Domestic Violence Resources and Safety for Single Mothers in Wisconsin

Where to start in Wisconsin

If you feel overwhelmed, start with one safe contact. You do not need to know the right program name before you call. Say what is happening, what county you are in, whether children are with you, and what you need today.

For a broader state map, use ASMOM’s Wisconsin help guide. For a national safety overview, use the domestic violence hub.

Quick contact table

Restraining orders and legal help

Wisconsin has different types of restraining orders, including domestic abuse, harassment, child abuse, and individual-at-risk orders. The right form depends on what happened and who is involved. The Wisconsin Court System’s forms assistant can help fill out a petition for a restraining order and a confidential address information sheet.

Wisconsin’s DOJ guide explains that a temporary restraining order (TRO) may lead to a court hearing for a longer order called an injunction. An injunction may last up to 4 years for domestic abuse, harassment, or an individual at risk, and up to 2 years for child abuse. Some domestic abuse cases may qualify for longer orders under state law. A domestic abuse TRO hearing is usually set within 14 days; the law allows certain extensions. Ask the clerk about your case’s exact date.

Use Wisconsin Law Help for a plain-language overview, then confirm your county steps with the Clerk of Court. Court staff can usually share forms and process information, but they cannot give legal advice.

The Wisconsin court FAQ says filing a domestic abuse restraining-order petition and sheriff service of the order have no fee. Harassment petitions may have fees unless the required abuse or stalking claims apply. A local advocate can help you decide which form to request.

Legal aid may be able to help with restraining orders, custody, placement, child support, housing, benefits, and crime victim issues. Legal Action of Wisconsin says its family law work focuses on clients who are or have been victims of domestic violence and other specialized groups. ASMOM’s legal safety guide and Wisconsin legal help guide can help you plan who to call next.

Address privacy and victim costs

If you need to keep a new address private, ask a trained advocate about Wisconsin Safe at Home. It provides approved participants a substitute mailing address and mail forwarding at no cost. It can help with school, court, government, and other records. It does not hide every trace of your location or guarantee safety. The state says your real address must be unknown to the person you fear, and you must plan not to share it with that person. Home ownership can also affect the process.

You must work with a designated Application Assistant before applying. DOJ says Application Assistants are victim service providers, advocates, and other trained professionals who provide safety planning and help complete the application.

If the crime caused expenses, the CVC application page says to apply as soon as you can. Do not wait for a court case or medical treatment to end. Ask an advocate how to apply without putting yourself at risk.

For Safe at Home, call 608-266-6613 for the Application Assistant list and current steps. The state says do not email the completed application. Ask an advocate how the address works with a school, court, benefit agency, or an existing public record.

For Crime Victim Compensation, Wisconsin generally requires a claim within 1 year of a crime and a report to law enforcement within 5 days (or when it could reasonably be reported). Exceptions may be granted, including when safety makes a report difficult. Ask about exceptions rather than assuming you cannot apply. This program can pay certain unreimbursed crime-related costs, not most property loss, and the intake process may take 90–120 days or longer. It is not emergency cash.

Shelter and housing help

If home is not safe, call a domestic violence advocate before you call general shelters when possible. An advocate may know safer shelter options, family shelter rules, transportation help, and what to do if beds are full. They may also help you document domestic violence for housing, school, benefits, or work needs.

Housing help is local and often limited. A call does not mean a bed, motel room, apartment, or voucher is open. Ask to be placed on callback lists, ask about family shelters, and ask whether domestic violence changes how your situation is screened.

For homelessness or risk of homelessness outside Dane, Milwaukee, and Racine counties, the Balance of State Continuum of Care supports local housing coalitions. Dane County has a separate Dane entry system. In other areas, call 211 or your local shelter and ask how coordinated entry works in your county.

ASMOM’s Wisconsin emergency help and Wisconsin housing help explain more options, including rent assistance and Section 8 vouchers. Local availability decides what is open.

If your children, a disability, a pet, language needs, or lack of transportation make shelter hard to use, say so when you contact an advocate. Ask what safe options and referrals are available. Do not assume you must have a police report to ask a domestic violence program for help; let the program explain its intake rules.

Food, cash, child care, health, and energy help

Abuse can cause lost work, lost child care, school moves, medical needs, and sudden bills. Wisconsin programs can help with some basic needs, but each program has rules, proof requests, and wait times. Start with ACCESS when it is safe to do so. You can also call or visit your local agency.

WHEAP income limits changed on October 1, 2026. For the 2026–27 program year (through September 30, 2027), the state lists annual income limits of $52,129 for 2 people, $64,395 for 3, and $76,661 for 4. These are examples, not an approval promise. The prior year’s limits ($50,243, $62,065, and $73,888) no longer apply to new program-year checks. Find other household sizes and current details on the WHEAP state page.

Wisconsin Shares child care: The state lists a starting income limit of 200% of the federal poverty level. The 2026 monthly gross income examples are $3,607 for 2 people, $4,553 for 3, $5,500 for 4, and $6,447 for 5. Once approved, the ongoing income test is different: it goes up to 85% of the state median income. You also need an approved activity, such as work or qualifying education, and must follow child care authorization rules. See Wisconsin Shares application rules for the full table. A family may still have a co-pay or extra provider costs.

Emergency Assistance for domestic violence: Wisconsin DCF lists domestic violence among the emergencies that may qualify a family with a child for help with some urgent costs. The program generally has an income test of 115% of the federal poverty level, an asset test, and a limit of one payment in a 12-month period. The state lists maximum payments of $1,200 for a family of 2–5, $220 per person for 6 or more, or $750 for an energy crisis, based on the eligible emergency and actual need. These are caps, not guaranteed payments. You can check Emergency Assistance rules and apply via ACCESS or a W-2 agency. Domestic abuse survivors may apply at any W-2 agency.

Child support and safety: If working with child support could harm you or your children, tell your benefits worker and ask to make a good cause claim. Wisconsin DCF says fear of physical or emotional harm, including domestic abuse, may qualify. The agency makes the decision and may request evidence. You can also ask that your address, employer, and phone number be protected. See the good cause rules, and ask an advocate to help. ASMOM’s Wisconsin child support, Wisconsin FoodShare, and Wisconsin child care guides explain related steps.

If help is denied, delayed, or closed

Ask for a written decision and the name of the review or appeal process. Save the date on the notice and use a safe mailing address. A domestic violence advocate or legal aid office can help you decide what to share.

• Emergency Assistance: Contact the W-2 agency and request a Fact Finding Review within 45 calendar days of the notice’s mailing date. Ask the agency for the review form or how to ask by phone. See DCF Emergency Assistance.
• Child support good cause: Ask the benefit agency for its good cause fact-finding review or appeal steps. Different benefit programs have different deadlines. See DCF review rules.
• Crime Victim Compensation: If the claim is denied, DOJ mails a written decision explaining the appeal process. Do not wait to read that notice.
• FoodShare, BadgerCare Plus, or child care: Ask for the program-specific appeal or fair-hearing instructions and the deadline on the notice. These are not the same as an Emergency Assistance review.

While you wait, contact a local domestic violence program, 211, or a food pantry for other safe options. A pending appeal does not guarantee shelter or cash help.

Documents to gather if it is safe

Only gather documents if it is safe. Do not risk harm to get paperwork. An advocate can help you decide what matters most and how to store copies safely.

Ask each program for its document checklist before you gather papers for food, health care, child care, housing, and utilities. Ask for another way to verify if a document is unsafe or missing.

Related Wisconsin help

Domestic violence can affect food, housing, child care, transportation, school, work, and bills. If one office cannot help, ask for the next safe local referral instead of starting over alone.