There are different services that can help if you are in a domestic violence relationship: shelters, hospitals, police, legal aid and other community services. Shelters are usually free and will often have information about other services in your community. A shelter is a safe space where you and your children can stay when you leave an abusive relationship, and its location is kept a secret so your husband/partner will not know where you are. Shelters provide food, free housing, counseling, and can help you get legal advice and assistance in obtaining work. The shelter staff may be able to help you find permanent housing and job training. They may also be able to help you find out if you or your children qualify for public benefits.
You can find a shelter by calling your local domestic violence program or the National Domestic Violence Hotline – 800.799.7233. Shelter services are FREE. You do not have to pay money to get these services. In Georgia, you can call Georgia’s 24 Hours domestic violence hotline – 1.800.33.HAVEN (4.2836)
Who can get help from a shelter?
All domestic violence shelters are required to help you if you are a victim of domestic violence, even if you are undocumented. These services must be provided without asking any questions about your immigration status. If you seek these services, you will not be reported to CIS. Shelters and domestic violence programs cannot discriminate against you because of your country of origin, your immigration status, your ethnic background, or your language ability.
Can I get help even if I don't stay in the shelter?
Battered women's shelters and other services can offer you help even if you do not choose to stay at the shelter. You can receive help if you choose to stay with friends or family members and even if you decide not to leave your abuser. Shelters provide counseling, legal assistance, help finding housing and other needed services for battered women whether or not you stay at the shelter. It is also important to know that there are domestic violence programs that have particular experience helping battered immigrant women. Your local domestic violence shelter or community organization should be able to help connect you to the available resources.
What should I take if I go to the shelter?
If you leave your home, do everything you can to take your children with you. Also try to take with you important papers, such as a driver's license, identification, passports, visas and social security cards for you and your children, birth certificates, any public assistance documents, leases, checkbooks, paycheck stubs, marriage license, medical and police reports, copies of your husband's green card, passport, birth certificate, or social security card, photographs of your injuries and any current court orders. If you think you may need to leave in the future, pack these items in a bag so you can find them quickly when you leave or keep them at a friend's house.
Shelters and other domestic violence programs can also offer you assistance with the following:
- Filing civil protection orders in court,
- Obtaining custody of and support for children,
- Obtaining Police assistance,
- Emergency medical care,
- Criminally prosecuting the abuser, and
- Filing for public benefits.
|
