Skip to main content

Find Help

Help is Available

There Are A Number Of Ways To Find Help:

You can use the New York State Domestic Violence Program Directory to find domestic violence service programs across the state.  

You can call a confidential domestic violence hotline for crisis help, safety planning, emotional support,  and help finding resources in your area including safe shelter, advocacy, counseling, and legal assistance. The New York State Domestic Violence Hotline has access to advocates in 170 languages through interpreter services.

The State And National Domestic Violence Hotline Numbers Are:

More Information Regarding Domestic Violence Services In New York State.

ACCESSING SERVICES FROM YOUR LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM

Every county in New York state has at least one agency specifically designed to provide services for individuals affected by domestic violence and their children. These programs offer emergency 24-hour hotlines, information and referrals, education, support groups, advocacy and accompaniment. These programs are listed in our New York State Domestic Violence Program Directory by county. You can also contact the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline to get information about resources in your community:

1-800-942-6906 (English & español/Multi-language accessibility)

Deaf or Hard of Hearing: 711

In New York City: 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or dial 311

New York City TTY: 1-866-604-5350

Local domestic violence agencies provide residential and/or non-residential services. Both residential and non-residential programs have domestic violence advocates, specially trained in the dynamics of domestic violence. Some counties have comprehensive programs in which one program provides both residential and non-residential services and some counties have multiple agencies providing one or the other service.

  • Residential services include access to emergency shelters or safe dwellings. A victim of domestic violence can stay in shelter for up to 180 days as per the approval of the local Department of Social Services. Domestic violence shelters are different from other shelters in a variety of ways. Primarily, the location is kept confidential for safety purposes. Most shelters provide residents with a bedroom, personal hygiene products, food, and clothing as well as provide advocacy, support groups, give information and referrals as necessary or requested and provide emotional support to residents. Depending on whether it is a shelter or safe dwelling, there will be different numbers of staff available on site.
  • Non-residential services provide all those services requested by clients that do not include shelter. These programs and services may include advocacy, safety-planning, counseling, support groups, housing support, educational and vocational support, transportation assistance, health services, legal assistance, court accompaniment, children's programs and immigration support.

Domestic violence services are voluntary in nature.  Victims of domestic violence cannot be ordered, from a court or any other entity, to receive domestic violence services.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN CALLING A LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM

Victims of domestic violence do not need to call the police or initiate any criminal justice proceedings in order to receive services from a local domestic violence program.

Callers to local domestic violence programs do not have to provide their name to receive general information. However, if the caller wants to receive services like shelter and advocacy, the caller will usually be asked to complete an intake, which requires providing a name and other detail necessary to provide the service. In most intakes, victims of domestic violence will be asked for their name, their children’s name(s) (if applicable), the approximate date of the last incident of domestic violence, information about any current court proceedings, and what service they want to access. The advocate that completes the intake will be able to let you know what services they have available for you.

Domestic violence services are confidential. The only time information will not be kept confidential is if there is a report that children are being abused or neglected.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When choosing to get help, it is always important to understand that even though advocates are available at non-domestic violence agencies, these advocates may not be held to the same confidentiality requirements as a domestic violence advocate.

WHAT IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE?

A domestic violence advocate is a specially trained person that provides support to victims of domestic violence. This support can include but is not limited to:

  • crisis intervention;
  • individual case management;
  • safety planning from a strengths-based and victim centered perspective;
  • information about available support groups, counseling, advocacy, children’s services, hotline assistance and transportation;
  • assistance with navigating the various systems that victims may choose to access; and
  • most importantly to help victims of domestic violence understand their options and provide appropriate referrals.

In addition to providing helpful information, some domestic violence advocates have the ability to accompany victims of domestic violence to court, to the police station, to the emergency room or to the local department of social services to provide support.

MENU CLOSE