Having a plan ready
A safety plan won't cover everything, but having a few things decided ahead of time — before you're in a rush or a crisis — can make leaving faster and safer if you ever need to.
A bag, ready to go
Kept somewhere your abuser won't find it — a trusted friend's house, your car trunk, or at work — rather than packed and visible at home.
- ID and birth certificates — yours and your children's, or copies if you can't take the originals
- Some cash, and a spare phone or charger if you have one
- Any medications you or your kids need
- A change of clothes for you and each child
- Copies of important documents: lease, insurance, custody or court paperwork
- A small comfort item for each child
People and places
Decide ahead of time: two or three people you could call, one place you could go (a friend, family member, or a shelter from our directory), and — if it's useful — a code word you can text or say to signal you need help without spelling it out.
Digital safety
If a device is shared or might be checked, assume it's monitored. Where possible, use a friend's phone, a library computer, or a device your abuser doesn't have access to for anything related to leaving.
- Clear your browser history after visiting sites like this one — or use the Leave Site button (top right, or press Esc three times) to exit fast
- Consider whether a shared car could have a GPS tracker — a mechanic or locksmith can do a physical sweep
- Log out of shared accounts and cloud photo backups that could reveal your location
- A separate, low-cost prepaid phone kept somewhere private can be a safe way to make calls or texts
Bringing kids into the picture
Leaving looks different with children involved, and there are resources built specifically for that.
Your children's right to stay in school
Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act, children displaced by domestic violence — whether you're in a shelter, a motel, or staying with family — have real rights most parents don't know about:
- Immediate enrollment in a new school, even without the records normally required (immunization records, proof of address, birth certificate) — those can follow later
- The right to stay enrolled in their current school with transportation provided, if that's determined to be better for them — this can continue through the end of the school year, even after you find permanent housing
- Every school district has a McKinney-Vento liaison whose job is to help with exactly this — ask the school for them by name
If you're worried about a child's safety
Florida's child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE), run by the Department of Children and Families. Reaching out for help for yourself and your children as domestic violence victims is not the same thing as a report being made against you.
Counseling for kids
Many of the centers in our directory offer trauma-informed counseling for children, not just adults — ask when you call.
Know your legal options
Protective order
Florida's civil "Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence" (Fla. Stat. §741.30) can be filed at your county courthouse through the Clerk of Court. It's free — Florida law prohibits charging a filing fee — you're not required to have a lawyer, and you don't need to already have a police report to petition. A shelter advocate can often go with you or help you prepare what to say.
Address confidentiality
Florida's Attorney General's office runs an Address Confidentiality Program that lets survivors use a substitute address so their real address doesn't show up in public records. A shelter advocate or legal aid organization can help you enroll.
If immigration status is part of what's keeping you
Two federal protections exist specifically for this:
- VAWA self-petition — an abused spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or green-card holder can apply for immigration status on their own, without the abuser's knowledge or involvement.
- U-visa — available to victims of certain crimes, including domestic violence, who cooperate with law enforcement.
An immigration attorney or legal aid organization can help figure out which applies to your situation.
Free and low-cost legal help in Florida
Outside these areas, the Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service can help point you to local free or low-cost help.
Custody
A family law attorney or legal aid organization can advise on custody specific to domestic violence situations — Florida courts do take documented abuse into account.
Money and a safe place to live
Call 1-800-226-6667, or visit the Florida Attorney General's Crime Victims Services page to apply.
Housing protections
If you live in public housing or use a Section 8 voucher, federal law (VAWA) says you cannot be denied housing or evicted solely because you are a domestic violence victim — and you may qualify for an emergency transfer to a safer unit without having to reapply from scratch.
Beyond emergency shelter
Many centers in our directory also run transitional or rapid-rehousing programs for the months after shelter — ask when you call, even if you're not ready for that step yet.
Building financial independence
When it's safe to do so, a bank account or credit card in your name only can make a real difference. Many shelters also offer, or can refer you to, job training and workforce reentry programs.
Florida colleges with support for student parents
Some Florida colleges and universities offer on-campus family housing or childcare grants designed for students who are raising children while pursuing a degree. These programs can make going back to school possible even while starting over. Availability, eligibility, and funding can change year to year, so confirm current details directly with each school before applying.
On-campus family housing
Childcare & support grants for student parents
This isn’t a complete list, and program availability and funding can change. Check each college’s financial aid or student services office for current eligibility and how to apply.
Housing, money, work, and support for your kids after you leave
Leaving is the first step — staying safe and rebuilding takes housing, money, and support that lasts longer than a shelter stay. These programs are built to help with what comes next, for you and your kids.
Housing: rapid rehousing help
Rebuilding your credit
Job training & workforce support
For your kids: school transfers
Federal law protects kids in shelters or temporary housing: they can enroll in a new school immediately without records, stay at their old school (school of origin) if that's best for them, and get transportation there if needed.
For your kids: trauma-informed counseling
Program availability, eligibility, and funding change often — a shelter advocate or the organization directly can confirm what's currently available in your area.
If calling isn't safe right now
Florida's statewide hotline (1-800-500-1119) is listed at the top of every page on this site. A few other lines are worth knowing:
Questions people are often afraid to ask
If someone you love is going through this
A lot of people land on this page not for themselves, but because they're worried about someone else. A few things that genuinely help:
- Believe them, and don't judge their choices — leaving is often the most dangerous point, not the safest, and there are reasons someone may not be ready to yet
- Let them set the pace — pushing can push them away from support, not toward it
- Offer quiet, practical help — holding onto a go-bag, being listed as a safe contact, or just being reachable
- The hotline numbers on this page are for you too — advocates can talk you through how to help without taking over