How many domestic violence resources are in Kentucky?

Women's Corner tracks 18 domestic violence resources for women in Kentucky.

Are domestic violence resources in Kentucky free?

18 of the 18 listed domestic violence resources in Kentucky are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in Kentucky have domestic violence resources?

Listings span cities including Frankfort, Lexington, Bowling Green, Covington, Owensboro, Pikeville.

What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Kentucky?

Featured entries include Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline, Greenhouse17 — Lexington, BRASS — Barren River Area Safe Space — Bowling Green, Women's Crisis Center — Northern KY.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

8 of 18 Kentucky 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.

Best Domestic Violence in Kentucky — 18 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 Kentucky

Kentucky family courts hear custody, visitation, and child support cases in most counties; the rest use district or circuit court. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services Division of Child Support administers enforcement. Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Covington are the major metros. Legal Aid Society, Kentucky Legal Aid, AppalReD, and ZeroV (Kentucky DV coalition) serve women.

18 Resources

1. Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Free

KCADV at 111 Darby Shire Circle in Frankfort is the statewide coalition coordinating Kentucky's 15 regional DV shelters and advocacy programs. They do not provide direct shelter but route survivors to the nearest member program and run trainings for advocates, prosecutors, and judges. Call 502-209-5382 weekdays or email info@kcadv.org for referral.

502-209-5382 · 111 Darby Shire Cir, Frankfort, KY 40601 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

The Hotline at 800-799-7233 is the 24/7 free national line for survivors. Trained advocates can warm-transfer Kentucky callers directly to the nearest member shelter, walk through safety planning, and explain Kentucky's DVO and IPO process before a survivor heads to the courthouse.

800-799-7233 · National Service · 24/7 · Visit Website

3. Greenhouse17 — Lexington — Free

Greenhouse17 (formerly Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program) serves Fayette and 16 surrounding counties from a confidential Lexington shelter location, with 24/7 hotline, court advocacy, and trauma-informed counseling. The shelter sits on a working farm where survivors can take part in agricultural programming. Call 859-233-0657 anytime.

859-233-0657 · Lexington, KY (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

4. BRASS — Barren River Area Safe Space — Bowling Green — Free

BRASS operates the regional shelter and 24/7 hotline for the 10 counties of the Barren River Area Development District. Services include emergency shelter, transitional housing, court advocacy at Warren Family Court, and supervised visitation. Call 270-843-1183 anytime; the shelter address is kept confidential for safety.

270-843-1183 · Bowling Green, KY (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

5. Women's Crisis Center — Northern KY — Free

Women's Crisis Center based in Covington serves Boone, Campbell, Kenton, and surrounding Northern Kentucky counties with a 24/7 hotline, confidential shelter, court advocacy at Kenton and Campbell Family Courts, and rape-crisis response. Call 859-491-3335 anytime for emergency intake.

859-491-3335 · Covington, KY (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

6. Bethany House Abuse Shelter — Owensboro — Free

Bethany House operates the regional DV shelter for Daviess and the surrounding western Kentucky counties from a confidential Owensboro location. Services include 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy at Daviess Family Court, and children's programming. Call 270-685-0280 anytime to seek shelter.

270-685-0280 · Owensboro, KY (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline

7. Kentucky River Community Care — DV Services — Free

KRCC operates DV services across seven counties in eastern Kentucky — Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, and Perry — alongside its community mental-health work. The 24/7 hotline at 606-666-9006 connects survivors to shelter beds and court advocacy at Hazard's family court.

606-666-9006 · Eastern KY (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

8. Safe Harbor — Pikeville — Free

Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky serves Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, and Martin counties from a confidential Pikeville-area shelter. Services include 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy at Pike Family Court, and supervised visitation. Call 606-432-5127 anytime to request shelter.

606-432-5127 · Pikeville, KY (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline

9. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

The Hotline's online chat at thehotline.org and text line (text START to 88788) are quieter alternatives to calling for Kentucky survivors who can't speak aloud safely. Advocates are trained to leave no trace on shared devices and to walk through Kentucky DVO procedures.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Loveisrespect — Free

Loveisrespect is the 24/7 free hotline (1-866-331-9474), text line (LOVEIS to 22522), and online chat for teens and young adults experiencing dating abuse — including Kentucky college students and high schoolers. Trained advocates work with under-25s specifically.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. StrongHearts Native Helpline — Free

StrongHearts at 1-844-7NATIVE is the culturally specific 24/7 helpline for Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic and dating violence. Advocates are trained in tribal-jurisdiction issues that can affect cases involving Kentucky's enrolled members of out-of-state tribes.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Free

NCADV is the national coalition of state DV coalitions including KCADV. Their public site explains state policy variations, federal VAWA remedies, and how civil tort suits against abusers complement Kentucky's criminal and protective-order systems.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Futures Without Violence — Free

Futures Without Violence works on prevention of violence against women and children, publishing healthcare-provider toolkits and a national family-justice-center model that informs Kentucky's family-justice initiatives in Louisville and Northern Kentucky.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. DomesticShelters.org — Free

DomesticShelters.org maintains a free searchable database of every Kentucky DV shelter and program, with current contact info, services offered, and languages spoken. Useful when the closest member shelter is full and an advocate needs to look further afield.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

API-GBV produces culturally specific resources and technical assistance for AAPI women experiencing violence — relevant for Louisville and Lexington's growing AAPI communities. Materials are available in multiple languages, including Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Korean.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. Casa de Esperanza — Free

Casa de Esperanza is the national Latin@ Network for gender-based-violence response, with bilingual safety planning, advocacy materials, and policy work relevant to Kentucky's growing Latina population in Louisville, Lexington, and Shelbyville.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

The DOJ's OVW implements VAWA and funds Kentucky DV programs through formula and discretionary grants — including KCADV, the family-justice centers in Louisville, and the Sexual Assault Services Program at the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

18. RAINN — Sexual Assault Hotline — Free

RAINN's 1-800-656-HOPE 24/7 hotline routes Kentucky callers to the nearest sexual-assault response center — typically The Center for Women and Families in Louisville or Bluegrass Rape Crisis in Lexington — and connects survivors to forensic-exam and counseling services.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many domestic violence resources are in Kentucky?: Women's Corner tracks 18 domestic violence resources for women in Kentucky.
Are domestic violence resources in Kentucky free?: 18 of the 18 listed domestic violence resources in Kentucky are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Kentucky have domestic violence resources?: Listings span cities including Frankfort, Lexington, Bowling Green, Covington, Owensboro, Pikeville.
What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Kentucky?: Featured entries include Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline, Greenhouse17 — Lexington, BRASS — Barren River Area Safe Space — Bowling Green, Women's Crisis Center — Northern KY.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 8 of 18 Kentucky 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.