If you are in immediate danger right now, call 911. Then read on — there is free help in San Antonio built exactly for this moment, and you don’t need money, insurance, or ID to use it.
Call the 24/7 crisis hotline: (210) 733-8810
Family Violence Prevention Services (FVPS) runs The Battered Women and Children’s Shelter — San Antonio’s largest domestic violence shelter. Their crisis hotline is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and Spanish.
- Crisis hotline (24/7): (210) 733-8810
- Programs and services: 210-930-3669
- Address: 7911 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
You don’t have to be ready to leave to call. Advocates will talk through your situation, help you make a safety plan, and explain your options — no pressure, no judgment.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
If calling a local number feels too close to home, the national hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
- Call: 1-800-799-7233 (TTY: 1-800-787-3224)
- Text: START to 88788
- Chat: thehotline.org
Emergency shelter: what to expect
FVPS provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling for adults and children, and legal services. Their shelter even has a pet shelter — because many survivors won’t leave if it means abandoning a pet.
You don’t need to bring anything. Shelter staff will help with the basics: a safe bed, food, diapers and supplies for kids, and a plan for what comes next. FVPS serves more than 8,000 victims of domestic violence every year, mostly women and children.
Safety planning: the most important thing you can do today
A safety plan is a personal, practical plan for staying safe — whether you’re still in the relationship, planning to leave, or already out. An FVPS advocate can build one with you, but here are the basics:
- Memorize the hotline numbers above, or save them under a neutral name in your phone.
- Keep copies of important documents (ID, birth certificates, bank info) somewhere safe — with a trusted friend if you can.
- Plan where you’d go in an emergency and how you’d get there.
- If you search for help online, use a private or incognito browser window, or a computer at a library — browser history can be monitored.
Counseling is free too
FVPS offers counseling for adults, children, and families — residential and non-residential. You don’t have to stay at the shelter to use their counseling and support services.
FAQ
Is the shelter really free?
Yes. Emergency shelter, counseling, and legal services through FVPS are free. The national hotline is free as well.
Do I have to file a police report to get help?
No. You can get shelter, counseling, and safety planning without involving law enforcement. If you later decide to report, advocates can support you through that too.
Can men get help?
The national hotline serves everyone. For local shelter options, call (210) 733-8810 or 2-1-1 and ask about services for your situation.
What if I’m not sure it’s “bad enough” to call?
Call anyway. You don’t need to prove anything. If something in your relationship frightens you, that’s enough reason.
