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Vermont DV Help, Shelters & Safety Toolkits
Shelters, hotlines, legal resources, and action-based safety guides for survivors in Vermont.
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RESOURCE GUIDE
Vermont Resource Guide
Statewide Hotline
Options for phone-based support and information in Vermont include:
- Looking up the current statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline number for Vermont through:
- Vermont’s state government website
- The main website of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Printed materials or posters at local clinics, libraries, or community centers
- Asking:
- A healthcare provider
- A school counselor or social worker
- A local advocacy program
- A legal aid office
- Checking whether the Vermont statewide hotline:
- Is available 24/7 or specific hours
- Offers TTY or relay options
- Has language interpretation services
Hotline staff typically provide information, safety planning options, and referrals. They do not replace emergency services, legal advice, or counseling.
Additional tools and professional supports can also be found through resources listed at DV.Support.
Rural Safety Considerations
In many parts of Vermont, people live in small communities or remote areas. When thinking about safety in rural settings, options to consider include:
- Travel and distance
- Map out the distance and travel time to:
- Nearest hospital or urgent care
- Local law enforcement office or barracks
- Nearest advocacy program office or outreach location
- Check seasonal conditions (snow, mud season, closed roads) that could slow travel.
- Identify more than one route out of your home area, if possible.
- Map out the distance and travel time to:
- Phone and internet limits
- Test where cell service is strongest (specific rooms, outdoors, certain road locations).
- Save important numbers under neutral names if that feels safer.
- Consider using:
- Prepaid phone or a low-cost backup phone
- Public Wi‑Fi at libraries or community spaces for online communication
- Privacy in small communities
- Think about:
- Which neighbors feel safe to you
- Who may know or be connected to the person causing harm
- Use neutral reasons when visiting services (for example, “health appointment” or “legal paperwork”).
- Ask providers (clinics, legal aid, advocacy programs) how they handle confidentiality in small communities.
- Think about:
- Transportation options
- List possible transportation sources:
- Own vehicle and where keys are kept
- Public or regional transit routes and schedules
- Ride services, volunteer driver programs, or community shuttles
- Check fuel levels and vehicle readiness if you drive.
- Consider where you could safely leave a packed or partially packed bag (car, trusted person, workplace).
- List possible transportation sources:
- Local supports
- Identify nearby:
- Community health centers
- Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)
- Local mental health agencies
- Legal aid or community justice centers
- Ask any local domestic or sexual violence agency if they offer:
- Outreach workers who travel to rural areas
- Virtual (phone or video) appointments
- Transportation assistance or coordination
- Identify nearby:
Documentation Tips
Some people choose to keep records related to what is happening in their relationship or home. In Vermont, laws about privacy and evidence are specific, so these tips are general and not legal advice.
What to Consider Documenting
- Dates and times
- Write down dates, times, and locations of concerning events.
- Note who was present (adults, children, neighbors, others).
- Descriptions of events
- Record brief, factual notes of what happened, using neutral language.
- Include any property damage, threats, or interference with work/school.
- Injuries and medical visits
- Keep copies of:
- Medical discharge papers
- Visit summaries
- Prescription labels or treatment instructions
- Note:
- Which provider you saw
- The date and location of the visit
- Keep copies of:
- Financial and property records
- Store copies (paper or digital) of:
- Bank and credit card statements
- Lease, mortgage, or deed
- Insurance policies
- Vehicle titles and registrations
- Note any unauthorized withdrawals or accounts opened in your name.
- Store copies (paper or digital) of:
- Communications
- Save relevant:
- Texts, emails, social media messages
- Call logs and voicemail details
- Consider screenshots with visible dates and contact information.
- Save relevant:
Safety and Storage of Documentation
- Risk of discovery
- Think about whether the person causing harm checks:
- Your phone or computer
- Papers in the home
- Email or cloud accounts you use
- Decide whether it feels safer to store records:
- Outside the home (with a trusted person)
- In a locked container
- In an email or cloud account they do not access
- Think about whether the person causing harm checks:
- Digital storage
- Use strong, unique passwords for accounts where you store documentation.
- Turn off automatic syncing to shared devices, if possible.
- Consider using:
- A password-protected notes app
- A separate email account created for storage
- Paper records
- Store paper copies in a place less likely to be searched, such as:
- A trusted person’s home
- A workplace drawer (if allowed)
- A labeled folder mixed with general paperwork
- Use neutral labels on folders or notebooks.
- Store paper copies in a place less likely to be searched, such as:
Working With Local Professionals
- Ask Vermont-based advocates, legal aid, or attorneys:
- What types of documentation may be useful in different legal processes
- How to protect your privacy when sharing records
- Before recording audio or video, check Vermont law or speak with a Vermont attorney about consent and privacy requirements.
- If you share documentation with any professional, ask:
- Where and how it will be stored
- Who can access it
- How long they keep it
Documentation can sometimes be requested or shared in legal processes. Clarify with a qualified Vermont legal professional how that might apply to your situation before relying on documentation strategies.