The first call
Most shelters answer a crisis line day and night. An advocate listens, asks whether you are safe right now, and explains what the program offers: emergency shelter, safety planning, counseling, help with protective orders, and referrals for housing and benefits. You do not have to give your immigration status to get help, and shelters do not report to immigration authorities.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, has Spanish-speaking advocates and can connect you to the nearest program.
What to bring if it is safe
- Identification for you and your children, if you have it.
- Any court papers, protective orders, or police reports.
- Medications and prescriptions.
- Phone and charger; important phone numbers written on paper.
- Children's school records and comfort items.
If leaving with these would put you at risk, leave without them. Shelters help people replace documents later.
Immigration questions survivors ask
Advocates hear the same worries every week: whether leaving affects a pending petition, whether the abuser can "cancel" your papers, what happens to the children. These are legal questions, and shelters work with legal aid organizations and accredited representatives who answer them for free or at low cost. Ask the advocate for that referral on day one. Advocasí can help prepare paperwork once a qualified advisor has told you which path applies; we do not decide that for you.
Common questions
- Will the shelter ask for my immigration status?
- Programs funded under federal violence-against-women law serve everyone regardless of status and keep your information confidential.
- Can I bring my children?
- Yes. Family shelters are built for parents with children. Say how many and their ages when you call so they can plan space.