Last updated: May 20, 2026
Emergency help first
If you or your children are in danger right now, call 911. If it is not safe to use your own phone or computer, try to use a trusted phone, a library computer, a school office, a clinic, or another safe device.
For confidential domestic violence or sexual violence support anywhere in New Hampshire, call the NH statewide helpline at 1-866-644-3574. The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence says the statewide helpline and local crisis center lines are available 24/7, and you do not need to be in crisis to call.
For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 833-710-6477 or 988 through NH Rapid Response. For food, housing, utility, legal, and local referrals, dial 211 or call 1-866-444-4211 through 211 NH.
Bottom line
New Hampshire has a statewide domestic and sexual violence helpline, 12 local crisis centers, court protection orders, legal aid, crime victim compensation, address confidentiality, housing protections, and public benefits that may help you leave, stay safer, or stabilize after abuse.
Start with an advocate if you can. Advocates can help you think through shelter, transportation, protection orders, children, benefits, housing, and paperwork without pushing you into a choice. This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice or a personal safety plan. For broader national starting points, see our emergency help guide.
Where to start in New Hampshire
You do not have to solve every problem in one day. Pick the door that fits what is happening right now.
If you need to get safe tonight
Call 911 for immediate danger. For shelter, safety planning, court help, or local advocacy, call the statewide helpline at 1-866-644-3574 or contact a local crisis center.
If you need a court order
Ask an advocate or 603 Legal Aid about a domestic violence or stalking order. You can also review New Hampshire court information on protection orders.
If you need benefits
Apply or screen for food, cash, medical, and child care help through NH EASY. Our New Hampshire help page explains other state programs for single mothers.
Quick contact table
| Need | Who to contact | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | Police, fire, or medical response. |
| DV or sexual violence support | NH statewide helpline, 1-866-644-3574 | Safety planning, shelter, court advocacy, local crisis center help. |
| Food, shelter, utilities, local aid | 211 NH | Nearest emergency resources and referrals. |
| Mental health crisis | NH Rapid Response, 833-710-6477 or 988 | Phone, text, chat, and possible mobile crisis help. |
| Protection order legal help | 603 Legal Aid or DOVE | Protective order help and legal referrals. |
| Crime-related costs | NH Victims’ Compensation | Application for eligible crime-related expenses. |
Domestic violence advocates and crisis centers
The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is the umbrella organization for the state’s 12 crisis centers. The Coalition says confidential advocates can help victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and child abuse. Services may include 24/7 hotline support, emergency domestic violence shelter, help at hospitals, police departments, courts, and child advocacy centers, plus referrals for financial, medical, legal, and social services.
Call 1-866-644-3574 to reach the statewide helpline, or use the Coalition’s crisis center list to find the program closest to you. Some local programs also offer chat or text support. If you speak Spanish or another language, ask for an interpreter.
Safety note
If someone monitors your phone, email, browser, apps, or location, do not try to change everything at once if it could put you at greater risk. Call an advocate from a safer device and ask about a safer way to make a plan.
Protection orders in New Hampshire
New Hampshire domestic violence protection orders are handled through the courts under RSA 173-B. A protection order may be an option when abuse involves a family or household member, spouse or former spouse, current or former intimate partner, or dating partner. Stalking orders and civil restraining orders may apply in different situations.
During court hours, you can contact the New Hampshire Circuit Court or review the court’s domestic violence petition. The court form is used by the person filing for a civil protection from domestic violence order. If the court is closed and there is immediate and present danger, New Hampshire law allows temporary orders to be issued by phone or facsimile through a circuit court judge to a law enforcement officer. Those telephonic orders are effective until the close of the next regular court business day.
There is no filing fee or service fee for petitions under RSA 173-B. You do not need a lawyer to file, but legal help can be very useful, especially if custody, housing, weapons, immigration issues, benefits, or cross-petitions are involved.
| Step | What it means | Who can help |
|---|---|---|
| Talk to an advocate | Discuss safety, shelter, court, kids, and documents. | NH statewide helpline. |
| File forms | Use court forms and explain what happened in your own words. | Court staff, advocate, or legal aid. |
| Temporary order | A judge may issue short-term protection if the legal standard is met. | Circuit Court or police after hours. |
| Final hearing | Both sides may be heard before a longer order is decided. | 603 Legal Aid, DOVE, NHLA. |
Housing, shelter, and keeping your address safer
If you need emergency shelter related to abuse, start with the statewide helpline. Crisis centers do not publish every shelter detail for safety reasons, and space can change. An advocate can also talk through transportation, children, pets, and what to do if the nearest shelter is full.
If you are in subsidized housing, public housing, a Housing Choice Voucher, or another covered housing program, federal VAWA housing protections may help. HUD says covered survivors generally cannot be denied, evicted, or terminated from covered housing assistance because of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking committed against them. Covered survivors may also be able to request an emergency transfer, keep information confidential, or self-certify with HUD forms.
New Hampshire also has an Address Confidentiality Program through the Department of Justice. It is meant to help state and local agencies respond to public records requests without disclosing the location of a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Ask an advocate or legal aid before applying so you understand how it works with court, benefits, school, voting, and mail.
For broader rent, shelter, utility, and housing steps, see our New Hampshire guides on housing help, emergency assistance, and utility help.
Money, food, health care, and child care
Leaving or surviving abuse often creates money problems fast. You may need food, diapers, gas, a phone, medical care, child care, replacement documents, or a safer place to sleep. Apply for public benefits if you might qualify, but also call 211 and a crisis center because local funding and shelter options can change day to day.
| Need | Possible program | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Food | SNAP, WIC, food pantries | Use NH EASY and see SNAP in NH and WIC in NH. |
| Cash help | FANF and emergency aid | Review DHHS assistance and our TANF in NH guide. |
| Health care | Medicaid, Granite Advantage, clinics | Apply through NH EASY and see health care help. |
| Child care | NH Child Care Scholarship | Review the Child Care Scholarship and our child care guide. |
| Counseling or bills after crime | Victims’ Compensation | Start with Victims’ Compensation or ask an advocate. |
If a benefits office asks you to cooperate with child support and doing that could put you or your children at risk, ask about “good cause” or family violence rules before giving information. Our child support guide explains where to start, but a domestic violence advocate or legal aid office can help you ask safely.
Legal help for protection, custody, housing, and benefits
Legal help matters because one safety issue can affect many parts of life: a protection order, parenting schedule, school pickup, lease, eviction case, child support, benefits, taxes, and documents. Start with the crisis center if the issue is tied to abuse, because advocates may be able to refer you to DOVE or another legal program.
603 Legal Aid says DOVE can provide free legal help in court to get a court order protecting you from an abuser. 603 Legal Aid also takes applications for other civil legal problems. NH Legal Assistance provides free civil legal aid in areas such as housing, domestic violence and family law, public benefits, and other basic needs. For a broader ASMOM overview, use our legal help guide.
Reality check
Legal aid programs often have income rules, case priorities, and limited staff. Apply anyway if the issue is urgent, but also ask for self-help forms, a clinic, a brief-advice call, or a referral if they cannot take the full case.
Documents and information checklist
Do not risk your safety to collect documents. If you can gather items safely, these may help with court, shelter, benefits, school, health care, or housing.
- Photo ID, birth certificates, Social Security cards, immigration documents if you have them, and children’s school or medical cards.
- Protective orders, police reports, lease papers, eviction notices, benefit letters, pay stubs, and court papers.
- Important phone numbers written on paper in case your phone is lost, broken, or taken.
- Medication, prescriptions, health insurance cards, glasses, chargers, car keys, and children’s comfort items.
- Photos, screenshots, messages, call logs, or other records only if keeping them will not create danger.
For related needs after leaving, see community support, mental health help, and baby gear help.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for perfect proof. If you are unsafe, call for help even if you do not have documents.
- Using a monitored device. If your phone or account may be watched, contact an advocate from a safer device.
- Assuming shelter is full everywhere. Beds and safe options change. Let an advocate check.
- Ignoring benefits safety issues. Ask about good cause before cooperating with child support if it could create danger.
- Going to court alone if help is available. Ask a crisis center, 603 Legal Aid, or NHLA about court support.
If the first option does not work
If the nearest shelter is full, ask the statewide helpline to check other crisis centers and safe backup options. If legal aid cannot represent you, ask for brief advice, forms help, or a referral. If a benefits application is delayed, ask for written status, keep screenshots, and ask 211 or your town welfare office about short-term local help. If you cannot safely make calls during business hours, ask a trusted person, school social worker, clinic, or advocate to help you plan a safer way to contact programs.
If you recently lost work, need training, or need transportation after leaving, ask 211, your crisis center, and your benefits office about local programs that can work with your safety needs.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling the statewide helpline
“I am in New Hampshire and I need domestic violence help. I may need shelter, safety planning, and help with children. I need to talk in a way that is safe because my phone may be monitored.”
Calling legal aid
“I need help with a protection order and possibly custody or housing. There is domestic violence involved. Can I apply for DOVE, 603 Legal Aid, or another urgent legal referral?”
Calling 211
“I am a single mother in New Hampshire and I need emergency help with food, housing, utilities, or transportation. Domestic violence is part of the situation. What programs can I call today?”
Calling a benefits office
“I need to apply for food, medical, cash, or child care help. There is a safety issue involving domestic violence. Can you tell me how to request good cause or confidential handling?”
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. En New Hampshire, puede llamar a la línea estatal de violencia doméstica y sexual al 1-866-644-3574. La llamada es confidencial y puede pedir un intérprete. Un defensor puede hablar con usted sobre refugio, seguridad, la corte, ayuda legal, vivienda, beneficios, comida, cuidado infantil y otros recursos. Si necesita ayuda local con comida, vivienda o servicios públicos, llame al 211. Si tiene una crisis de salud mental, llame o mande texto al 833-710-6477 o 988.
Questions single mothers ask in New Hampshire
Can I call the New Hampshire helpline if I am not ready to leave?
Yes. The statewide helpline is for support, information, and safety planning. You do not have to be ready to leave or file a police report to talk with an advocate.
Can I get a protection order without paying a court fee?
New Hampshire RSA 173-B says no filing fee or service fee is charged for a domestic violence petition or response under that chapter.
What if I need help after court is closed?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. New Hampshire law allows certain temporary domestic violence orders to be issued by phone through a judge to law enforcement after hours when the legal standard is met.
Can domestic violence affect my housing rights?
It can. Federal VAWA housing protections may apply to HUD-assisted and other covered housing programs. Ask your housing provider, legal aid, or a domestic violence advocate before moving or signing papers.
Where can I get help with food and benefits?
Use NH EASY to apply for state benefits, and call 211 for local food, shelter, utility, and emergency referrals. If child support cooperation creates a safety risk, ask DHHS or legal aid about good cause.
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.