Texas Domestic Violence Shelters, Safety Guides & Immediate Help

Texas-focused domestic violence help, including shelters, legal steps, and emergency safety planning.

Texas Domestic Violence Resource Center

1. Emergency-Oriented Options (Non-Crisis Overview)

This page outlines practical options in Texas related to safety, shelters, advocacy, and immigration-sensitive considerations. It does not replace emergency or legal services.

• Identify nearby shelters and advocacy programs
• Outline quick personal safety steps for different settings
• List what to gather if preparing to leave
• Note immigration-related considerations in Texas

2. Quick Safety Options You Can Review

2.1 At Home

• Identify a room with:
  • More than one exit (door, window, back door)
  • No obvious weapons or heavy objects that could be used as weapons
• Keep a basic “go bag” in a place you can reach quickly:
  • Copies of IDs (yours and children’s)
  • Keys (home, car, work, mailbox)
  • Prepaid phone or charger if available
  • Essential medications for a few days
  • List of important phone numbers written on paper
  • Small amount of cash or prepaid card if possible
• Decide on a code word or phrase with a trusted person that means “call for help” or “check on me.”
• Consider where you could go on short notice (friend, relative, shelter, workplace, public place).

2.2 In Public or At Work

• Notice exits when you enter:
  • Front and back doors
  • Stairwells
  • Emergency exits
• Plan who at work or school could:
  • Screen calls or visitors
  • Escort you to your car or bus stop
  • Help you contact security if needed
• Ask about:
  • Workplace safety policies for harassment or threats
  • Options for changing your schedule or work location

2.3 Phone, Devices, and Online Accounts

• Review:
  • Who knows your passwords or device passcodes
  • Which devices are shared or logged in automatically
  • Which apps show your location (maps, social media, rideshare)
• Options to increase privacy:
  • Log out of accounts on shared devices
  • Turn off location sharing where possible
  • Use a different email or cloud account for private planning
  • Consider using a library or friend’s device to search for help
• Save key contacts in your phone under neutral names if that feels safer.

3. Texas Domestic Violence Shelters and Advocacy Programs

Texas has a wide network of family violence centers, shelters, and advocacy programs. Many offer:

• Emergency shelter (short-term housing)
• Safety planning support
• Advocacy with courts, schools, and agencies
• Support for children
• Some immigration-informed referrals and legal clinic connections

3.1 How to Locate Texas Shelters and Advocacy Centers

• Search for:
  • “Family violence center [your Texas county or city]”
  • “Domestic violence shelter [nearest large city] Texas”
• Check:
  • Local United Way or community resource directories
  • County websites for victim services or family violence sections
  • Hospital social work departments for referral lists
• Ask:
  • Court victim assistance offices about local family violence agencies
  • Faith or community centers if they keep an updated referral list

3.2 What Texas Shelters Often Ask During Intake

When you call or visit, intake staff may ask:

• Your first name (you can ask about using an initial or alias if appropriate)
• Whether you are currently safe to talk
• Your general location (city or county) to check bed availability
• Whether you have children or other dependents with you
• Any urgent medical or accessibility needs
• Any current protective orders or open cases

3.3 Services You Can Ask About

• Emergency shelter availability and waitlists
• Non-residential services (case management, advocacy, groups)
• Transportation support (bus passes, rides, coordination)
• Help replacing documents (IDs, birth certificates, protective orders)
• Referrals for:
  • Civil legal assistance
  • Immigration-informed legal help
  • Public benefits navigation

4. Immigration-Sensitive Notes for Texas

4.1 Information to Consider Before You Share

• Decide how much to share about:
  • Your immigration status
  • Your partner’s status
  • Any prior contact with immigration authorities
• Ask any agency:
  • Whether they require Social Security numbers or immigration documents
  • If they serve people regardless of immigration status
  • How your information is protected and who can access it

4.2 Types of Help Some Texas Programs Can Connect You To

Many Texas family violence and immigrant-support organizations can offer information and referrals about:

• Options sometimes available for survivors married to or harmed by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
• Options sometimes available for survivors who assisted law enforcement in certain investigations
• Protections sometimes available for certain children and youth
• How abuse may affect some immigration processes

4.3 Safety Around Documents and Status

• Keep copies (paper or digital) of:
  • Passports (yours and children’s)
  • Any immigration documents or receipts
  • Marriage and birth certificates
  • Any police reports or court documents related to harm or threats
• Consider storing copies:
  • With a trusted person outside the home
  • In a password-protected email or cloud folder
  • On a USB drive that is not left in shared spaces
• If someone threatens to report you to immigration, keep a dated record of:
  • What was said or done
  • Any witnesses
  • Any screenshots or messages

5. Quick Safety Planning Templates

The lists below can be adapted to your situation. You can rewrite or shorten them so they fit comfortably in your memory, on a card, or in a note on your phone.

5.1 “If Things Escalate at Home” Mini Plan

1. Identify a “safest available room”:
   • Closest exits
   • No obvious weapons
2. Pre-decide:
   • Where to go if you leave suddenly (shelter, friend, public place)
   • How to get there (car, bus route, rideshare, walking route)
3. Set a communication method:
   • Code word or phrase for “check on me”
   • Backup method (text, email, messaging app)
4. Keep near an exit:
   • Keys and shoes
   • Go bag or small essentials pouch
5. Consider where children or others in the home can move to increase distance if conflict starts.

5.2 “If I Need to Leave in the Next 24–72 Hours” Checklist

• Identification:
  • State ID, driver’s license, passport
  • Children’s IDs or school cards
• Legal and important papers:
  • Birth certificates, Social Security cards (if available)
  • Any court orders or case numbers
  • Medical cards or prescription details
  • Any immigration-related receipts or notices
• Money and access:
  • Cash, prepaid cards, or separate account information
  • Bank cards if you feel safe taking them
• Practical items:
  • Medications and medical devices
  • Clothing for a few days
  • Phone charger and any backup device
• Information:
  • Written list of important phone numbers
  • Addresses for shelters, trusted contacts, or legal aid

5.3 Technology and Privacy Mini Plan

• Review:
  • Which accounts need new passwords or security questions
  • Which apps are shared (cloud storage, photos, messaging)
• Consider setting up:
  • A new email that is not shared or obvious
  • Separate cloud storage for documents and photos
• When searching for help:
  • Decide if you want to clear history or use private browsing
  • Consider using a different device or public computer for sensitive searches

6. Working With Texas-Based Advocates or Legal Helpers

Many Texas regions have both family violence advocates and legal aid groups. They may not be able to represent everyone, but they can often provide information, referrals, and some form of guidance.

6.1 Questions You Can Ask an Advocate

• What safety planning support do you offer?
• Can you explain my local options for:
  • Protective orders or family court filings
  • Housing or shelter
  • Public benefits and child-related services
• Do you work with undocumented survivors or mixed-status families?
• Can you refer me to an immigration-informed legal provider?
• How is my information stored and shared?

6.2 Questions You Can Ask a Legal Aid or Attorney Office

• Do you handle:
  • Family violence-related protective orders?
  • Divorce, custody, or child support where family violence is involved?
  • Immigration options for survivors?
• Are your services free or low-cost?
• Are there income limits for your services?
• If you cannot help me directly, who else in Texas can I contact?

7. Documentation and Evidence to Consider Gathering

Keeping organized records can make it easier to explain your situation to advocates, legal aid, or other professionals.

• Written notes:
  • Dates, times, and brief descriptions of incidents
  • Any injuries or property damage (without graphic details)
• Digital records:
  • Messages, emails, voicemails, or social media posts
  • Screenshots of threats or intimidation
• Official documents:
  • Police reports or case numbers
  • Medical visit summaries related to injuries or stress
  • Protective orders or court documents
• Third-party information:
  • Notes about witnesses who may have seen or heard incidents
  • School or daycare notes about changes in children’s behavior or attendance

Recommended Articles

• Personal Safety Planning Checklist
• Gathering and Storing Evidence Safely
• Digital and Phone Safety Basics
• Planning to Leave Safely
• Including Children in Safety Plans