Emergency Shelters for Women and Children: How to Find a Safe Place to Stay Tonight

Types of emergency shelters for women and children

Different shelters serve different situations. Knowing which one fits helps you call the right place first.

Finding a domestic violence shelter

If you are leaving an abusive partner, start with the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use the live chat on the website. Advocates answer 24 hours a day, free and confidential, and the hotline has a Spanish-language site. Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers can reach the Deaf Hotline by videophone at 1-855-812-1001. They can talk through your options, help you make a safety plan, and connect you with shelters and programs near you. The hotline does not give money for hotels or travel itself, but it can point you to local programs that may.

Native American and Alaska Native women can also call the StrongHearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483 for culturally grounded support.

Domestic violence shelters are funded in part through the federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Act program and by states and local charities. Their addresses are kept confidential so abusers cannot find residents. You will usually do a short phone screening first, and staff will tell you where to meet them.

Family shelters through 211 and coordinated entry

If you and your children have lost your housing, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. A specialist can tell you which family shelters serve your area and how to get in.

Most communities that receive federal homelessness funding run a coordinated entry system. Federal rules in 24 CFR 578.7 require each local Continuum of Care to set one up, so families are assessed the same way and matched to shelter or housing. In many places, you must go through coordinated entry before a family shelter can take you. Ask 211 for your area’s coordinated entry phone line or walk-in site. The federal USA.gov emergency housing page also explains where to turn.

If you are fleeing violence, tell the coordinated entry worker. Communities must have a safe way to serve survivors, and you can ask to be connected to a domestic violence program instead.

Charities that shelter mothers and kids

• The Salvation Army: runs emergency shelters in many cities, including some for women and families. See our guide to Salvation Army emergency shelters.
• YWCA: many local YWCAs run domestic violence shelters, transitional housing, and support services for women and children.
• Family Promise: a national network of local affiliates that help families with children who are homeless, often with shelter hosted by congregations and help moving into housing.
• Catholic Charities and local rescue missions: many operate women’s and family shelters. Ask 211 which ones are near you.

When the shelter is full

Shelters can fill up, especially in large cities and in winter. If the first place has no bed, ask to be put on a waiting list and for the names of other shelters. Ask whether your county or coordinated entry program uses hotel or motel vouchers when shelters are full. Domestic violence programs sometimes place survivors in a hotel for a few nights for safety. Our guide to emergency hotel vouchers explains how these work. Call back each morning, since beds open up as families move out.

What shelters provide

Services differ from place to place, but most emergency shelters for mothers and children offer:

• A bed or room for you and your children, often with families kept together.
• Meals or a shared kitchen, plus basics like toiletries, diapers, and clothing.
• A case manager who helps with benefits, job searches, and housing applications.
• Help enrolling children in school. Under federal law, children experiencing homelessness can stay in their school of origin or enroll right away without the usual records.
• At domestic violence shelters: advocacy, counseling, support groups, and help with protective orders and court.
• Referrals for health care, mental health care, legal aid, and child care.

While you are in shelter, apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC if you have young children. Many families qualify, and having benefits started makes the move into housing easier.

Shelter rules and what to expect

Every shelter has house rules. Common ones include curfews, chores, check-in times, and rules about visitors, alcohol, and drugs. Domestic violence shelters often ask you not to share the location with anyone. Length of stay varies widely; some emergency shelters allow a few weeks and others a few months, and many will extend your stay while you work on a housing plan. Ask about the time limit when you arrive.

Some shelters have age limits for boys, such as teenage sons. If you have an older son, say so when you call, so staff can find a place that keeps your family together. Ask too about pets; some domestic violence programs can help arrange pet shelter.

Safety planning before you leave

Leaving an abuser can be the most dangerous time. A hotline or local advocate can help you make a plan that fits your situation. General tips from the Office on Women’s Health and domestic violence advocates include:

• Pick a safe time to leave and a place to go.
• Keep a bag with essentials hidden or at a trusted friend’s home.
• Use a phone or computer the abuser cannot access, and clear your browsing history.
• Turn off location sharing, and check for tracking apps or devices.
• Teach children how to call 911 and where to go in an emergency.
• Ask about a protective order through the local court or a domestic violence advocate.

What to bring with you

If you can safely gather them, these items make the next steps faster. If you cannot, leave anyway; shelters can help you replace documents later.

Housing rights for survivors under VAWA

The Violence Against Women Act protects survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who live in or apply to most HUD-assisted housing, including public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers. Under 24 CFR 5.2005, you cannot be denied housing, have assistance ended, or be evicted because you are a survivor or because of violence committed against you. The rules also allow emergency transfers to another safe unit, and a landlord can remove the abuser from the lease while letting you stay.

To use these protections, you can give the housing provider a self-certification form or other documentation, as described in 24 CFR 5.2007. Your information must be kept confidential. If a housing authority or landlord does not follow these rules, contact legal aid or your local domestic violence program.

Moving from shelter to a home of your own

Shelter is meant to be a short stop. Case managers work with families on the next step, which may include rapid rehousing (short-term rent help and support), transitional housing for survivors, a housing voucher, or help paying a deposit and first month’s rent. Our guides to housing for single moms and government assistance for the homeless explain these programs in more detail.

What to do tonight, step by step

1. Call 911 if you or your children are in immediate danger.
2. Call or text the National DV Hotline (1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788) if you are leaving abuse.
3. Dial 211 for family shelters and your coordinated entry line if you have lost housing.
4. Call the Salvation Army, YWCA, or a Family Promise affiliate if 211 lists one nearby.
5. Ask about hotel placement if shelters are full.
6. Bring what you safely can, especially IDs, medicine, and your phone.
7. Apply for SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC once you are settled.

Related guides

• Emergency shelter for families
• Grants for homeless women
• Financial assistance for abuse victims
• Homeless shelters near me

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Shelter rules and availability vary by community. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any shelter or government agency. If you are in danger, call 911.