Temporary Housing Options

A practical overview of short-term housing choices when home is unsafe.

Temporary Housing Options

Overview

This page lists common temporary housing options with practical points to consider for each.

Many people combine several options over time, depending on safety, privacy, money, and local availability. Additional tools and support directories can also be found through resources listed at DV.Support.

Shelters

What to Know

• May be run by community organizations, charities, or local authorities.
• Often have rules about curfews, visitors, and length of stay.
• Space may be shared with other residents (shared rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms).
• Some locations accept children; some also accept pets or have pet fostering options.

Possible Benefits

• Low-cost or no-cost accommodation.
• Staff who are used to safety planning and confidentiality.
• Access to other supports on-site or by referral (housing help, benefits information, etc.).
• Addresses are often confidential or undisclosed for safety reasons.

Things to Consider

• How to contact shelters safely (phone, website, walk-in, via another agency).
• What information they will ask for (names, ages, basic situation, health needs).
• Any accessibility needs (mobility, language, sensory needs, privacy needs).
• Transport to and from the shelter (public transit routes, taxi, support from another service).
• What you may need to bring if possible:
  • Identification documents
  • Essential medications
  • Basic clothing and personal items
  • Phones, chargers, and key electronics

Hotels and Motels

What to Know

• Can provide short-term, private space when other options are not available or suitable.
• Costs can add up quickly; some areas have programs that help pay for short hotel stays.
• Wide range of security features depending on the property (interior corridors, cameras, staffed desk).

Possible Benefits

• Separate, private room with a lock.
• Flexible check-in and check-out times in many locations.
• Can be chosen away from usual routines or known neighborhoods for added privacy.

Things to Consider

• How you will pay (cash, card, prepaid card, assistance program).
• Whether to book under your own name or another safe arrangement, if legally permitted.
• Location:
  • Distance from the person causing harm’s usual routes and locations.
  • Access to public transport, food, and essential shops.
• Room features:
  • Door locks and deadbolts
  • Peephole or chain on the door
  • Whether ground floor or higher floor feels safer in your situation
• Online traces:
  • Booking confirmation emails or texts
  • Loyalty accounts that may show stays
  • Shared bank or credit card statements that list the hotel

Friends and Family Options

What to Know

• Staying with people you know can provide short-term housing in a familiar environment.
• Some friends or relatives may feel pressure or risk if the person causing harm knows them.
• Privacy varies: some homes have spare rooms; others may involve shared sleeping spaces.

Possible Benefits

• No or low housing cost in the short term.
• Someone else present in the home, which may feel safer in some situations.
• Support with transport, child care, or everyday tasks while you organize next steps.

Things to Consider

• Which people:
  • Are more likely to keep your location private if asked.
  • Are not closely connected to the person causing harm.
  • Can tolerate possible conflict or contact from that person, if it occurs.
• How much to share:
  • Basic safety needs (e.g., “Please do not share that I am here with anyone”).
  • Any limits you have on visitors or phone calls while staying there.
• Household rules:
  • Length of stay expectations.
  • Expectations about chores, shared spaces, and guests.
  • Arrangements for children or pets.
• Digital and privacy issues:
  • Location sharing on phones and apps.
  • Social media posts that might reveal the address or city.
  • Whether their Wi‑Fi or devices are logged into any of your accounts.

Safe Public Locations (Short-Term Stops)

What to Know

• Examples can include:
  • Libraries
  • Community centers
  • Coffee shops
  • Transportation hubs during operating hours
  • 24-hour businesses with staff present
• These are usually not places to sleep, but may be used for short-term safety or planning time.
• They can be useful to make private calls, access internet, or wait until another option is open.

Possible Benefits

• Staff and other people around, which may feel safer than isolated areas.
• Access to phones, internet, or computers in some locations (such as libraries).
• More anonymous than staying at a known address in some situations.

Things to Consider

• Operating hours and whether the area is staffed.
• Presence of security staff or clear ways to ask staff for help if needed.
• Visibility:
  • Whether you are easily visible from the street or parking lot.
  • Whether the person causing harm is likely to visit that location.
• Next steps:
  • Using the time to call shelters or housing programs.
  • Arranging transport to another place to stay.
  • Accessing online resources to look up housing and safety information.

Planning Across Multiple Options

• List out every potential option (shelters, hotels, friends, public places) that might work for at least one night.
• Note for each:
  • Contact details or address.
  • Cost (if any).
  • Opening hours or check-in times.
  • Who knows this location and how easily it could be found.
• Consider a sequence, for example:
  • Short stop in a public place to make calls.
  • First night in a hotel or with a friend.
  • Several nights in shelter housing while looking at longer-term options.
• Store important addresses, phone numbers, and booking details in at least two places (for example, on paper and in a device), if safe to do so.

Recommended Articles

• Safety Planning Checklist
• Digital Safety and Privacy
• Gathering Evidence
• Planning to Leave Home Safely
• Children and Safety Planning