Domestic violence can affect more than a person’s immediate safety. It can also disrupt housing, financial stability, and everyday life.
The CDC notes that people who have experienced intimate partner violence—and their children—can face an increased risk of housing instability and homelessness. For some survivors, finding safety may also mean finding a new place to live.
When Safety and Housing Are Connected
Leaving an unsafe situation does not always mean stable housing is immediately available.
Survivors may face financial barriers, limited affordable housing, or other challenges when trying to find a safe place to stay. Support can include emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and other community resources depending on each person’s circumstances.
What Support Can Help Survivors Move Forward?
Finding safe housing is important, but survivors may need different types of support depending on their circumstances. This can include safety planning, housing assistance, financial support, legal advocacy, counseling, and connections to community resources.
There is no single path forward, and the support someone needs can vary by situation.
Starting Over Includes Everyday Needs
Periods of housing instability can also bring immediate, everyday needs.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline highlights shelter, food, and clothing among the basic needs survivors may have to secure while seeking safety.
More broadly, when women and families move into shelters or temporary living environments for many different reasons, access to everyday essentials remains an important part of maintaining personal care and daily routines.
Need Help?
Confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Supporting Everyday Needs in Women’s Shelters
Women and families enter shelters for many different circumstances, and their needs are not all the same.
GFoundation works with partner women’s and family shelters in New York and New Jersey to support one practical part of that transition: access to personal care essentials.
Through our Women’s Shelter Support Program, we provide Initial Personal Care Kits and On-Hand Supplies based on the needs of our shelter partners—helping women and families access everyday essentials with dignity during periods of transition.
Preparing Initial Personal Care Kits
Personal care essentials prepared for partner shelters.
Women’s Shelter Support
Essential supplies provided based on partner shelter needs.
Learn More About Our Women’s Shelter Support
| See how GFoundation works with partner shelters in New York and New Jersey to help women and families access everyday essentials.
Your gift helps women and children in shelters find safety, dignity, and hope.
Together, we can make every shelter a place to begin again.
| Donate to support women’s shelter
- Become a Monthly Donor – Help women and children in shelters rebuild their lives with safety and stability.
- Make a One-Time Gift – Provide essentials and comfort for families seeking refuge today.
- Give In-Kind Donation – Send hygiene kits, baby items, or other daily necessities to shelters in need. [link]
