Safety first

If someone may be monitoring your device, the safest option is to use a device they cannot access, a friend’s phone or a library computer. If that is not possible, use incognito or private browsing mode and clear your browser history after visiting. Incognito does not hide activity from spyware installed on the device itself.

If you need to talk to someone nowRegion

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text 98824/7 · Call or text 988. Free, confidential, for any kind of crisis.
National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 8878824/7 · Free, confidential. Over 200 languages via interpreters.
love is respect, call 1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 2252224/7 · For teens and young adults in dating relationships.
Crisis Text Line or text HOME to 74174124/7 · Text-based crisis counseling.
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-4673 or text HOPE to 6467324/7 · Free, confidential. Connects to a local sexual assault service provider.
The Trevor Project, call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 67867824/7 · For LGBTQ+ young people. Free and confidential, by phone, text, or chat.
Trans Lifeline, call 1-877-565-8860Check current hours on their site · Trans peer support, run by and for trans people. Does not call police without consent.

Browse all crisis and legal resources by country →

Recovered Archive / Safety

Housing Emergency and Shelter Access

If you need to leave an abusive situation tonight, or you are homeless after leaving, this guide covers the emergency housing options available to you. The order matters: immediate safety first, then shelter, then longer-term housing.

You do not have to have a plan figured out before reaching out. Shelters and hotlines exist precisely for the moment when you do not know what to do next.

What it is

Emergency housing options for survivors include emergency domestic violence shelters (short-term, confidential, free), transitional housing (longer-term with support services), rapid re-housing (short-term rental assistance to move into permanent housing), and longer-term options like HUD vouchers, FYI vouchers for former foster youth, and public housing. Each has different eligibility, wait times, and levels of support.

Emergency shelter

▌Domestic violence shelters provide temporary, confidential housing for survivors and often their children. Most are free. Locations are kept confidential for safety.
▌Find a shelter: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788. They can connect you to a local shelter with available space.
▌Shelters can help with safety planning, advocacy, legal referrals, and connections to longer-term housing. They are not just a bed, they are a route to the next step.
▌Pet safe havens may be available. Ask the hotline if you have pets, some shelters partner with animal organizations to house pets safely during your stay.

Transitional housing

▌Transitional Living Programs (TLP) provide up to 21 months of housing plus life-skills support for youth ages 16–22. Contact the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) for youth-specific options.
▌Some domestic violence programs offer longer transitional housing for adult survivors, typically 6–24 months with case management and support services.
▌Transitional housing is a bridge, not permanent. It buys time to build income, find permanent housing, and access services.

Rapid re-housing

▌Short-term rental assistance and services to help people move quickly from homelessness into permanent housing.
▌Typically includes help with security deposits, first month's rent, and short-term rental subsidies that taper off as you stabilize.
▌Find programs: Contact your local Continuum of Care (CoC) or call 211 to find rapid re-housing programs in your area.

Longer-term options

▌FYI vouchers (Family Unification Program) for former foster youth, see AfterFoster in the resource hub for eligibility and how to apply.
▌Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers, long waitlists in most areas, but get on the list early. Contact your local public housing authority.
▌Public housing, income-based housing owned and operated by local housing authorities. Also often has waitlists.
▌A housing advocate or social worker can help you navigate applications, prioritize the right programs, and avoid common mistakes that delay approval.

If you need to leave tonight

▌Use a live advocate or shelter route first if it is safe to make the call. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) can confirm where you can go right now.
▌Take essentials if you can: medications, IDs (driver's license, birth certificate, Social Security card if you have them), keys, phone charger, cash, and essentials for children or pets. Do not risk your safety to gather things.
▌Use 211 to find the nearest available shelter or emergency housing if the DV hotline route is not an option.
▌Do not post your location on social media. If the person you are leaving may be looking for you, tell only the people who are helping you. See the stalkerware guide if you suspect your phone is being tracked.
▌Use a safer device to make calls if your phone may be monitored. A trusted friend's phone or a burner is safer for planning your route.

Related guides

When to get outside help

If you are facing homelessness or need to leave an abusive situation, you do not have to figure it out alone. The resource hub carries crisis routes, shelter connections, and foster youth housing programs. For corrections or resource feedback, use contact.