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.
Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts handle divorce, custody, paternity, and child support in each of its 14 counties. The Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division runs enforcement. Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell are the largest cities. Greater Boston Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project, and Jane Doe Inc. (MA DV/SA coalition) serve women.
SafeLink is Massachusetts's free 24/7 statewide domestic violence hotline operated by Casa Myrna under a Department of Public Health contract. Trained advocates speak 130+ languages via interpreter and connect callers to local shelter, 209A advocacy, and safety planning resources. Call 877-785-2020 anytime, day or night. Confidential and free for any Massachusetts caller.
877-785-2020 · Statewide Hotline · 24/7
Casa Myrna in Boston is the largest provider of domestic violence services in New England, operating two emergency shelters, transitional housing, the SafeLink hotline, legal advocacy, and bilingual community programs. The agency particularly focuses on Latina and Spanish-speaking survivors. Call the 24/7 hotline at 617-521-0100 anytime; the office is staffed weekdays 9am-5pm.
617-521-0100 · Boston, MA 02119 · 24/7 Hotline, Office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
REACH in Waltham serves MetroWest Massachusetts (Waltham, Newton, Watertown, and 24 surrounding towns) with a 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, counseling, and 209A court advocacy at the Waltham, Concord, and Cambridge Probate and Family Courts. Call the free confidential hotline at 800-899-4000 anytime. Confidential and free for Massachusetts survivors.
800-899-4000 · P.O. Box 540024, Waltham, MA 02454 · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website
New Hope in Attleboro serves Bristol and Norfolk County survivors with a 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, supervised visitation, and bilingual advocacy at the Attleboro, Taunton, and Fall River District Courts. Particularly important for women in southeastern Massachusetts and the Rhode Island border region. Call 800-323-4673 anytime.
800-323-4673 · P.O. Box 183, Attleboro, MA 02703 · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website
Independence House in Hyannis is the lead domestic violence and sexual assault agency for Cape Cod, the Islands, and Plymouth, with offices in Hyannis, Falmouth, Orleans, and a 24/7 hotline. Counselors accompany survivors to 209A hearings at Barnstable Probate and Family Court and Nantucket District Court. Call 800-439-6507 day or night.
800-439-6507 · P.O. Box 1193, Hyannis, MA 02601 · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website
DOVE in Quincy serves Norfolk County survivors with a 24/7 hotline, court advocacy at Quincy and Dedham Probate and Family Courts, counseling, and economic empowerment programs. Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin services available given Quincy's demographics. Call 617-770-4065 anytime.
617-770-4065 · P.O. Box 690267, Quincy, MA 02269 · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website
Elizabeth Freeman Center at 43 Francis Avenue in Pittsfield is the sole DV and sexual violence agency serving all of Berkshire County, with a 24/7 hotline, shelter, court advocacy at Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams District Courts, and rural outreach across the Berkshires. Call 866-401-2425 anytime.
866-401-2425 · 43 Francis Ave, Pittsfield, MA 01201 · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website
Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center at 2 Harris Street in Newburyport serves the North Shore and Merrimack Valley (Newburyport, Amesbury, Salisbury, Haverhill, and surrounding towns) with a 24/7 hotline, shelter, the nationally recognized Domestic Violence High Risk Team, and court advocacy at Newburyport and Lawrence District Courts. Call 978-388-1888 anytime.
978-388-1888 · 2 Harris St, Newburyport, MA 01950 · 24/7 Hotline · Visit Website
Jane Doe Inc. at 14 Beacon Street is the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence — the statewide membership organization for the 50+ Massachusetts DV and rape crisis programs. JDI advocates on Beacon Hill, trains advocates, and coordinates the SafeLink contract. Call 617-248-0922 weekdays 9am-5pm for policy, training, or referral questions.
617-248-0922 · 14 Beacon St, Suite 507, Boston, MA 02108 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) — 24/7 free confidential support for survivors with trained advocates who can transfer Massachusetts callers to SafeLink or the closest in-state program. Text START to 88788 or chat online at thehotline.org. Multilingual access via interpretation.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Loveisrespect's hotline at 1-866-331-9474, text (LOVEIS to 22522), and online chat support teens and young adults experiencing dating abuse — particularly important for Massachusetts college campuses (BU, BC, Harvard, MIT, UMass) where dating violence often goes unreported. Free, confidential, 24/7.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
StrongHearts at 1-844-7NATIVE provides culturally appropriate DV and dating violence support for Native American and Alaska Native survivors — relevant for Massachusetts tribal members (Mashpee Wampanoag, Aquinnah Wampanoag, Nipmuc) and urban-Indian residents. Free, confidential, daily 7am-10pm CT.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NCADV is the federal coalition of state DV coalitions, including Jane Doe Inc. The site explains how the federal Violence Against Women Act overlays Massachusetts's 209A and 258E laws, and provides downloadable safety planning resources Massachusetts survivors can use without contacting a local program.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Futures Without Violence develops the evidence-based prevention curricula many Massachusetts hospitals (Mass General, Brigham, Boston Medical Center) and schools use to identify and respond to abuse. Useful background reading for Massachusetts mothers working with a healthcare provider on a DV-informed treatment plan.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
DomesticShelters.org's free searchable database lists every certified Massachusetts DV shelter and program — Casa Myrna, REACH, New Hope, Independence House, DOVE, Elizabeth Freeman, Jeanne Geiger, and dozens more — with current bed availability where reported. Useful when SafeLink lines are busy.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
API-GBV's resources support Massachusetts's significant Asian American communities (Chinese in Quincy and Boston Chinatown, Vietnamese in Dorchester, Cambodian in Lowell, South Asian across MetroWest) with culturally specific safety planning and provider referrals. The site lists Massachusetts member programs.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Casa de Esperanza runs the National Latina Network and provides bilingual safety planning, training, and advocacy resources Massachusetts Latina survivors and Spanish-speaking advocates (at Casa Myrna, REACH, and others) can adapt locally. Free public resources, no login.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
OVW within the US Department of Justice administers VAWA grants that fund Massachusetts programs at Jane Doe Inc., the Attorney General's office, and many local DV programs. Mothers in Massachusetts immigration-related abuse cases can use OVW's resources to understand VAWA self-petitions and U-visa eligibility.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
RAINN's 1-800-656-HOPE 24/7 free confidential hotline routes Massachusetts callers to the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, the Center for Hope and Healing in Lowell, or other Massachusetts rape crisis programs depending on zip code. Online chat is also available.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website