How many domestic violence resources are in Maine?

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

Are domestic violence resources in Maine free?

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

Which cities in Maine have domestic violence resources?

Listings span cities including Augusta, Portland, Bangor, Auburn, Rockland, Ellsworth.

What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Maine?

Featured entries include National Domestic Violence Hotline, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Through These Doors — Portland, Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance — Bangor, Safe Voices — Auburn.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

8 of 18 Maine 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 Maine — 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 Maine

Maine district courts handle most family matters; superior courts handle more complex cases and appeals. The Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery operates under DHHS. Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, and Auburn are the largest cities. Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence support women, with strong online self-help resources for custody and support.

18 Resources

1. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

The Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 is staffed around the clock with advocates who can connect Maine callers to the nearest Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) member program. Chat and text START to 88788 are alternatives when calling is not safe. Free, confidential, multilingual.

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

2. Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence — Free

MCEDV at One Weston Court in Augusta is the statewide coalition of Maine's eight regional DV resource centers. Staff coordinate policy advocacy at the State House, train courts and law enforcement, and route callers to the right county program. Call 207-430-8334 if you are not sure which member agency covers your town.

207-430-8334 · One Weston Court Suite 104, Augusta, ME 04330 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Through These Doors — Portland — Free

Cumberland County's MCEDV member program, with a 24/7 helpline at 207-774-4444, confidential emergency shelter, court advocacy at the Cumberland County Courthouse, and support groups in Portland, Bridgton, and Brunswick. All services are free and confidential — no immigration status questions asked.

207-774-4444 · Portland, ME (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

4. Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance — Bangor — Free

Penobscot and Piscataquis county MCEDV member with a 24/7 helpline at 207-947-0496, emergency shelter, court advocacy at the Bangor courthouse, and survivor support groups. Native survivors from Penobscot Nation are served with culturally appropriate referrals through their Wabanaki advocacy partnership.

207-947-0496 · Bangor, ME (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

5. Safe Voices — Auburn — Free

MCEDV member program for Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties, headquartered in Auburn with a 24/7 helpline at 207-795-6744. Shelter, court advocacy at the Lewiston District Court, and support groups in French and English serve the twin cities' large francophone and immigrant communities.

207-795-6744 · Auburn, ME (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

6. New Hope for Women — Rockland — Free

MCEDV member for Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties with a 24/7 helpline at 207-594-2128. The Rockland-based program also serves Belfast and Damariscotta, with court advocacy, support groups, and outreach to mid-coast fishing-community households where reporting can carry social consequences.

207-594-2128 · Rockland, ME (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

7. Hope and Justice Project — Ellsworth — Free

MCEDV member for Hancock and Washington counties with a 24/7 helpline at 207-667-0176. The Ellsworth program serves coastal Down East communities including the Passamaquoddy reservations at Indian Township and Pleasant Point through a dedicated Wabanaki advocate.

207-667-0176 · Ellsworth, ME (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

8. Family Crisis Services — Aroostook — Free

Aroostook County's MCEDV member program (now Hope and Justice Project North) with a 24/7 helpline at 207-764-3366. Shelter and court advocacy serve Presque Isle, Caribou, Houlton, and Fort Kent, where geography and cross-border families create unique safety planning challenges.

207-764-3366 · Presque Isle, ME (confidential location) · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website

9. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or chat at thehotline.org — 24/7 free confidential help. Hotline advocates can warm-transfer Maine callers directly to Through These Doors, Spruce Run, Safe Voices, or another MCEDV member depending on county.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Loveisrespect — Free

1-866-331-9474 — 24/7 support for young people experiencing dating abuse, with text LOVEIS to 22522 and online chat. Useful for Maine high-school and college students whose first abusive relationships look different from the patterns adult helplines describe.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. StrongHearts Native Helpline — Free

1-844-7NATIVE — culturally appropriate domestic and dating violence helpline for Native Americans, relevant for women from Maine's four federally recognized tribes (Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy at Indian Township and Pleasant Point, Houlton Band of Maliseet, and Aroostook Band of Mi'kmaq).

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence — Free

NCADV is the national coalition of state DV coalitions, including MCEDV. The site has Maine-specific protection-from-abuse information under Title 19-A § 4006, survivor financial-recovery resources, and policy briefs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Futures Without Violence — Free

National nonprofit producing training and resources used by Maine health clinics, schools, and DV programs — including the CUES intervention adopted by some FQHCs in Portland and Bangor for routine partner-violence screening.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. DomesticShelters.org — Free

Searchable database of every domestic-violence shelter and program in the US — entering a Maine zip code returns the nearest MCEDV member program with phone, hotline, and intake details. Useful when you are not sure which county boundary you fall under.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

Culturally specific resources and language access for AAPI women experiencing violence — relevant for Maine's growing Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and South Asian populations in Portland and the Mid Coast.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. Casa de Esperanza — Free

National Latina-led organization with bilingual hotline and resources — useful for Spanish-speaking mothers in Portland's increasingly Latin American immigrant community and Lewiston's small but growing Spanish-speaking households.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

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

DOJ office implementing the Violence Against Women Act and funding many Maine programs — including grants that support MCEDV's legal advocacy work and the Wabanaki tribal coalitions. Useful background on what services are federally guaranteed.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

18. RAINN — Sexual Assault Hotline — Free

1-800-656-HOPE connects Maine survivors of sexual assault directly to the nearest Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MECASA) member program, including Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine and Rape Response Services in Bangor. Free, confidential, 24/7.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many domestic violence resources are in Maine?: Women's Corner tracks 18 domestic violence resources for women in Maine.
Are domestic violence resources in Maine free?: 18 of the 18 listed domestic violence resources in Maine are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Maine have domestic violence resources?: Listings span cities including Augusta, Portland, Bangor, Auburn, Rockland, Ellsworth.
What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Maine?: Featured entries include National Domestic Violence Hotline, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Through These Doors — Portland, Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance — Bangor, Safe Voices — Auburn.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 8 of 18 Maine 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.