Last updated: May 20, 2026
Urgent help in Colorado
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. If it is not safe to speak freely, say as little as you safely can, give your location, and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
For 24/7 domestic violence support, call National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, chat online, or text START to 88788. For emotional, mental health, or substance use crisis support in Colorado, call or text 988 Colorado.
If you are worried a child is being abused or neglected, call the child abuse hotline at 1-844-CO-4-KIDS or 1-844-264-5437. If the child is in life-threatening danger, call 911 first.
Bottom line
Colorado has several real help paths for single mothers facing domestic violence: crisis hotlines, local advocacy programs, civil protection orders, address privacy, crime victim compensation, legal aid, child care help, health coverage, food help, and emergency shelter referrals.
The safest first step is often to talk with a confidential advocate before you make a big move, file papers, serve court papers, or tell an unsafe person you plan to leave. A local advocate can help you think through safety, children, housing, phones, transportation, and court dates in your county.
This guide gives general information only. It is not legal advice, safety advice, medical advice, or a promise that a program will accept you. Rules, funding, waitlists, and court steps can change.
Where to start
You do not have to know the right program name before you ask for help. Start with the problem in front of you: danger tonight, a place to sleep, court protection, food, child care, medical care, or a safe way to keep your address private.
If you need safety tonight
Call 911 for immediate danger. For confidential support, contact the National DV Hotline or use Violence Free Colorado to find a community-based program near you.
If you need court protection
Start with the Colorado protection order page. Ask an advocate or legal aid office about safety around filing, court dates, and service.
If you need food or rent help
Call 211 Colorado for local food, shelter, rent, utility, transportation, child care, and legal referrals. You can also apply for public benefits through Colorado PEAK.
Quick reference table
| Need | Start here | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | Call 911. Then contact a confidential advocate when safe. | Do not wait for a website or form if danger is happening now. |
| Shelter or advocacy | Use Violence Free Colorado or the National DV Hotline. | Shelter beds can be full. Ask about another county, hotel help, or a safer backup. |
| Protection order | Use Colorado Judicial forms and your county court. | Filing papers can affect safety. Ask an advocate before service when possible. |
| Hidden address | Ask about the Colorado Address Confidentiality Program. | ACP is not a secret-location plan by itself. It is one part of a larger safety plan. |
| Food, cash, health care | Apply through Colorado PEAK or your county human services office. | Benefits rules depend on income, household size, immigration status, and documents. |
Before using a shared phone or computer
Some people who abuse track phones, browsers, location sharing, bank apps, email, and social media. If you think your device is being watched, use a safer device when you can, such as a trusted friend’s phone, a public library computer, or a phone at an advocacy program. Ask an advocate for help before changing passwords, turning off location sharing, or deleting messages if you think it could raise danger.
Find local domestic violence advocates in Colorado
Colorado’s Domestic Violence Program funds community-based advocacy organizations, but it does not provide direct crisis services to the public. For direct help, use a local domestic violence program, the National DV Hotline, or 211.
Local programs may help with confidential safety planning, emergency shelter referrals, court support, support groups, housing information, and referrals for food, counseling, and legal help. Services vary by county and by funding.
- Statewide: Use survivor resources from Violence Free Colorado to find a program near your county.
- Denver area: Rose Andom Center connects survivors with several services in one place.
- Denver area: SafeHouse Denver offers a crisis line, emergency shelter, counseling, and advocacy for survivors and children.
- Sexual assault overlap: You Have the Right explains Colorado sexual assault reporting options and support paths.
For more same-state help, keep the Colorado community guide open while you call. It can help you find food banks, local nonprofits, and county services near you.
Colorado protection orders
A civil protection order is a court order that can tell another person not to contact you, come near you, threaten you, or go to certain places. It may also address children or pets when the court allows it. It is not the same as a criminal case, and it does not replace a safety plan.
Colorado Judicial Branch lists the main forms and instructions on its protection order page. The court says the case can be filed in a county where the incident happened, where either party lives, or where either party works. Colorado Judicial Branch also says there is no filing fee for cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
| Step | What to know | Ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Before filing | Talk with an advocate or legal aid if it is safe. Filing can change risk. | Safe timing, child exchanges, service, transportation, court waiting areas. |
| Filing forms | Use the official court forms. Add child-related forms if they apply. | What must be public, what can be kept private, and how to describe events. |
| Temporary order | The judge may ask questions and may issue a temporary order. | Certified copies for school, child care, work, and law enforcement. |
| Service | The other person usually must be served before the permanent hearing. | Who can serve papers and what to do if service is not completed. |
| Permanent hearing | You must appear unless the court tells you otherwise. | Interpreter, remote appearance, advocate, evidence, and child safety concerns. |
If you need help with the process, Project Safeguard provides civil protection order advocacy in several Denver metro counties, and Colorado Legal Services may help low-income survivors with protection orders, custody, divorce, and related family law issues.
Address privacy in Colorado
The Address Confidentiality Program is a statewide Colorado program that gives eligible survivors a legal substitute address for state and local government agencies, plus confidential mail forwarding. It can help when you are worried that your home, work, or school address may be exposed.
ACP can be useful for court papers, school records, public benefits, driver and license records, voter records, and other public-facing records. It is not the same as emergency shelter, and it does not stop someone from finding you through friends, phones, social media, shared accounts, or private companies. Ask an advocate how ACP fits into your full safety plan.
Money, housing, food, and health coverage
Leaving abuse can create money problems fast. You may need food, a phone, child care, gas, rent, medical care, counseling, or help replacing locks. No single program covers everything, so use several paths at the same time when it is safe.
Crime victim compensation
Crime victim compensation may help with certain costs tied to a qualifying crime, such as medical care, counseling, lost wages, funeral costs, damage to outside locks, windows or doors, or re-keying a car to keep a victim safe. Apply in the judicial district where the crime happened. Local boards make decisions, and rules can vary by claim.
Housing and eviction help
Colorado law has housing protections for survivors, including limits on punishing a tenant for calling police or emergency help in a domestic violence, domestic abuse, unlawful sexual behavior, or stalking situation. Some survivors may be able to end a lease early with required documents. Because housing law is detailed and fact-specific, talk with legal aid before you rely on a law or send a notice to your landlord.
Use the Colorado housing guide for rental help, shelters, and housing programs. If you are behind on rent or facing eviction, also read rent and eviction help.
Public benefits
Colorado PEAK is the main online place to apply for or manage many state benefits, including food, cash, medical, and other help. You can also contact your county human services office if you need paper forms, help uploading documents, or help understanding a notice.
| Program | What it may help with | Where to read next |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Monthly food benefits on an EBT card for eligible households. | Colorado SNAP and SNAP in Colorado |
| Colorado Works | Colorado’s TANF program for some families with children or pregnancy. | Colorado Works and TANF in Colorado |
| CCCAP | Reduced-cost child care for eligible families who work, search for work, train, or take part in Colorado Works. | Colorado CCCAP and child care help |
| WIC | Food, nutrition support, breastfeeding support, and referrals for pregnant people, new mothers, infants, and young children. | Colorado WIC and WIC in Colorado |
| Medicaid and CHP+ | Health coverage for eligible adults, children, and pregnant people. | Health First Colorado and healthcare help |
Legal help, custody, and child support
Domestic violence can affect protection orders, divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, housing, benefits, immigration questions, and school safety. Do not rely on a website alone for legal choices. A lawyer or legal advocate can help you understand what applies to your county and your facts.
Start with Colorado Legal Services if you have low income and need family law help. If child support is part of the problem, read the Colorado child support guide, but talk with a lawyer or advocate if asking for support could create safety risks.
Safety note about custody
If you share children with the abusive person, ask for legal help before moving, withholding visits, changing schools, or changing phone contact. There may be court orders or laws that affect your options. An advocate can help you ask the right questions without giving legal advice.
Children, school, work, and health
Tell only the people who need to know and who can help keep your children safe. This may include a school counselor, child care director, trusted pediatrician, court advocate, or benefits worker. Ask how they protect private information before sharing a new address or phone number.
If you have a protection order, ask the court clerk how to get certified copies. You may need copies for school, child care, work, or law enforcement. Ask the school what they need to follow the order and how they handle pick-up lists.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, panicked, or unable to cope, call or text 988 in Colorado. You can also use the Colorado mental health guide to look for counseling and crisis support options.
Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act can allow paid sick leave for certain health and safety needs, including needs tied to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or criminal harassment. Colorado’s FAMLI program is separate and may also help some workers take paid leave. Read the state HFWA guidance and ask your employer or legal aid about your situation before sharing private details at work.
Backup options if the first place cannot help
- If a shelter is full, ask the advocate to check nearby counties, hotel funds, transportation help, or a safer temporary plan.
- If you cannot safely call, use chat or text with the National DV Hotline when possible.
- If you are denied benefits, save the notice and ask about appeal rights, missing documents, and county help.
- If a landlord refuses to follow survivor protections, contact Colorado Legal Services or another tenant legal aid provider.
- If your phone is unsafe, ask a local advocate about a safe phone, a new email, and safer contact methods.
- If you need baby items or diapers while relocating, use the Colorado baby items guide.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using only one source of help. Call an advocate, 211, benefits office, legal aid, and school supports as needed.
- Posting plans online. Social media can expose location, court plans, or shelter plans.
- Assuming shelter is guaranteed. Beds and funds change often. Ask about backups.
- Ignoring mail and court dates. If you cannot attend, ask the court or legal aid what options exist.
- Sharing your new address too quickly. Ask about ACP, school records, benefits records, and court privacy.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling a domestic violence advocate
“I am a single mother in Colorado and I need confidential domestic violence help. I need to talk about safety, shelter options, and my children. Is this a safe time to tell you what is happening?”
Calling the court
“I need information about filing for a civil protection order. I am not asking for legal advice. Can you tell me where to find the forms, filing location, interpreter options, and what to do if service is not completed before the hearing?”
Calling legal aid
“I am a low-income survivor of domestic violence and I have children. I need help with protection orders, custody, housing, or benefits. What intake steps should I take, and what documents should I keep ready?”
Calling benefits or 211
“I left a domestic violence situation and need help with food, child care, health coverage, rent, and transportation. Can you screen me for urgent programs and tell me what documents I need?”
Documents and information to gather
Only gather documents if it is safe. Do not go back to an unsafe place for papers. An advocate can help you think through safer options.
| Item | Why it may help | Safety note |
|---|---|---|
| IDs and birth certificates | Benefits, school, shelter, health care, and court forms. | Copies or photos may help if originals are not safe to get. |
| Benefit cards and notices | SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, TANF, child care, and case updates. | Ask the agency how to update a safe mailing address. |
| Lease and utility bills | Housing, emergency rent help, ACP, and utility assistance. | Talk with legal aid before sending landlord notices. |
| Court orders | School pickup, child care, police reports, and legal aid intake. | Keep copies somewhere the unsafe person cannot access. |
| Messages or records | May help with court, legal aid, or victim compensation. | Ask an advocate before deleting or moving records from a watched phone. |
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato en Colorado, llame al 911. Para ayuda confidencial por violencia doméstica, llame a la Línea Nacional de Violencia Doméstica al 1-800-799-7233, use el chat en línea o mande START al 88788. También puede llamar o mandar texto al 988 para apoyo de crisis emocional o de salud mental.
Un programa local de violencia doméstica puede ayudarle a pensar en seguridad, refugio, órdenes de protección, niños, vivienda, beneficios y ayuda legal. Si necesita comida, cuidado infantil, Medicaid, WIC, TANF o SNAP, puede usar Colorado PEAK o llamar a 211 para recursos locales.
FAQ
What should I do first if I am in danger in Colorado?
Call 911 if danger is happening now. If you are not in immediate danger but need confidential support, contact the National DV Hotline or a local domestic violence advocate.
Can a Colorado protection order include my children?
It may, depending on the facts and what the court orders. Use the Colorado Judicial Branch forms and ask legal aid or an advocate about child-related issues before filing if you can do so safely.
Can I leave a lease because of domestic violence in Colorado?
Colorado law has tenant protections for some survivors, but the steps and documents matter. Talk with legal aid or an advocate before you send a notice or move if you have time to ask safely.
Where can I find a shelter in my county?
Use Violence Free Colorado, the National DV Hotline, or 211 Colorado to find programs near your county. Shelter availability changes, so ask about backup options if the first place is full.
Can I get help with food, child care, or health coverage while I leave?
Possibly. Apply through Colorado PEAK or your county human services office for SNAP, Colorado Works, child care help, Health First Colorado, CHP+, and other programs. Eligibility depends on your household and documents.
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.