Last updated: May 20, 2026
Urgent help in Oregon
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. If you can safely use a phone, you can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use online chat.
In Oregon, Call to Safety answers a 24-hour crisis line at 503-235-5333 or 1-888-235-5333. You can ask for safety planning, local shelter referrals, and help finding an advocate.
If the device you are using may be watched, use a safer phone or computer when possible. A library, school, clinic, workplace, trusted friend, or local advocate may be safer. Do not clear history or change passwords if that could put you in more danger.
Bottom line
Oregon has several real help paths for single mothers facing domestic violence. The fastest starting points are a local domestic violence advocate, Oregon’s TA-DVS cash help, the Oregon court system for protective orders, and 211 for food, housing, child care, and local referrals.
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice or a personal safety plan. A domestic violence advocate, legal aid office, court facilitator, or licensed professional can help you think through your own situation.
Where to start
Start with the help path that matches what is most urgent today. You do not need to prove everything alone before calling. You can say what is happening, what county you are in, and what you need next.
If you need to leave
Call Call to Safety or use the OCADSV help finder to reach a program near you. Ask about shelter, hotel help, transportation, and a safe way to plan with your children.
If you need money
Ask ODHS about TA-DVS. This program may help with safety-related costs such as move-in costs, locks, transportation, and replacing basic items left behind.
If you need court protection
Review Oregon’s FAPA court page and ask a court facilitator, legal aid, or advocate for help before filing if you can safely do that.
If bills are piling up
Use Oregon’s benefits system for food, medical, cash, and child care support. ASMOM’s Oregon emergency help page can help you sort other urgent needs.
Quick reference table
| Need | Oregon starting point | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | Emergency response for you and your children. |
| DV hotline and shelter referrals | Call to Safety | Safety planning, local advocates, shelter options, and referrals. |
| Safety money | ODHS TA-DVS | Moving costs, deposits, locks, transportation, and safety needs. |
| Protective order | Oregon courts | FAPA restraining order forms, court facilitator, and filing help. |
| Address privacy | Oregon DOJ ACP | Application Assistant and substitute mailing address. |
| Food, rent, utility, child care referrals | 211info | Local programs, child care referrals, food boxes, and emergency help. |
Local advocates and shelter help
A domestic violence advocate can help you think through shelter, transportation, court, benefits, and safety without judging you or forcing one decision. Shelter space changes often, so do not assume a program has a bed just because it is listed online.
- Call to Safety: Call 503-235-5333 or 1-888-235-5333 for 24-hour crisis support and referrals.
- OCADSV: Use the Oregon program finder to look for shelter, advocacy, and legal support by area.
- Oregon DOJ: The state lists domestic violence programs and Tribal victim service information.
- 211info: Call 211 or 866-698-6155, or text your ZIP code to 898211, for local housing, food, child care, and transportation referrals.
For broader benefit and bill help in the state, see Oregon single mother help, Oregon housing help, and Oregon utility help.
Money for safety and moving
Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors
Oregon’s Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors program is often called TA-DVS. It helps eligible families and pregnant people who are at risk of domestic violence pay for safety-related needs. ODHS says eligible families can access up to $3,200 over a 90-day period, based on the situation and available resources.
TA-DVS may help with rental deposits, first or last month’s rent, utility deposits, locks, security needs, moving costs, transportation, and essential items left behind. ODHS usually pays the landlord, store, or service provider directly. It is not ongoing rent, a general cash grant, legal-fee help, or money for weapons.
To start, call your local ODHS office or use the ODHS office finder. You can also review Oregon’s domestic violence services page. If you are already working with an advocate, ask them to help you contact ODHS safely.
Reality check
TA-DVS can be very important, but payments are not always same day. ODHS may need proof for a landlord, hotel, moving cost, or replacement item. Ask what proof is needed and whether the payment can go directly to the vendor.
Restraining orders and legal help
Oregon has several kinds of protective orders. Many survivors of intimate partner or family abuse ask about a Family Abuse Prevention Act restraining order, often called a FAPA order. A FAPA order may tell the other person not to contact you, come near certain places, or interfere with you and your children. In some cases, it may include temporary custody or parenting-time terms.
Oregon courts provide Guide and File forms and paper forms. The Oregon Judicial Department also says the forms are not legal advice and that people should consult their own attorney to understand and protect their rights.
For plain-language legal information, Oregon Law Help has a page on FAPA restraining orders. For local help, contact your county court facilitator, legal aid office, or a domestic violence advocate. ASMOM’s Oregon legal help page can point you to more legal starting points.
Before filing, if you can safely ask
Ask an advocate or legal aid office how filing could affect safety, custody, housing, school pickup, or the other parent’s reaction. This is not because you need permission. It is because the safest timing and details can be different for each family.
Address and privacy help
The Oregon Department of Justice runs the Address Confidentiality Program. It is a free mail forwarding service that may help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and some other crimes shield their physical address.
Program participants get a substitute address. The substitute address may be used for first-class, certified, and registered mail, an Oregon driver license or ID, child support, a marriage license, and enrolling children in public school. You must apply with a certified Application Assistant, usually a victim advocate.
Start with the Address Confidentiality Program page or ask a local DV program if they have an Application Assistant. ACP does not create a complete safety plan by itself, so pair it with advocacy and legal help when possible.
Food, health, child care, and cash benefits
Leaving abuse often creates a money gap. You may need food, child care, health care, transportation, rent help, or a safer phone. These programs are not all domestic-violence programs, but they can help stabilize your household.
| Program | What it may help with | Where to start | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE benefits | Food, medical, cash, and child care benefits | ODHS benefits | You may need an interview and documents. |
| SNAP | Groceries for eligible households | Oregon SNAP help | Ask about expedited help if food is urgent. |
| TANF | Cash support for eligible families with children | Oregon TANF help | Tell ODHS if a rule could raise safety risk. |
| OHP | Medical, dental, and behavioral health coverage | OHP application | Survivors may have special application options. |
| ERDC | Help paying for child care | ERDC child care | ERDC has a waitlist, but some TA-DVS and TANF families may skip it. |
For health insurance, Oregon notes that in situations of intimate partner violence or abandonment, survivors may be able to apply for Marketplace or Oregon Health Plan coverage without including a spouse. See Oregon’s survivor health coverage guidance.
For more state-specific help, see Oregon health care, Oregon child care, and Oregon child support. If child support cooperation could put you in danger, talk with ODHS or legal aid before sharing unsafe information.
Documents and information checklist
Do not delay a safety call because you do not have every paper. Bring or gather what you safely can. An advocate or ODHS worker can tell you what is needed for each step.
| Item | Why it may help | Safety note |
|---|---|---|
| ID for you and children | Benefits, school, shelter, medical care, court forms | A photo or copy may help if originals are not safe to take. |
| Income and benefit notices | SNAP, TANF, OHP, ERDC, TA-DVS screening | Ask if ODHS can look up benefits already in the system. |
| Lease, bills, or shutoff notices | Housing, utilities, deposits, arrears, proof of cost | Do not go back for papers if it is unsafe. |
| School and child care details | Pickup plans, ERDC, address privacy, court orders | Ask schools how they handle custody or restraining order papers. |
| Police report or court papers | Protective order, work leave, victim compensation | Not every program requires a police report. Ask first. |
Work and school protections
Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries says workers who experience domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, bias, or stalking may ask for reasonable safety changes at work. This may include schedule changes, a transfer, a changed work phone number, a changed work station, unpaid leave, or other safety changes.
Employers with six or more employees must allow eligible workers to take reasonable leave for safety-related needs, such as seeking legal help, medical care, counseling, victim services, relocation, or steps to secure a home. Start with BOLI’s worker protection page if you need the official wording.
If you are pregnant, postpartum, or caring for a baby while dealing with abuse, ASMOM’s Oregon maternity support page may help with health and baby-related next steps.
Crime victim compensation
Oregon Crime Victims’ Compensation may help victims of violent crime with certain crime-related expenses, such as counseling, medical expenses, and lost wages. The Oregon DOJ is clear that this program is not immediate cash assistance, does not cover relocation costs, and does not pay for property crime damages.
Read the state’s victim compensation page or ask a county victim assistance office for help. If you need moving or housing help right now, ask an advocate about TA-DVS, local flexible funds, shelter, and 211 referrals instead.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for perfect proof. You can call a hotline, advocate, 211, or ODHS before you have every document.
- Assuming shelter is full everywhere. Space changes. Ask about other counties, hotel help, transportation, and safe referrals.
- Using only online lists. Call first when possible. Program hours, space, and funding can change fast.
- Sharing unsafe details through text. ODHS says not to send private TA-DVS payment requests through the ONE online account or by text message.
- Skipping legal help before custody decisions. If children, school pickup, or parenting time are involved, ask legal aid or an advocate what steps are safest.
Backup options if the first call does not work
If one office says no, does not call back, or has no space, try a second path. You can call Call to Safety again and say you still need help. You can search OCADSV for nearby counties. You can call 211 for shelter, food, transportation, and basic needs. You can ask ODHS about TA-DVS and other benefits. You can call legal aid if a benefits denial, court issue, or unsafe child support rule is part of the problem.
For benefits denials or delays, contact the Public Benefits Hotline. Legal aid programs answer questions about safety net benefits such as OHP, TANF, SNAP, unemployment, and other programs. If mental stress feels unmanageable, call or text 988 Lifeline for crisis support. If you are Native or Indigenous and want culturally specific support, StrongHearts Native Helpline is another option.
For a wider set of national starting points, see domestic violence help, legal and safety help, and local resource help.
Phone scripts
Calling a domestic violence hotline
“I am a single mother in Oregon. I may need to leave or make a safety plan. I need help finding local shelter, transportation, and an advocate. I am calling from [county or city]. What is the safest next step?”
Calling ODHS about TA-DVS
“I need to ask about Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors. I have children or I am pregnant, and I am worried about safety. Can I speak with someone who handles TA-DVS, and what is the safest way to apply?”
Calling the court or legal aid
“I need information about a protective order and how it may affect my children, housing, or school pickup. I know you may not be able to give legal advice. Can you tell me where to get forms, facilitator help, or legal aid?”
Calling 211
“I am a single mother in [ZIP code]. I need help because of domestic violence. I am looking for shelter or safe housing, food, child care, transportation, and utility or rent help. What programs are open in my area?”
Resumen en español
Si usted o sus hijos están en peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Si necesita ayuda por violencia doméstica en Oregon, puede llamar a Call to Safety al 503-235-5333 o 1-888-235-5333. También puede llamar a 211 para recursos locales de comida, vivienda, cuidado infantil y transporte.
Oregon tiene ayuda llamada TA-DVS para algunas familias y personas embarazadas que necesitan dinero para seguridad, mudanza, depósitos, cerraduras u otras necesidades. También puede preguntar sobre órdenes de protección, ayuda legal, confidencialidad de dirección, beneficios de comida, OHP y cuidado infantil. Esta guía es información general, no consejo legal ni un plan personal de seguridad.
FAQs
What is the fastest domestic violence help in Oregon?
If there is immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support, call Call to Safety at 503-235-5333 or 1-888-235-5333. You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Can Oregon help pay for moving because of domestic violence?
Possibly. Oregon’s TA-DVS program may help eligible families and pregnant people with safety-related costs, including some moving, deposit, lock, transportation, and essential item costs.
Do I need a police report to get help?
Not always. Hotlines, advocates, and some benefits programs may be able to help without a police report. Court orders, work protections, or victim compensation may involve different proof rules, so ask the program directly.
Can I get child care help after leaving abuse?
Apply for ERDC and ask whether you can skip the waitlist because of TANF or TA-DVS. Oregon says ERDC has a waitlist, but some families can skip it if they meet an exemption and income rules.
Can I keep my address private?
Oregon’s Address Confidentiality Program may help eligible survivors use a substitute mailing address. You must apply through a certified Application Assistant, often a victim advocate.
Where can I get help if benefits are denied or delayed?
Contact the Oregon Public Benefits Hotline or a local legal aid office. They may help with SNAP, TANF, OHP, unemployment, ERDC, and other benefit problems.
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.