Last updated: May 20, 2026
Urgent help first
If you or your children are in danger right now, call 911. If it is safer to talk with a trained advocate first, call Massachusetts SafeLink at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is the statewide domestic violence hotline. The official SafeLink page says Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers can use video relay with the main number or TTY at 877-521-2601.
You can also contact the National Hotline at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use online chat. If it is not safe to use your own phone or device, use a safe phone, a trusted person’s device, or a public device where your activity is less likely to be seen.
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice or a personal safety plan. A domestic violence advocate, court advocate, legal aid lawyer, or licensed professional can help you choose safer next steps for your situation.
Bottom line
Massachusetts has several real help paths for single mothers dealing with abuse: SafeLink for confidential support and shelter referrals, local domestic violence programs, 209A abuse prevention orders, 258E harassment prevention orders, emergency family shelter, RAFT housing help, DTA domestic violence specialists, legal aid, victim compensation, and address privacy help.
Start with the safest contact method. If calling a hotline could put you at risk, ask a trusted person, school social worker, hospital social worker, police domestic violence officer, court clerk, or legal aid office to help you connect. You do not need to have every document ready before asking for help.
Where to start in Massachusetts
Domestic violence can include physical harm, threats, sexual abuse, stalking, isolation, financial control, technology abuse, and fear-based control. You do not have to decide alone whether your situation “counts.” A trained advocate can listen and explain options without forcing you to take a step you are not ready to take.
If you need safety support
Call SafeLink at 877-785-2020 or use SafeLink chat. Ask for safety planning, shelter referrals, and local domestic violence programs near your town.
If you need court protection
Ask a court clerk about a 209A abuse prevention order or a 258E harassment prevention order. A SAFEPLAN advocate may be able to help at some courts.
If you need a place tonight
Call 911 for immediate danger. Call SafeLink for domestic violence shelter referrals. If you are pregnant or have children under 21 and have no safe place to stay, apply for EA Family Shelter.
If money is trapped
Contact DTA and ask for a Domestic Violence Specialist. They can talk with you about TAFDC, SNAP, child support cooperation problems, and good cause rules.
Quick reference table
| Need | Best first step | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | Call 911 and say you need help for domestic violence. | Use the safest phone available. Share your location first if you can. |
| Confidential safety support | Call SafeLink at 877-785-2020. | Shelter space can change by the hour. Ask about backup options. |
| Restraining order | Ask the court about a 209A abuse prevention order. | A court order is one tool. Ask an advocate about safe service and follow-up. |
| Harassment or stalking | Ask whether a 258E harassment prevention order fits. | Relationship rules differ from 209A. The court can explain the filing path. |
| No safe housing | Call SafeLink and apply for EA Family Shelter if you have children or are pregnant. | The family shelter system has capacity limits and contact-list rules. |
| Food or cash help | Use DTA Connect or call DTA and ask about DV support. | Tell DTA if child support cooperation, work rules, or appointments are unsafe. |
Hotlines and local advocates
SafeLink is usually the best first call for domestic violence in Massachusetts. It can connect you with local domestic violence programs, shelter openings, safety planning, and other community resources. Jane Doe Inc. also has a program finder for domestic violence and sexual assault services by area.
Massachusetts 2-1-1 can help with food, shelter, utility, transportation, child care, and other local needs. Call 2-1-1 or 877-211-6277, or use Mass 211 online. For domestic violence-specific help, SafeLink is still the safer first call.
- SafeLink: 877-785-2020 for statewide domestic violence support and shelter referrals.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or online chat.
- Local programs: use Jane Doe Inc. to search by city, town, county, or zip code.
- Mass 211: use it for non-emergency local help, such as food, transportation, diapers, and utility referrals.
Protection orders and court help
Massachusetts has two common civil protection-order paths. A 209A abuse prevention order is for abuse by a family or household member, a spouse or former spouse, a co-parent, a relative by blood or marriage, or someone you are or were in a substantial dating relationship with. A 258E harassment prevention order may fit harassment, stalking, or sexual assault when the relationship does not fit 209A.
The Massachusetts Trial Court has official 209A forms and official steps to request 258E. Massachusetts Legal Help also has plain-language guides on 209A orders and 258E orders.
Ask for help at court
Ask the clerk if a SAFEPLAN advocate is available. MOVA describes SAFEPLAN advocates as trained court-based advocates who help people seeking protection from abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. They are not your lawyer, but they may help you understand forms and local steps.
| Question | 209A abuse prevention order | 258E harassment order |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is usually for | Abuse by a family member, household member, co-parent, spouse, former spouse, or dating partner. | Harassment, stalking, or sexual assault when the relationship may not fit 209A. |
| Where to ask | District Court, Boston Municipal Court, Probate and Family Court, or Superior Court. | District Court, Boston Municipal Court, or Superior Court. |
| What to bring | ID if you have it, safe contact information, children’s information, and any records you can safely gather. | ID if you have it, safe contact information, details of incidents, and any safe records. |
| Important note | Ask the court how to protect your address and how service will happen. | Ask the court which facts are needed for harassment, stalking, or sexual assault. |
For legal advice, use the legal aid finder or ask the court about a Court Service Center. If you can, talk with a domestic violence advocate before filing so you can think through safe contact information, service of papers, child pickup, school safety, and what to do after the hearing.
Privacy, phones, and documents
Safety and privacy are personal. Do not make a device change, password change, or move-out plan if doing so could make the abuse worse. A trained advocate can help you think through safer options.
If you have moved or plan to move, the Massachusetts Address Confidentiality Program may help keep your real address out of some public records. The Secretary of the Commonwealth says the Address Confidentiality Program gives eligible survivors a protected mailing address to use with state and municipal agencies.
| Keep if safe | Why it may help | Safety note |
|---|---|---|
| Photos of injuries or damage | May support court, housing, school, or victim compensation steps. | Store only where the abuser cannot access them. |
| Threatening messages | May show patterns of threats, stalking, or control. | Screenshot, save, or forward only if it is safe. |
| Police, medical, or court papers | May help with protection orders, housing, leave, or benefits. | Ask an advocate where to keep copies. |
| Receipts for costs | May help with victim compensation or housing applications. | Do not keep papers where they can be found by the abuser. |
Shelter and housing help
If you are fleeing abuse, call SafeLink first for domestic violence shelter referrals. Domestic violence shelters are different from general homeless shelters because they focus on safety, confidentiality, advocacy, and support for survivors and children.
If you are pregnant or have children under 21 and have no safe place to stay, you can also review EA Family Shelter. The state says families can apply online through the Housing Help Hub. Massachusetts also says the EA family shelter system has a capacity limit and a shelter contact list, so respond quickly to calls, texts, emails, or portal notices.
RAFT can help some households with rent, utilities, moving costs, mortgage costs, or other housing emergencies. Start with the official RAFT application. If it is unsafe to contact your landlord, gather papers, or explain the abuse yourself, ask a domestic violence advocate or legal aid office to help.
Housing reality check
Shelter and rent-help systems can be full, slow, or hard to reach. Apply anyway if you may qualify, but also ask SafeLink, Mass 211, legal aid, school staff, hospital social workers, and local community agencies about backup options. Do not rely on one application if you have no safe place to sleep.
Food and cash help help
Abuse often blocks money, food, transportation, documents, child care, and health care. Massachusetts DTA has Domestic Violence Specialists. The official DTA DV services page says DTA can help if you are now or have ever experienced domestic violence. DTA policy also explains that a person can request good cause because of domestic violence for some program rules.
You can apply for SNAP, TAFDC, and EAEDC through DTA Connect. You can also call the DTA Assistance Line at 877-382-2363. If child support cooperation is unsafe, or if work rules or appointments are unsafe because of abuse, say: “I need to speak with a Domestic Violence Specialist.”
For health coverage, MassHealth is Massachusetts Medicaid and CHIP. The state has an official page to apply for MassHealth. If you need medical care after assault or injury, ask the hospital or clinic for a social worker and domestic violence advocate connection.
| Help type | Where to start | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP food help | DTA Connect or DTA Assistance Line | “I need food help and my situation involves domestic violence.” |
| TAFDC cash help | DTA Connect or DTA office | “Child support or work rules may not be safe for me.” |
| WIC | Local WIC office or state WIC resources | “I need nutrition help for pregnancy, a baby, or a young child.” |
| MassHealth | MassHealth application help | “I need health coverage and may need safe contact information.” |
| Child care | Mass 211 or the state child care waitlist | “I need safe child care because I am dealing with domestic violence.” |
Work, school, and child safety
Massachusetts has a domestic violence leave law for some workers. The state’s DV leave law resource explains leave connected to domestic violence. The law applies to employers with 50 or more employees and can cover time for medical care, counseling, legal help, housing, safety planning, court, and related needs. Ask HR how to request leave, but do not share more details than needed.
If your child’s school or child care program needs a copy of a court order, ask the court or advocate how to share it safely. Ask the school about pickup rules, emergency contacts, bus stop safety, address privacy, and who can receive information. If you believe a child is being abused or neglected, the state’s DCF report page explains how to report. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
If abuse caused medical, dental, counseling, funeral, lost-wage, home-security, or other crime-related costs, ask about Massachusetts victim compensation. Do not wait until every bill is complete before asking what proof may be needed.
If you live in subsidized housing
If you have a housing voucher, public housing, or certain federally assisted housing, you may have protections under the Violence Against Women Act. HUD’s VAWA housing page explains protections that can include keeping housing help, asking for an emergency transfer, and not being punished for abuse committed against you.
If you are denied, delayed, ignored, or overwhelmed
Many survivors have to ask more than once. A denial or long wait does not always mean there is no help. It may mean the office needs another document, the wrong program was contacted, the worker did not understand the safety risk, or funding is limited.
- For court problems: ask for a SAFEPLAN advocate, Court Service Center, legal aid, or lawyer referral.
- For DTA problems: ask for a Domestic Violence Specialist, a supervisor callback, or help from legal aid.
- For shelter problems: keep checking SafeLink, EA Family Shelter notices, and Mass 211. Update your phone and email right away.
- For housing problems: ask RAFT, legal aid, a housing authority, or a local Housing Consumer Education Center what else may fit.
- For language access: ask for an interpreter. Courts and public benefit offices should not make a child interpret for you.
Backup options
Use backup options when the first line is full, closed, or not safe to use. A backup plan may include calling the National Hotline if SafeLink is not reachable, using Mass 211 for food and transportation while SafeLink handles DV shelter, asking legal aid about court or housing issues, and asking DTA about emergency benefits and safe contact rules.
Phone scripts
Calling SafeLink
“Hi, I’m a single mother in Massachusetts. I’m dealing with domestic violence and I need help thinking through safe options. I may need shelter or a local advocate. I need to keep my location and contact information private.”
Calling the court clerk
“I need information about filing for a 209A abuse prevention order or a 258E harassment prevention order. Is a SAFEPLAN advocate available today? I also need to know how to keep my address confidential.”
Calling DTA
“I receive or need SNAP or TAFDC, and domestic violence affects my case. I need to speak with a Domestic Violence Specialist about safe contact, good cause, and any rules that may put me or my children at risk.”
Calling a housing office
“I am fleeing domestic violence with my children and need help with shelter or housing costs. What application should I start, what documents are required, and how can I protect my address and phone number?”
Read next on A Single Mother
Use these pages for related Massachusetts help. They are not a replacement for a domestic violence advocate or legal advice, but they can help with food, housing, benefits, child care, and legal next steps.
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para ayuda confidencial por violencia doméstica en Massachusetts, llame a SafeLink al 877-785-2020. También puede llamar a la Línea Nacional de Violencia Doméstica al 800-799-7233 o enviar START al 88788.
Puede pedir ayuda con refugio, órdenes de protección, comida, dinero, vivienda, beneficios, cuidado médico y ayuda legal. Si no es seguro usar su teléfono, use un teléfono seguro o pida ayuda a una persona de confianza, escuela, clínica, corte o programa local.
Questions single mothers ask in Massachusetts
What number should I call for domestic violence help in Massachusetts?
Call SafeLink at 877-785-2020 for statewide domestic violence support. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
Can I get help if I am not ready to leave?
Yes. You can call SafeLink or a local domestic violence program to talk about options, safety planning, documents, children, money, housing, and legal help. You do not have to be ready to leave to ask questions.
What is a 209A order?
A 209A abuse prevention order is a Massachusetts court order for abuse involving certain family, household, dating, spouse, former spouse, or co-parent relationships. A court clerk, SAFEPLAN advocate, or legal aid office can explain filing steps.
What if the person harassing me is not a partner or family member?
Ask the court whether a 258E harassment prevention order fits. It may apply to harassment, stalking, or sexual assault when the relationship does not fit 209A.
Can DTA help if domestic violence affects my benefits?
Yes. Ask DTA for a Domestic Violence Specialist. They can discuss safe contact, TAFDC, SNAP, child support cooperation concerns, and good cause rules when domestic violence affects a case.
Can I hide my address after moving?
The Massachusetts Address Confidentiality Program may help eligible survivors use a protected mailing address with state and municipal agencies. Ask a domestic violence advocate or the program how to apply safely.
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.