Best Domestic Violence in Idaho — 14 resources

About Domestic Violence for Women

Domestic violence services for women are anchored by the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE), the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and a state coalition in every state coordinated through the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). VAWA funds shelters, transitional housing, legal services, and immigration relief (U-visa, T-visa, VAWA self-petition). Survivors can obtain civil protective orders, address-confidentiality through state ACP programs, and victim advocates through local prosecutor offices. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) and StrongHearts Native Helpline serve specific survivor populations. This directory includes hotlines, shelters, state DV coalitions, and protective order resources.

Domestic Violence in Idaho

Idaho magistrate divisions handle custody matters within the district courts. The Child Support Services division within the Department of Health and Welfare runs enforcement. Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and Idaho Falls are the largest cities. Idaho Legal Aid Services and the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence provide free family law and safety help to women statewide.

14 Resources

1. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

The National DV Hotline at 800-799-7233 connects Idaho callers with trained advocates around the clock, with warm transfers to local shelters and protective order programs. Advocates can chat by phone, text (START to 88788), or web. Conversations are confidential and never appear on phone bills as long as the abuser doesn't share the account.

800-799-7233 · Statewide Phone Service · 24/7 · Visit Website

2. Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence — Free

ICASDV is Idaho's statewide coalition of 27 sexual and domestic violence programs, with the central office on N 6th St in Boise providing technical assistance, training, and policy advocacy. ICASDV runs the Idaho Address Confidentiality Program for survivors needing a substitute mailing address. The coalition publishes the directory of local member programs by county. Call 208-384-0419.

208-384-0419 · 300 N 6th St Suite 200, Boise, ID 83702 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. FACES of Hope Victim Center — Boise — Free

FACES of Hope on S 6th St in Boise is a Family Justice Center co-locating law enforcement, prosecutors, civil legal advocates, medical exams, and counseling under one roof so survivors don't have to retell their story repeatedly. Services are free regardless of whether the survivor pursues criminal charges. Walk-ins welcome during business hours; call 208-577-4400.

208-577-4400 · 417 S 6th St, Boise, ID 83702 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. North Idaho Violence Prevention Center — Coeur d'Alene — Free

NIVPC, formerly Safe Passage, runs the confidential emergency shelter and 24-hour crisis line for Kootenai County survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Shelter capacity includes private family rooms, pet-friendly accommodations, and access to clothing and food. Civil legal advocacy helps with protective orders. Call the crisis line at 208-664-9303 anytime.

208-664-9303 · Coeur d'Alene, ID (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline

5. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

The Hotline's online chat at thehotline.org is staffed 24/7 by the same advocates answering 800-799-7233, useful when speaking by phone isn't safe. The site also offers a quick-exit button that closes the browser and clears recent history. Spanish-language services available. Trained advocates can craft individualized safety plans during the chat.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. Loveisrespect — Free

Loveisrespect serves teens and young adults in dating relationships with text, chat, and phone support at 1-866-331-9474. The peer advocates are trained in adolescent dynamics, including birth control coercion, social media abuse, and academic sabotage. Idaho high schools sometimes refer students directly. Mothers of teens can call to learn warning signs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. StrongHearts Native Helpline — Free

StrongHearts at 1-844-7NATIVE serves Native American and Alaska Native women, including members of the Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene, Shoshone-Bannock, Shoshone-Paiute, and Kootenai tribes in Idaho. Advocates are trained in tribal jurisdiction issues and the Violence Against Women Act's special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction provisions. Culturally grounded and confidential.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Free

NCADV is the national policy arm pushing for stronger DV laws and funding, and its site links directly to ICASDV for Idaho-specific services. NCADV publishes safety planning guides, financial abuse fact sheets, and an annual Census report counting how many adults and children seek shelter in a single 24-hour period nationwide.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Futures Without Violence — Free

Futures Without Violence trains healthcare providers, schools, and workplaces to recognize and respond to violence. Their CUES intervention is used in Idaho FQHCs to screen patients privately. The organization also runs the National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence with free toolkits for clinicians and educators.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. DomesticShelters.org — Free

DomesticShelters.org is a searchable directory of every U.S. shelter, including all Idaho programs from Boise's WCA to NIVPC in Coeur d'Alene and Bingham Crisis Center in Blackfoot. Listings show services, languages, accessibility, pet accommodations, and direct phone numbers. The site never publishes confidential shelter addresses.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence — Free

API-GBV provides culturally specific resources for Asian and Pacific Islander women, including translated safety planning materials and a directory of API-led DV programs nationwide. Idaho has a small but growing API population, especially in the Boise refugee community, making these resources useful for advocates and survivors alike.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. Casa de Esperanza — Free

Casa de Esperanza runs the National Latin@ Network, providing bilingual resources for Latina survivors and the advocates serving them. With Idaho's growing Latino population in Canyon and Twin Falls counties, the network's research and training reach Idaho providers through ICASDV partnerships. The 24-hour bilingual crisis line is 651-772-1611.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) — Free

OVW within the U.S. Department of Justice administers VAWA grants that fund Idaho's prosecution and victim service programs. The office's site publishes grant opportunities for Idaho nonprofits and statistical reports on DV in Indian Country, on college campuses, and in rural areas like much of Idaho.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. RAINN — Sexual Assault Hotline — Free

RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, routing Idaho callers to the nearest RAINN-affiliated local crisis center for follow-up. Online chat and a Spanish-language line are available 24/7. RAINN also publishes the most-cited statistics on sexual assault prevalence in the U.S. and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for military survivors.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many domestic violence resources are in Idaho?
Women's Corner tracks 14 domestic violence resources for women in Idaho.
Are domestic violence resources in Idaho free?
14 of the 14 listed domestic violence resources in Idaho are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Idaho have domestic violence resources?
Listings span cities including Boise, Coeur d'Alene.
What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Idaho?
Featured entries include National Domestic Violence Hotline, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, FACES of Hope Victim Center — Boise, North Idaho Violence Prevention Center — Coeur d'Alene, National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
4 of 14 Idaho domestic violence listings include phone numbers.
How do I get a restraining order?
Go to your county's family or civil courthouse and ask the clerk for a 'protective order' or 'order of protection' petition — no attorney or filing fee required. Temporary ex parte orders can be issued the same day. A full hearing follows within 10–21 days. Court advocates and DV agencies help fill out forms; bring any evidence (texts, photos, police reports).
Where can I go right now if I'm not safe?
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788) — they connect you to your nearest shelter, arrange emergency transport, and help with a safety plan. Shelters are confidential, free, and 24/7. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 and ask for a DV advocate at the scene.
Will the shelter take my kids?
Yes. Domestic violence shelters accept women with children — most accommodate boys up to age 17 (a few have age limits around 12–13 for older boys, and will arrange alternate placement nearby). Pets are increasingly welcome through programs like RedRover and Sheltering Animals & Families Together. Bring kids' birth certificates, school records, and any medications if you can.
Is the hotline really free and confidential?
Yes — the National DV Hotline and all state DV hotlines are free, confidential, anonymous, available 24/7, and offered in 200+ languages. Advocates don't report to police, immigration, or CPS unless you request it (mandatory reporting applies only to active child abuse). You can call to plan, vent, or just ask questions before deciding anything.