How to get help

If you are in immediate danger,
please call 911.

consigue ayuda	获得帮助
получить помощь	الحصول على المساعدة
সাহায্য নাও	uzyskać pomoc
jwenn èd	obtenir de l’aide
مدد حاصل	도움을받을
मदद लें	助けを得ます

212.349.6009

Call our helplines
To request services including shelter, counseling, legal representation or economic empowerment, please call 1.212.349.6009.

The helpline operates Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm. At all other times you may leave a voicemail message.

For crisis intervention, shelter, and counseling, please call 1.212.349.6009 x1367 or text 929.335.9922
For legal services including orders of protection, divorce, immigration, and child custody, visitation and support, please call 1.212.349.6009 x1001 or text 646.692.0300

Call the 24/7 city hotline
New York City’s hotline operates 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Call 1.800.621.4673 or contact 311.

Call a Family Justice Center
We provide services at Family Justice Center (FJC) locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. You can walk in without an appointment from Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Contact a FJC

Call the EMPOWER Center
Trauma-informed medical, psychiatric, social and legal services, as well as intensive case management, are available to people in the sex trade and survivors of sexual violence through the EMPOWER Center.

(646) 357- 3499 x1426 Refer a client

We can help victims of abuse secure orders of protection.

Call our Legal Helpline anytime • 212.349.6009 x8000
Speak to a lawyer • Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Text for help • 646.692.0300

Are you eligible?

You can receive services if you are an adult, teen or child who has experienced:

Domestic violence from an intimate partner or family member
Sex or labor trafficking
Teen dating violence
Campus sexual assault
Forced marriage
Child marriage
Female genital mutilation
Other forms of gender-based violence

We also offer services to people in the sex trade and survivors of sexual violence through the EMPOWER Center.

We provide services to anyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or immigration status. We also provide services to children of victims, even if the parent is not receiving services.

Not sure if you are eligible? Please contact us at 212-349-6009.

Learn more about the different types of gender violence we address

Non-Discrimination Policy: Sanctuary for Families does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age in the delivery of services.

What to expect

Every person who contacts us will go through an assessment and intake process. A staff member will ask you simple questions about your experience and background, so that we can connect you to the services you need.

If you call our clinical/shelter helpline,
you will either speak to a helpline staff member immediately, or be asked to leave a message. If you are asked to leave a message, someone will respond to your call shortly.

If you call our legal helpline,
you will either speak to a helpline staff member immediately, or be asked to leave a message. If you are asked to leave a message, someone will respond to your call shortly.

If you call a Family Justice Center,
you will either speak to a helpline staff member immediately, or be asked to leave a message. If you are asked to leave a message, someone will respond to your call shortly.

If you call seeking shelter,
please be aware that shelter availability is contingent upon number of open beds, family size and composition, and other factors. If we do not have space available, we will refer you to other domestic violence shelter options.

Learn more about the services we provide

Safety planning: Steps you can take now

If you are thinking about leaving a violent relationship or situation, there are steps you can take now to prepare. Everyone’s situation is unique, so here are some suggestions to get you started:

Talk to people you trust
Tell trusted friends, family, teachers, neighbors, and co-workers about what is going on. Let them know ways they can help, like accompanying you in public, keeping documents for safekeeping, or contacting the police if you are in danger.

Memorize important numbers
When you leave, you may not be able to take your phone. Make sure you know important numbers, including friends and family who can help and hotline numbers.

Plan an escape route
Think about the fastest and safest way to exit your home in a hurry. Try to avoid rooms with no escape routes or containing potential weapons, like the kitchen. Consider where you will go, safe transportation options, and the best public transit route. Find out where the closest police station, fire department, and hospital are located.

Prepare an emergency bag
Include money, keys, copies of important documents (see below for a list), and a change of clothing for you and your children. Keep it hidden or leave it with a trusted friend.

Compile important documents
These might include IDs, social security cards, immigration documents, birth certificates, health insurance information, and your Order of Protection.

Take financial safety steps
Open a bank account or obtain a credit card in your own name and have an emergency fund, if possible.

Learn about online and technological safety
Your computer or phone may be monitored, before and after you leave.

Learn more about computer safety

Take precautions once you leave
Change up your daily routine, including work hours and the routes you walk or drive. Change locks and ensure windows are secure. Let neighbors, landlords, employers, and school staff know to contact the police if the abuser approaches you, your home, or your children.

Learn about the services you can receive from Sanctuary