[HeartTornOut]

I finally got the courage to call a Domestic Abuse Shelter to get out of where I'm at and move on with my life.... all the ones in my city are full. there's no room....now what do I do? Is there other options? or is there no hope for me now?

[lynn P.]

Do they have a waiting list you can put your name on? Some cities also have emergency housing available. Call your city hall and ask them what are some other options. For now ask to be put on the waiting list. Sorry you're in a tough position.

[healingme4me]

Feel for you, hun!! I feel your frustration!!{I've been told they were 'full' before, too} Do you have any family members to go stay with, right now? Are you in a situation where you can have the cops remove your abuser from your home? Are you, safe, at the very moment, physically?!

I could go on, about my own, experience, try to navigate the shelter system. When I tried, applying at HUD, when I was married, they asked, well, why didn't he just leave then? That was the problem. The exh of mine, just wouldn't leave me alone.

I've personally, felt, after two temp restraining orders(those didn't last past the two week period, he brought attorneys both times)), that unless I actually had broken bones, instead of bruises, and emotional scars, there really wasn't much that was going to help me to save myself.

Hope you are able to get out of your abusive situation.

{on a side note, if there are restraining orders, there are relocating expenses that can be allocated, if you are willing to move out of state. I learned that much, back then.}

[frippet]

When I was in that position, I was given the option of contacting a local church, I was not a member, anyway they had a network of emergency housing shelters. The one I went to was a basement suite in a huge mansion. I kid you not. I had no idea these places existed. The police took me there with my 3 kids. I stayed 3 days until there was room for me at the shelter. Ask around. You never know. Just DO NOT GIVE UP. hugs

[Yoda]

When I first went to a domestic violence shelter they sent me to another one in a nearby county. My then husband was a paramedic and they were afraid he might know the location of the one in our county.

[hamster-bamster]

In addition to all the good advice above:

contact the local social services agency. Ask for the list of all the women's shelters. Also, not knowing what your financial situation is but just guessing that you are in crisis so it is unlikely that you have hidden riches... maybe apply for aid? In the states, also, if you qualify for aid, then the proof of that helps with other things. Say, if you want to apply for free school lunches, you either need to prove hardship, or, simply enclose the proof of your receiving aid. And, many years ago when I was on aid, my city's free food pantry (we have whole foods and those kind of expensive stores dump perfectly good food past the expiry date at the pantry) also gave you a long list of documents to bring to prove eligibility UNLESS you were on aid. If you are on aid, you just show proof of that and there is no more paperwork.

So I am just thinking that it could be the case that social services can both provide food stamps and help with housing.