Last updated: June 18, 2026
Bottom line
If you are in immediate danger in Pennsylvania, call 911. If you are not in immediate danger but need shelter, safety planning, court help, counseling, or help making a safer next step, contact a local domestic violence advocate through the PCADV county finder. You can also call the National hotline at 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use chat.
Pennsylvania domestic violence programs can help with confidential support, emergency shelter options, court accompaniment, Protection From Abuse order information, counseling, and referrals for food, cash aid, child care, housing, and legal help. You do not have to be ready to leave to call. You can ask questions first.
This guide is general information only. It is not legal advice, medical advice, or a personal safety plan. For a national overview, see ASMOM’s domestic violence hub. For broader state help, start with Pennsylvania assistance before you apply.
Urgent help in Pennsylvania
- If you are in immediate danger: Call 911 if it is safe to do so.
- If you need local domestic violence help: Use PCADV to find a county program. PCADV programs can help with confidential shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and economic support.
- If you need to talk now: Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use chat through the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- If you need food, shelter, utilities, or local help: Dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or use PA 211.
- If your phone or computer may be watched: Use a safer device if you can. Ask an advocate about tech safety before changing passwords, deleting messages, or making plans on a shared device.
Where to start
Pick the safest first step. You do not have to tell your full story on the first call. A short sentence like, “I am not safe at home and I have children with me,” is enough to begin.
I need safety today
Call 911 for immediate danger. For shelter, safety planning, or help thinking through options, contact a local domestic violence program. If shelter is full, ask about nearby counties, transportation, motel options, and safe-house waitlists.
I need court help
Ask a local advocate or courthouse about a Protection From Abuse order, often called a PFA. Pennsylvania’s protection order page explains emergency, temporary, and final orders.
I need food or bills help
Apply for public benefits through COMPASS, contact your County Assistance Office, or call 211 for local food, shelter, and utility help. ASMOM’s Pennsylvania emergency help page can also help you sort urgent needs.
I need legal information
Use PA Safe Law for civil legal information and referrals about domestic violence, sexual violence, divorce, custody, immigration-related safety issues, and other legal problems.
Quick help table
| Need | Start here | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate danger | 911 | “I am in danger and need help now.” | Police response depends on the emergency and local dispatch. |
| Shelter or safety planning | Local DV advocate | “Do you have space or safer options?” | Shelter space changes daily. Advocates may still help. |
| PFA court order | County courthouse | “Where do I file for a PFA today?” | After-hours emergency orders use a different path. |
| Address privacy | PA victim advocate | “Could ACP fit my safety plan?” | It does not erase information already online. |
| Food, cash, child care | COMPASS or CAO | “Can I apply and protect my contact info?” | Eligibility depends on household facts and proof. |
| Legal help | PA Safe Law or legal aid | “Can I get help with safety, custody, or housing?” | Legal information is not the same as full representation. |
Protection From Abuse orders
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 a judge decides.
Pennsylvania has emergency, temporary, and final protection orders. The state says an emergency PFA may be available outside regular court hours through a Magisterial District Judge and usually lasts until the next business day when court reopens. Temporary and final petitions are filed at the county courthouse. A final PFA hearing is normally scheduled within 10 business days after a temporary order is issued, and a final order may last up to three years.
You can review blank paperwork through the PFA forms page, but it is often safer and easier to ask a local domestic violence advocate or lawyer for help before filing. An advocate may help you think through service of papers, child pickup, school safety, housing, pets, transportation, and what to bring to court.
Important safety note
A PFA is a legal tool. It is not a physical barrier. If you think filing may increase danger, talk with a domestic violence advocate or lawyer about safer timing and support before you file.
Keep your address safer
Pennsylvania’s Address Confidentiality Program can give eligible survivors an alternate mailing address. The state says ACP may help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, or child abduction keep a real address out of public records.
The program can be part of a larger safety plan. It may be used for some government, school, court, driver’s license, vehicle, voter, utility, and employment records. The state says ACP is not witness protection. It also does not remove old information that may already be online or in private records.
Ask a victim service program or local domestic violence advocate whether ACP fits your situation. Also ask how to use safe mailing, school pickup rules, custody papers, benefits notices, and court paperwork together.
Food, cash, child care, and utilities
Leaving abuse can create a money emergency. Public benefits are not special domestic violence grants, but they may help with food, child care, heating, health coverage, and basic needs while you stabilize. Apply even if you are not sure. The agency decides eligibility.
| Program | What it helps with | Where to start | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Food on an EBT card | PA SNAP | The maximum SNAP amount for a family of 3 is $785 before income is counted. |
| TANF | Cash help for very low-income families | PA TANF | Ask about good cause if child support cooperation may be unsafe. |
| WIC | Food support during pregnancy and early childhood | Pennsylvania WIC | WIC serves pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding people, babies, and children under 5. |
| Child Care Works | Help paying child care | Child Care Works | ELRC offices manage child care subsidy applications. |
| LIHEAP | Heating bills and heating emergencies | PA LIHEAP | The 2025-2026 season closed May 8, 2026. Check again before winter. |
| VCAP | Some crime-related costs | Victims compensation | It may help with eligible expenses such as medical, counseling, lost earnings, or relocation. |
For state-specific ASMOM help, check Pennsylvania SNAP, Pennsylvania TANF, Pennsylvania WIC, Pennsylvania child care, and Pennsylvania utility help as next steps.
If child support cooperation may put you or your children at risk, tell the County Assistance Office. Pennsylvania TANF rules allow good cause for not cooperating with child support in some unsafe situations. Ask for the rule in writing and contact legal aid or a domestic violence advocate before sharing unsafe contact information.
Shelter and housing rights
If you need a safe place tonight, do not start with a general housing waitlist. Start with a local domestic violence advocate or 211. DV programs may know which safe houses are full, which nearby counties can take families, and whether transportation or motel help may be available.
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’s HUD VAWA page includes notice, self-certification, and emergency transfer forms.
Housing rules vary by program and landlord. If you receive an eviction notice, lease notice, or housing authority letter, do not ignore it. Contact legal aid quickly. ASMOM’s Pennsylvania housing help guide can help you find rent, shelter, and housing program starting points.
Legal, medical, and victim services
For civil legal information, start with PA Safe Law and the PLAN legal finder. These can help you find information or referrals for PFAs, custody, divorce, housing, public benefits, and other civil legal problems. For a Pennsylvania-focused ASMOM guide, see Pennsylvania legal help. For national next steps, use ASMOM’s legal and safety hub too.
If child support affects safety or benefits, read Pennsylvania child support and talk with legal aid before filing or changing unsafe information. If you receive TANF, ask the County Assistance Office about good cause if cooperation could create danger.
If you experienced sexual assault, Pennsylvania law says the cost of the forensic rape examination and medications provided directly because of a sexual offense should not be charged to the victim. The PCAR medical page explains that there may still be other treatment or testing costs, so ask the advocate or hospital what may be billable.
If abuse has affected sleep, anxiety, depression, parenting stress, or your child’s behavior, ask your DV program, clinic, school, or health plan for trauma-informed counseling options. A local advocate may know which programs can see children, offer counseling, or help with transportation.
Documents and information checklist
Do not delay urgent help because you do not have every paper. Call first, then ask what can be added later. If collecting papers could put you in danger, talk with an advocate about safer choices. ASMOM’s document checklist can help you make a safer folder when you can.
| Keep or gather | Why it may help | Safer note |
|---|---|---|
| ID for you and children | Benefits, shelter intake, court, school, medical care | Photos may help if originals are unsafe to get. |
| Income and bills | SNAP, TANF, WIC, child care, LIHEAP | Ask what proof can be sent later. |
| Lease or housing notice | Emergency transfer, legal aid, rental help | Do not meet a landlord alone if unsafe. |
| Court or police papers | PFA, VCAP, legal aid, school safety | Ask how to store copies safely. |
| Messages, photos, medical notes | May support court or compensation claims | Do not collect evidence if it raises danger. |
| School and child care contacts | Pickup rules, emergency contacts, custody orders | Give only papers the school needs. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until after you move to apply for benefits. Apply as soon as it is safe. Some benefits use your application date.
- Assuming shelter is the only help. DV programs may help with court, counseling, safety planning, economic help, and referrals even if you do not enter shelter.
- Ignoring court or landlord papers. Time limits can be short. Ask legal aid or a DV legal advocate quickly.
- Giving unsafe contact information. Ask agencies how to protect your mailing address, phone number, and notices.
- Handling child support alone when unsafe. Ask about good cause, safety flags, and legal help first.
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’s DHS helpline is 1-800-692-7462. Keep notices, envelopes, screenshots, and call notes.
If a benefits case is denied, delayed, or closed, use ASMOM’s benefits problem guide. If a court, landlord, school, or agency is not responding, call a local DV advocate and legal aid. If you are unsafe while waiting, call the hotline or 911 if needed.
If you need local help beyond domestic violence services, ASMOM’s local resource guide explains how to use 211, Community Action agencies, schools, clinics, churches, and nonprofits without falling for fake grants or lead forms.
Backup options if the first door is closed
- No shelter bed: Ask the advocate about nearby counties, motel partnerships, transportation, and safe-house waitlists.
- No lawyer yet: Ask PA Safe Law for legal information, then call legal aid. Ask the court about interpreters or disability accommodations.
- No food tonight: Dial 211, ask a school social worker, or call a food pantry before going in person.
- No child care: Contact your ELRC and ask about Child Care Works, Head Start, school-age care, and emergency child care leads.
- No transportation: Ask the DV program, 211, school district, clinic, or county human services office about ride options.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling a DV program
“Hi, I am in Pennsylvania and I need confidential domestic violence help. I have children with me. I need to talk about shelter, safety planning, and court options. Can I speak with an advocate?”
Calling the courthouse
“I need information about filing a Protection From Abuse order. Is the PFA office open today? What should I do if I need an emergency order after hours?”
Calling the CAO
“I am applying for SNAP, TANF, and health coverage. I may need expedited SNAP. I also need to ask about domestic violence good cause and safe contact information.”
Calling legal aid
“I am a single mother dealing with domestic violence. I need help with a PFA, custody or housing issue, and benefits. Is there an intake for urgent family safety cases?”
Resumen en español
Si está en peligro inmediato en Pennsylvania, llame al 911. Si necesita ayuda confidencial por violencia doméstica, refugio, apoyo legal o planificación de seguridad, busque un programa local por medio de PCADV o llame a la Línea Nacional de Violencia Doméstica al 1-800-799-7233.
También puede llamar al 211 para comida, vivienda, servicios locales y ayuda de emergencia. Para beneficios como SNAP, TANF, WIC, cuidado infantil o calefacción, use COMPASS o llame a la oficina de asistencia del condado. Esta guía es información general, no consejo legal ni un plan personal de seguridad.
FAQ
Can a Pennsylvania domestic violence program help if I am not ready to leave?
Yes. You can ask for confidential support, safety planning, counseling, legal advocacy, and referrals even if you are not ready to leave or enter shelter.
How fast can I get a PFA in Pennsylvania?
Emergency PFAs may be available after court hours through a Magisterial District Judge. Temporary PFAs are reviewed at the courthouse, and the final hearing is usually scheduled within 10 business days after a temporary order is issued.
Can I get help with moving costs after a crime?
Possibly. Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program may help with some eligible crime-related costs, including relocation in some cases. You must meet program rules and provide requested proof.
Can I get benefits if I left with no papers?
Apply anyway if it is safe to do so. Agencies may ask for identity, income, address, household, or expense proof, but you can ask what can be submitted later.
Can TANF require child support cooperation if it is unsafe?
Tell the County Assistance Office that child support cooperation may put you or your children at risk. Ask about good cause and speak with a domestic violence advocate or legal aid office.
Can a landlord evict me because of domestic violence?
In covered HUD-assisted housing, VAWA may protect survivors from being denied housing, evicted, or punished because of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Contact legal aid quickly if you receive a notice.
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 June 18, 2026, next review September 18, 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.