Virginia Domestic Violence Safety Resources & Guides

Virginia shelters, emergency steps, digital safety advice, and fast action checklists.

Virginia Domestic Violence Safety and Resource Guide

1. Immediate Steps in Virginia

These options focus on practical actions you can take in the short term.

• Move to a safer area in your home if possible (near exits, away from items that can be used as weapons).
• Keep a charged phone nearby when you can.
• Identify at least one safe neighbor, friend, or relative you could go to on short notice.
• Decide on a simple code word or phrase you can use with a trusted person to signal you need help.
• Store important items where they are easy to grab quickly:
  • Photo ID and documents for you and children
  • Bank card, some cash if possible
  • Keys (home, car, work, mailbox)
  • Prescription medications and basic supplies
  • Any existing court papers or protective orders
• Plan at least two routes out of your home and neighborhood.
• Consider what you would do with pets in a sudden exit (carrier, leash, food, vaccination records).

2. Emergency Housing Options in Virginia

Emergency housing in Virginia can come from several types of programs and services.

2.1 Types of Short-Term Housing Support

• Domestic violence shelters
  • Confidential locations with short-term stays
  • Often include safety planning, advocacy, and help with next steps
  • May have space limits or waitlists, especially for families
• Hotel or motel vouchers
  • Sometimes offered by local programs or agencies when shelters are full
  • Usually short-term (days, not months)
• Family or friend stays
  • Can be a temporary option while you explore longer-term housing
  • Consider whether the person’s address is known to the abusive partner
• Homeless services and general shelters
  • Available in many Virginia cities and counties
  • May not be dedicated DV shelters but can still provide short-term safety and basic needs

2.2 How to Ask About Emergency Housing

When you contact a local Virginia hotline, DV program, or shelter, you can ask:

• “Do you have emergency shelter space available for tonight or this week?”
• “If you are full, can you refer me to another program or emergency option nearby?”
• “Do you have any hotel or motel voucher options, or know who might?”
• “Can you help me with transportation to shelter or safe housing?”
• “What are the rules about visitors, curfew, pets, and length of stay?”

2.3 Things to Gather If You Can

• Identification for you and children (license, state ID, passport, birth certificates)
• Immigration documents if relevant
• Health insurance cards and necessary medications
• School records, IEPs, or important paperwork for children
• Any protective orders or legal documents you already have
• Contact list for doctors, schools, employers, and key family/friends
• Basic clothing and personal items for a few days

3. Digital Safety Basics

These steps focus on reducing how much someone can track or monitor you through devices and online accounts.

3.1 Safer Use of Phones and Devices

• Assume that a device regularly used by the abusive person may be monitored.
• When possible, use:
  • A different device that they do not access
  • A public computer (library, community center)
  • A trusted friend or family member’s phone for sensitive searches or calls
• Check your phone for:
  • Location sharing in map apps
  • Shared Apple ID or Google account
  • Unknown apps with full permissions (especially “device admin” or accessibility access)
• If you suspect tracking and changing settings is not safe, consider leaving them as they are and using a different device for planning.

3.2 Location and Account Settings

• Review location settings:
  • Turn off location sharing in messaging and map apps where it feels safe to do so.
  • Check “Family Sharing,” “Find My,” or similar features for shared locations.
• Update passwords where it is safe:
  • Email accounts
  • Banking and financial accounts
  • Social media
  • Cloud storage or shared photo accounts
• Use stronger passwords that are not based on information the abusive person knows well.
• Turn on two-factor authentication where possible, using a phone or email they do not control.

3.3 Safer Browsing

• Use private or incognito windows for sensitive searches (housing, legal help, protective orders).
• Clear browsing history and search history when it is safe and will not raise concern.
• Log out of accounts on shared devices after each session.
• Avoid saving passwords on shared or accessible devices.

4. After-Incident Actions in Virginia

If a harmful incident has already occurred, there are several areas you may want to review.

4.1 Health and Medical Options

• Decide whether to seek medical care for any injuries or health concerns.
• If you see a medical provider, you can ask:
  • To document injuries in your medical record
  • For copies of visit summaries or records
  • About options for follow-up appointments
• Store any discharge papers or instructions in a safe place if possible.

4.2 Preserving Information and Evidence

• Save text messages, emails, social media messages, and call logs related to the incident.
• Take screenshots and back them up to a secure location (cloud storage, external drive, or trusted person).
• Photograph visible injuries or property damage over several days as they change, if it feels safe.
• Keep a brief timeline:
  • Dates and approximate times
  • Locations
  • Names of any witnesses
• Store any police reports, incident numbers, or safety plans provided by officers.

4.3 Considering Legal Protections in Virginia

Virginia offers several legal tools related to family or household harm. For information about your specific situation, local legal aid or advocacy programs may be able to explain the options and procedures.

• Protective orders:
  • There are different types with different durations and requirements.
  • Courts or legal helpers can explain which type may apply to your situation.
• Criminal complaints:
  • In some situations, law enforcement can document and investigate incidents.
  • You can request the incident number and follow-up contact information.
• Custody and family law questions:
  • Legal aid organizations or private attorneys can explain how incidents may affect custody, visitation, or support in Virginia.

4.4 Updating Safety Plans and Daily Routines

• Review and adjust your personal safety plan after each significant incident.
• Consider:
  • Whether you need different routes to work, school, or childcare
  • Who should know about the situation (school, workplace security, building management)
  • Safe places you can go during the day if needed
• Ask schools or childcare providers about any safety procedures they can put in place (pickup lists, passwords, visitor rules).
• Talk with trusted neighbors, friends, or coworkers about what they should do if they see something concerning.

Additional tools, statewide directories, and professional supports are listed through resources at DV.Support, which can help you locate Virginia-based programs for shelter, legal help, and ongoing safety planning.

Recommended Articles

• Safety Planning Checklist
• Digital Safety and Tech Abuse
• Gathering Evidence
• Immediate Steps After Leaving
• Talking to Law Enforcement