Domestic Abuse
Maine Resources
Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) - Coordinates a statewide network of nine member organizations that offer services such as 24/7 helplines, emergency shelters, legal advocacy, and support groups. They also provide a dedicated helpline for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-437-1220. Member organizations include:
NextStep Domestic Violence Project (Hancock & Washington Counties)
Family Violence Project (Kennebec & Somerset Counties)
Through These Doors (Cumberland County)
Safe Voices (Oxford, Franklin & Androscoggin Counties)
Caring Unlimited (York County)
Partners for Peace (Penobscot & Piscataquis Counties)
New Hope Midcoast (Waldo, Knox, Lincoln & Sagadahoc Counties)
Hope & Justice Project (Aroostook County)
Her Safety Net and Immigrant Resource Center of Maine (serving immigrant, refugee, asylum-seeking, and BIPOC communities)
MCEDV also collaborates with the Wabanaki Women’s Coalition, which supports Indigenous communities through culturally specific services.
Family Violence Project - Serving Kennebec and Somerset Counties, the Family Violence Project offers a range of services, including a 24/7 confidential helpline (1-877-890-7788), emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and educational programs. They provide resources tailored to individuals with disabilities, addressing unique challenges such as caregiver abuse and barriers to independence.
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) - The state's designated protection and advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities. They offer legal advocacy, information, and referral services to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including those experiencing abuse. DRM can be contacted at 800-452-1948 (V/TTY) or via email at advocate@drme.org.
Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) - Provides support to older adults and individuals with disabilities, including Adult Protective Services (APS) for those experiencing abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Reports can be made by calling 1-800-624-8404 or through their online reporting form.
Access Maine - Access Maine is an online resource guide that connects residents to public programs and services, including those related to safety, health, and disability support. It serves as a comprehensive directory for individuals seeking assistance. accessmaine.org
For immediate assistance, individuals can contact the statewide domestic violence helpline at 1-866-834-HELP (4357), with TTY access available at 1-800-437-1220. These resources are committed to providing inclusive and accessible support to all individuals, regardless of ability.
Regional Resources
Massachusetts
Jane Doe Inc. - Serves as a statewide coalition, uniting nearly 60 community-based organizations across the state. Their mission is to amplify the voices of survivors and dismantle the systemic injustices that perpetuate abuse. JDI adopts a comprehensive approach encompassing policy advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and support for member organizations to ensure that survivors receive holistic and equitable care. A cornerstone of JDI's work is its commitment to social justice. The organization actively addresses the intersections of trauma and oppression, focusing on underserved communities, including immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color. Initiatives like the Initiative for Safety and Justice aim to support both survivors and advocates by acknowledging and addressing the compounded effects of individual, organizational, and historical trauma. Additionally, campaigns such as #ReimagineManhood challenge traditional gender norms and promote healthy masculinities as a means to prevent violence.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence - A nonprofit organization based in Waltham, Massachusetts, dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and communities to overcome domestic violence. Serving 27 cities and towns across the MetroWest and Greater Boston areas, REACH offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support survivors and promote healthy relationships. REACH provides a 24/7 confidential hotline at 1-800-899-4000, offering immediate assistance to those in crisis. Their emergency shelter program offers safe, confidential housing for individuals who are not safe in their own homes. Beyond shelter, REACH offers community-based advocacy, assisting survivors with safety planning, legal advocacy, and connecting them to resources such as food, clothing, and medical care. The organization also provides transitional housing support, helping survivors move toward long-term stability.
RESPOND Inc. - New England’s first domestic violence agency and one of the oldest in the U.S., offering free, confidential support to survivors of all genders and backgrounds. Their services include emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, housing assistance, children’s programming, and a support line (1-617-623-5900, weekdays 9 AM–5 PM). They also run specialized programs for incarcerated survivors and work closely with community partners, including law enforcement and social services, through High Risk Teams to prevent further abuse. Committed to accessibility and inclusivity, RESPOND offers services in multiple languages and focuses on meeting the diverse needs of the communities they serve.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence - A statewide umbrella organization that supports 12 member programs providing free, confidential services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse, and human trafficking. These services are accessible to all individuals, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability, or financial status. In 2023, the coalition's crisis centers served 11,805 victims across New Hampshire.
NHCADSV offers a 24/7 statewide helpline at 1-866-644-3574, connecting individuals to trained advocates who provide immediate support and assistance. The coalition also collaborates with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services through the Family Violence Prevention Specialist Program, placing advocates in district offices to support families involved with child protection services.
Connecticut
The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE) - A cornerstone in supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence since its founding in 1975. Serving over 30,000 individuals annually across 13 towns in Northern Fairfield and Southern Litchfield Counties, CEE offers comprehensive, free, and confidential services. These include 24/7 hotlines for domestic violence (1-203-731-5206) and sexual assault (1-203-731-5204), emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, legal advocacy, and support groups. Recognizing the enduring impact of trauma, CEE is expanding its services to include long-term mental health support, aiming to provide specialized therapy for conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, particularly for uninsured clients and those covered by state health insurance programs . Additionally, CEE emphasizes prevention through education and community outreach, striving to create safer communities free from interpersonal violence.
Rhode Island
The Women's Center of Rhode Island - A nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence in Providence and East Providence. As a member of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, WCRI offers a comprehensive range of free and confidential services. These include emergency shelter, residential advocacy, child advocacy, court advocacy, and community outreach programs. The center operates 24/7, providing essential resources such as home-cooked meals, clothing, medical care, and emergency assistance to those in need. WCRI also runs specialized initiatives like the Providence DELTA Program, funded by the CDC, which focuses on domestic violence prevention through community partnerships, and the Men's Initiative, aimed at engaging men in promoting healthy relationships and preventing abuse.
Vermont
Umbrella - Provides advocacy and support services, including 24-hour support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, teen dating violence, human trafficking, and violence related to gender or sexual orientation.
Futures Without Violence - A national nonprofit organization aiming to end domestic and sexual violence. They are involved in community-based programs, developing educational materials, and public policy work. Their initiatives include training for medical professionals, athletic coaches, and judges on responding to victims of domestic violence and child abuse .
National Resources
National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) - Available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or via thehotline.org, the NDVH offers confidential support, safety planning, and referrals to local services. They provide interpreter services in over 200 languages and have resources tailored for people with disabilities, acknowledging the increased vulnerability and barriers they may face.
End Abuse of People with Disabilities - A national initiative led by Activating Change, dedicated to addressing and preventing violence against people with disabilities and Deaf individuals. Recognizing that individuals with disabilities experience violent victimization at rates 3 to 5 times higher than those without disabilities, the initiative aims to dismantle systemic barriers that hinder access to support and justice. Key efforts include the provision of free remote sign language interpretation services to victim service providers across the U.S., enhancing accessibility for Deaf survivors. Additionally, the initiative offers resources like the "Just Ask" toolkit, designed to assist advocates, attorneys, and law enforcement in effectively supporting crime victims with disabilities. Through training, technical assistance, and policy advocacy, End Abuse of People with Disabilities strives to create a coordinated response that centers the experiences and needs of disabled survivors, ensuring they receive equitable and dignified support.
Urban Resource Institute (URI) - The nation's largest provider of domestic violence shelter services, offering a comprehensive range of programs tailored to support survivors, including those with disabilities. Established in 1980, URI's mission encompasses serving domestic violence survivors, homeless families, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. URI operates multiple emergency and transitional shelters, providing safe havens for nearly 1,200 domestic abuse survivors each night. Their holistic approach includes services such as legal advocacy, counseling, and economic empowerment programs like the Working Internship Network (WIN), which offers job training and financial literacy workshops to help survivors achieve independence.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) - A landmark federal law that enhances protections and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. It provides funding for shelters, legal aid, and crisis services, while also mandating that these services be inclusive and accessible to all survivors, including those with disabilities. VAWA includes specific provisions to protect survivors in federally assisted housing and supports programs that address the unique needs of disabled individuals through improved accessibility and targeted services. The act has significantly improved the national response to gender-based violence, helping countless survivors find safety and justice.
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) - Dedicated to enhancing the nation's capacity to assist crime victims and promoting justice and healing for all. OVC administers the Crime Victims Fund, which provides compensation to victims for out-of-pocket expenses resulting from crimes and funds victim service providers to support direct assistance programs. Their initiatives encompass a wide range of services, including support for victims of mass violence, human trafficking, and terrorism. Additionally, OVC offers training and technical assistance to victim service providers through the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC), ensuring that professionals are equipped to meet the diverse needs of victims.