City of Chicago’s Domestic Violence Hotline

The City of Chicago Family & Support Services operates the City’s Domestic Violence Hotline. Callers to the Help Line are provided with general domestic violence information, referrals to domestic violence services and a three-way phone linkage between the caller and the domestic violence services. Trained domestic violence advocates – Victim Information and Referral Advocates (VIRAs) – staff the phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. VIRAs provide victims with immediate information about their options, information on safety planning, referrals to community-based providers including shelters, counseling, legal advocacy, civil legal services, supervised child visitation centers, and perpetrator services.

 

Bi-lingual and bi-cultural Spanish-speaking VIRAs are always available and operators can access the Language Line for over 140 other languages. 

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For assistance, call the hotline at 1.877.863.6338. 

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Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW) 

HOW is the third-largest provider of permanent supportive housing in Chicago and serves over 600  households annually. HOW provides access to stable and affordable housing through the creation and maintenance of housing units for households who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including women experiencing domestic violence.

 

HOW takes all referrals for our supportive housing programs from Chicago's Coordinated Entry System (CES). They do not maintain a separate waitlist for these programs and do not accept direct case manager referrals.

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​If you or someone you know is seeking temporary or permanent supportive housing, the person seeking housing must call 312-361-1707 to complete a housing assessment. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Please note, this may or may not lead to a housing option and does not solve your immediate housing crisis. If you are in need of shelter please call 3-1-1 to request transportation to a shelter. Contact ChicagoCES@csh.org with questions.

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Between Friends

Between Friends is a nonprofit agency dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and building a community free of abuse. Through their 24-Hour helpline, counseling, and legal assistance, they provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals and families in crisis, while educating communities as part of the movement to end domestic violence.

 

If you need immediate help, call their 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-603-435. Additional services, including counseling and legal assistance, are available. Visit betweenfriendschicago.org to learn more. 

 

Apna Ghar

Apna Ghar is a human rights organization working to end gender violence with an evidence-based model that factors in macro and micro level conditions that create the unique barriers that program participants face. They offer a 24-Hour Crisis Line, Safe Emergency Housing, Case Management & Social Services Advocacy, Counseling, Legal Assistance, and Supervised Visitation & Safe Exchange Services. 

 

If you need immediate help, call their 24-Hour Crisis Line at (773) 334-4663. 

 

WINGS

WINGS is a nonprofit agency dedicated to providing an escape route for victims of domestic abuse. On any given night, WINGS two emergency shelters provide housing for those fleeing violent situations one in the northwest suburbs and one on the southwest side of Chicago. Their safe houses have enough capacity to house 85 people each night, with a maximum stay length of 120 days. Additionally, WINGS operates over 50  houses and apartments throughout the city to provide transitional and permanent housing for survivors. WINGS also provides counseling and planning services.

 

If you need immediate help, call their 24-Hours Crisis Hotline at (847) 221-5680. To learn more about the services they provide, call them at 847-519-7828 or visit their website at wingsprogram.com.

 

Ascend Justice

Ascend Justice is a legal aid group specifically for victims of domestic violence. They currently provide legal assistance to individuals and families surrounding economic issues, family defense legal services, divorce, custody arrangements, visitation, child support, orders of protection, and immigration services. Please note, you must be a survivor of gender-based violence to receive these services.

 

If you would like more information and to learn how to apply for services, please visit their website at ascendjustice.org.

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The Network's Survivor Crisis Fund

The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence established the Survivor Crisis Fund to address critical gaps in the safety net for survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking. Once an application is received, we will review it for eligibility for any funds we currently have and will provide a response.  

 

The basic eligibility to receive funding is that you are a victim/survivor of domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking and/or human trafficking. Beyond that, we have various eligibility guidelines imposed by our funding sources. 

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This financial assistance is intended to be a one-time payment. Learn more and apply at the-network.org/survivor-fund/