Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) – Free Domestic Violence Shelters and Services
Free emergency shelter, crisis hotlines, counseling, safety planning, legal advocacy, and supportive services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence through a nationwide network of over 1,500 shelters and 1,700+ local programs funded by the federal government.
Free Shelter and Safety for Domestic Violence Survivors: The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
Domestic violence affects millions of Americans every year. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, approximately 10 million people experience domestic violence annually in the United States—that is roughly 20 people every minute. When someone is being abused by a partner or family member, the most dangerous moment is often the moment they try to leave. Having a safe place to go—a shelter, a counselor, a legal advocate—can literally mean the difference between life and death. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) is the primary federal funding source that ensures those life-saving resources exist in every state, territory, and tribal community across America.
FVPSA has been funding domestic violence shelters and services since 1984, making it the first and longest-standing federal program dedicated specifically to addressing domestic violence. Today, FVPSA provides approximately $230 million annually to support over 1,500 emergency shelters and more than 1,700 local domestic violence service programs nationwide. These programs provide a comprehensive range of services—from emergency shelter and crisis hotlines to counseling, legal advocacy, safety planning, and children’s services—all completely free to victims and their families.
The scope of the problem that FVPSA addresses is staggering. One in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, or intimate partner stalking during their lifetimes. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women aged 15 to 44—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. Children who witness domestic violence suffer lasting psychological harm and are at significantly higher risk of becoming victims or perpetrators themselves. And domestic violence crosses every boundary of race, ethnicity, income, education, and geography. It happens in mansions and in mobile homes, in cities and on farms, in every community in America.
What FVPSA provides is deceptively simple but profoundly important: a way out. A safe bed for tonight. A counselor who understands. A legal advocate who can help obtain a protective order. A children’s specialist who can help kids process what they have witnessed. A safety plan for the future. These services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, free of charge, to anyone experiencing domestic violence.
Opportunity Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program Type | Ongoing domestic violence prevention and services |
| Who It Serves | Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence; their children and families |
| Cost to Client | Completely free |
| Annual Federal Funding | Approximately $230 million |
| Service Providers | Over 1,500 shelters and 1,700+ local programs |
| People Served | Over 1.3 million annually |
| National Hotline | 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-799-SAFE) |
| Immigration Status | Services available regardless of immigration status at most programs |
| Confidentiality | All services are confidential; shelter addresses are not public |
| Administered By | Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), ACF, HHS |
Services Available Through FVPSA-Funded Programs
Emergency Shelter
The most immediately critical service funded by FVPSA is emergency shelter—a safe, confidential location where victims and their children can stay while escaping an abusive situation. FVPSA-funded shelters provide a secure, homelike environment with locked entries, security systems, and undisclosed addresses. Shelter stays typically last 30 to 90 days, though many programs offer extensions based on individual circumstances. During the shelter stay, residents receive meals, clothing and personal items as needed, private rooms or shared living spaces, access to laundry and kitchen facilities, and assistance with developing a plan for safe, permanent housing.
FVPSA-funded shelters served over 302,000 adults and children in emergency shelter in a single recent reporting year. The demand for shelter consistently exceeds supply—on a single day in 2023, over 6,000 requests for shelter went unmet due to lack of space, underscoring the ongoing need for continued and expanded funding.
24/7 Crisis Hotlines
Every FVPSA-funded program operates or connects to a 24/7 crisis hotline staffed by trained domestic violence advocates. These hotlines provide immediate emotional support and safety planning, information about local shelter availability, referrals to legal, medical, and social services, safety planning for callers who are not ready or able to leave, assistance in multiple languages, and connections to law enforcement when requested by the caller. The National Domestic Violence Hotline, which receives primary funding through FVPSA, handles over 500,000 contacts per year through phone, chat, and text. The hotline operates 24/7/365, is available in more than 200 languages through interpreter services, and can be reached at 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-799-SAFE) or by texting START to 88788.
Counseling and Support Groups
Domestic violence takes an enormous psychological toll. Victims frequently experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulty trusting others. FVPSA-funded programs provide individual counseling with trained domestic violence counselors or therapists, support groups where survivors can share experiences and build community, trauma-informed care that recognizes the impact of violence on mental health, safety planning that addresses both immediate dangers and long-term risks, and culturally specific services that address the unique needs of diverse communities. These counseling services are available to current and former shelter residents, as well as to non-residential clients who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence.
Legal Advocacy
Navigating the legal system while dealing with the trauma of abuse is overwhelming. FVPSA-funded programs provide legal advocates who help victims understand their legal rights and options, file for protective orders (restraining orders or orders of protection), navigate the criminal justice system if the abuser has been charged, address custody, visitation, and child support issues, access legal representation through partnerships with legal aid organizations, and understand immigration relief options such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petition and U-visa. Legal advocates do not typically serve as attorneys, but they provide critical support in understanding the legal process, preparing for court appearances, and connecting victims with pro bono or legal aid attorneys.
Children’s Services
Children are often the invisible victims of domestic violence. An estimated 15.5 million children in the United States live in homes where domestic violence has occurred in the past year. FVPSA-funded programs recognize that children have unique needs and provide age-appropriate counseling and therapeutic support, children’s advocacy and school liaison services, parenting support for non-abusive parents, safe play spaces and structured activities in shelters, developmental screenings and referrals, and support with school enrollment and continuity during shelter stays.
Transitional Housing and Economic Empowerment
Leaving an abusive relationship often means starting over with nothing. Abusers frequently control finances, destroy credit, and prevent partners from working. FVPSA-funded programs help survivors rebuild economic independence through transitional housing programs (6 months to 2 years of subsidized housing with ongoing support services), employment readiness training and job placement assistance, financial literacy education, assistance with establishing bank accounts and rebuilding credit, referrals to education and vocational training programs, and help accessing public benefits including TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance.
How FVPSA Funding Works
FVPSA distributes federal funding through several channels to ensure nationwide coverage:
State Formula Grants (70% of funding): Each state, territory, and the District of Columbia receives a formula-based grant that is then distributed to local domestic violence programs. States must pass through at least 70% of their allocation to local service providers, with the remainder available for state-level coordination, training, and administration.
Tribal Grants (10% of funding): Dedicated funding for tribal domestic violence programs recognizes the disproportionate impact of domestic violence in Native communities, where American Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence at rates significantly higher than the national average.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: FVPSA provides primary funding for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, ensuring that anyone in the country can access immediate support and referrals.
State Domestic Violence Coalitions: Each state has a designated domestic violence coalition that receives FVPSA funding for training, technical assistance, public awareness campaigns, and coordination of services statewide.
Specialized Services: Additional funding supports culturally specific programs serving marginalized communities, programs for underserved populations, and national resource centers that provide training and technical assistance.
Who Can Access FVPSA Services
FVPSA services are available to anyone experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, or family violence. There are several important points about eligibility:
No income requirement. Unlike many federal benefit programs, FVPSA services have no income test. Domestic violence affects people at every income level, and services are available to everyone regardless of financial status.
No immigration status requirement. Most FVPSA-funded programs provide services regardless of immigration status. The Violence Against Women Act provides additional protections and immigration relief for immigrant victims.
Men are eligible. While the majority of domestic violence victims are women, men also experience domestic violence and are eligible for all FVPSA-funded services. Many programs have developed specialized services for male victims.
LGBTQ+ individuals are eligible. FVPSA services are available to all victims regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Many programs have specialized training and services for LGBTQ+ survivors.
Elderly persons are eligible. Elder abuse by family members or intimate partners falls within FVPSA’s scope, and many programs serve older adults experiencing domestic violence.
Children are eligible. Children who witness domestic violence or are directly affected by violence in the home can access FVPSA-funded children’s services.
How to Access Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are several ways to access FVPSA-funded services:
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-799-SAFE). Available 24/7 in over 200 languages. For TTY: 1-800-787-3224. You can also text START to 88788 or chat online at thehotline.org.
Contact your local domestic violence program. Every community has a local domestic violence program. You can find yours through the hotline, through your state domestic violence coalition, or by searching online.
Go to a hospital emergency room. Emergency rooms are required to screen for domestic violence and can connect you with local services and safety resources.
Call 911 in an emergency. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Law enforcement can provide immediate protection and connect you with victim services.
Contact your state domestic violence coalition. Each state has a coalition that maintains a directory of local programs and can provide direct referrals. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (nnedv.org) maintains a list of state coalitions.
Safety Planning
One of the most important services provided by FVPSA-funded programs is safety planning—a personalized strategy for reducing risk whether a person is staying in, planning to leave, or has already left an abusive relationship. Safety planning includes identifying safe areas in the home during violent incidents, establishing code words with trusted friends or family, preparing an emergency bag with essential documents, medications, keys, and money, identifying safe places to go in an emergency, creating a plan for protecting children, developing technology safety strategies including phone and social media privacy, planning financial safety including access to bank accounts and important documents, and addressing legal protection options including protective orders.
Safety planning recognizes that leaving an abusive relationship is a process, not an event. Not everyone is ready or able to leave, and FVPSA-funded advocates support individuals wherever they are in that process—whether that means making a plan to leave next week, developing strategies to stay safer while still in the relationship, or building a new life months or years after leaving.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is one of the most recognizable components of the FVPSA system and serves as the front door for millions seeking help:
- Phone: 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-799-SAFE)
- TTY: 1-800-787-3224
- Text: START to 88788
- Chat: thehotline.org
- Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Languages: Over 200 languages through interpreter services
- Annual contacts: Over 500,000 per year
The hotline is staffed by trained advocates who provide emotional support, safety planning, crisis intervention, and referrals to local services. Every call, text, and chat is confidential. The hotline also provides specialized support for friends and family members of victims, for professionals seeking guidance, and for anyone who is concerned about a relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the shelter keep my location secret? Yes. The addresses of domestic violence shelters are confidential and not publicly disclosed. This confidentiality is essential for the safety of residents.
Can I bring my children to the shelter? Yes. Children are welcome at domestic violence shelters, and most shelters have specialized programs and activities for children.
Can I bring my pet? Increasingly, yes. Many shelters have developed pet-friendly policies or partnerships with animal shelters and foster networks, recognizing that concern for pets is a significant barrier to leaving for many victims.
What if I am not ready to leave the relationship? FVPSA-funded services are available regardless of whether you plan to leave. Advocates can help you develop a safety plan, understand your options, and access services at whatever pace is right for you.
Do I need a police report to access services? No. You do not need to have filed a police report, pressed charges, or had any involvement with law enforcement to access FVPSA-funded services.
Will I have to talk to police if I go to a shelter? No. Contact with law enforcement is always your choice. Advocates will support whatever decision you make about involving police.
Are services available for undocumented immigrants? Most FVPSA-funded programs serve all victims regardless of immigration status. Additionally, the Violence Against Women Act provides immigration relief options for victims who cooperate with law enforcement.
Is there a time limit on services? Emergency shelter stays typically range from 30 to 90 days, with extensions available. Non-residential services such as counseling, legal advocacy, and support groups are generally available for as long as needed.
How to Get Started
- Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (24/7, free, confidential)
- Text START to 88788
- Chat online at thehotline.org
- Find your state domestic violence coalition at nnedv.org
- Contact your local domestic violence program directly
- In an emergency, call 911
Nobody deserves to live in fear. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act ensures that every person experiencing domestic violence—regardless of where they live, how much money they have, or what their immigration status is—has access to the safety, support, and services they need. The shelters are open, the hotlines are staffed, and the advocates are ready. All you need to do is reach out.