Provides services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Their mission is to ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services for Asian/Pacific Islander survivors. Services include: crisis intervention, safety planning, referrals for legal services and temporary housing, case management, and community education. Advocates speak Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Cambodian, Cantonese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Mongolian, Pampango, Punjabi, Shanghainese, Sinhala, Tagalog, Ilokano, Thai, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Advocates and Shelters
Included in this list are programs that can offer help/referrals to victims of abuse throughout the state. (Have a suggestion or correction? Contact us!)
Advocates who work at local domestic violence or sexual assault programs can help victims who are in need of emotional support, help with making a plan to stay safe, accompaniment to court or to the police, and more. On these pages, you will find contact information for non-profit statewide and local programs where you can find advocates; some of the local programs also provide shelter for domestic violence victims. You can click the “View All” to look through the complete list of organizations. If you are looking for an attorney to represent you in court or to give you legal advice about your situation, go to our Finding a Lawyer page instead.
Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project
Ayuda - Washington, D.C. Office
Ayuda specializes in working with the immigrant community, in particular survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Ayuda has offices in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Services offered in the Washington, D.C. office include: a walk-in and call-in clinic offering emergency services, safety planning, case management, therapy, access to food/clothing/diapers, and referrals for housing and medical needs. Survivors can also receive internal referrals to Ayuda’s immigration program, where attorneys may offer advice and representation. Case managers and lawyers speak English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and a variety of other languages; ASL interpretation is also available.
DAWN
Provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Washington, D.C.’s Deaf communities. Services include: case management, crisis intervention, counseling, support groups, education programs, and referrals to medical and legal resources.
DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV)
DCCADV’s mission is to eliminate domestic violence in the District of Columbia. They advance their mission through advocacy, community education, public policy, training and outreach, and research. The DCCADV website includes a list of resources that provide direct services to survivors in Washington, D.C.
DC Rape Crisis Center
The Center supports and empowers survivors of sexual violence and their friends and relatives. Services include: a 24-hour hotline, immediate crisis support and intervention, counseling, referrals to resources, and help through the hospital, police, and court systems. Serving Washington D.C. and neighboring counties in Virginia and Maryland.
DC Victim Hotline
The DC Victim Hotline (DCVH) is a 24-hour phone, chat, and text-based resource and crisis line for all victims of crime in the District of Columbia. The hotline provides trauma-informed services in over 200 languages. Services include emotional support and information, as well as referrals that empower individuals as they navigate the physical, emotional, legal, and financial consequences of crime. Their website offers online chat.
District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH)
Provides access to safe housing and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence and their families in Washington, D.C. DASH offers emergency housing, transitional housing, emergency financial assistance, and help navigating the public housing system. DASH serves all survivors including women, men, LGBTQ+ survivors, immigrant survivors, and elder survivors. Staff speak Spanish, and language interpretation services can be provided for other languages, including ASL.
Domestic Violence Intake Center NW
At the Center, organizations and agencies come together to provide domestic violence services, including: crisis intervention, social services, legal services, referrals to counseling, assistance filing for child support, assistance with housing, and more.
Domestic Violence Intake Center SE
At the Center, organizations and agencies come together to provide domestic violence services, including: crisis intervention, social services, legal services, referrals to counseling, assistance filing for child support, assistance with housing, and more.
House of Ruth
House of Ruth provides services to survivors of domestic violence and their families in the Washington, D.C. community. Services include: housing programs, counseling, case management, a child development center, life skills training, and more.
La Clínica del Pueblo
The Clinic’s Entre Amigas (Among Friends) program focuses on the physical, emotional, and social well-being of Latina immigrant women. Services include: education to prevent gender-based violence, support groups, and workshops. They also provide accompaniment to court, health services, immigration offices, and more. Advocates speak English and Spanish.
Mary's Center - Headquarters
Mary’s Center has clinics in Washington, D.C. and Maryland where they offer support services to domestic violence victims. Services include: safety planning, shelter placement, case management, court accompaniment, information about protection orders, referrals for legal services, and more. (Mary’s Center provides comprehensive medical, mental health, and social services. They accept most insurance plans and also operate on a sliding fee scale.)
Mary’s Center - Fort Totten Office
Mary’s Center has clinics in Washington, D.C. and Maryland where they offer support services to domestic violence victims. Services include: safety planning, shelter placement, case management, court accompaniment, information about protection orders, referrals for legal services, and more. (Mary’s Center provides comprehensive medical, mental health, and social services. They accept most insurance plans and also operate on a sliding fee scale.)
Mary’s Center - Petworth Office
Mary’s Center has clinics in Washington, D.C. and Maryland where they offer support services to domestic violence victims. Services include: safety planning, shelter placement, case management, court accompaniment, information about protection orders, referrals for legal services, and more. (Mary’s Center provides comprehensive medical, mental health, and social services. They accept most insurance plans and also operate on a sliding fee scale.)
My Sister's Place
My Sister’s Place shelters, supports, and empowers survivors of domestic violence and their children. Services include: emergency shelter for 90 days, transitional housing, family rehousing program, counseling, case management, art therapy, financial support for emergency expenses, and more. My Sister’s Place helps all victims of domestic violence regardless of immigration status. All services are free and confidential.
National Center for Children and Families
Offers a variety of services to vulnerable children, youth, and families in the National Capital Region. The Betty’s House Program provides transitional supportive housing for homeless U.S.-born children and their immigrant mothers who are fleeing domestic violence while acquiring legal status to avoid returning to their abusers. Participants are offered up to 24 months of communal housing, case management, referrals to legal services, immigration resources, and more.
Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC)
The Network for Victim Recover of DC (NVRDC) provides free services to survivors of crimes, including sexual assault survivors. Services include: safety planning, short-term therapy, support groups, accompaniment to court and on-campus proceedings, assistance with Crime Victims Compensation application, and referrals to community resources such as housing assistance, public assistance, and medical care.
Survivors and Advocates For Empowerment, Inc. (DC SAFE)
DC SAFE provides services to survivors of domestic violence. Services include: crisis response, emotional support, shelter for up to 20 days, information about protection orders, and referrals to other support services and counseling groups. Advocates can also help with Crime Victims Compensation applications and other public benefits. SAFE Space shelter is the only crisis housing program in the District of Columbia that offers 24/7 immediate placements for survivors of domestic violence.
The Women’s Center - Washington, D.C. Office
Offers free individual therapy for sexual assault survivors who live in or were assaulted within Washington, D.C. The Center also partners with the Office of Victim Services in Washington, D.C. to offer free counseling and support to residents of the District of Columbia. The Center’s Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence Program provides free services to domestic violence victims in the DC/VA/MD metro area, including: crisis intervention, court accompaniment, counseling, safety planning, referrals, information about navigating medical/legal/housing systems, and more.