guide on benefits problems.

If you need local help beyond domestic violence services, ASMOM’s local resource guide explains how to use 211, Community Action agencies, churches, schools, clinics, and nonprofits without falling for fake grants or lead forms.