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Get help now
Choose the one that fits closest. You can change your mind, and you can stop at any point.
Before you go further: if you think the person harming you may be able to see this device, use the Quick exit button at the top of the screen, or press Esc twice, and come back from a safer device.
Quick exit sends this browser tab to a weather site immediately. It does not erase your browsing history. Read the full technology safety notice.
I need somewhere safe to stay
Maxine’s Arms provides 24-hour emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking and other forms of abuse. The location is confidential. Families are welcome. There is no cost, and you do not need a police report or a protective order.
- Bring what you can carry safely — do not delay leaving to gather things.
- Food, clothing, hygiene supplies and a safe bed are provided at intake.
- Advocates will arrange the details with you directly, over the phone.
I need to speak with someone
You do not have to be in danger this minute, and you do not have to have decided anything. Advocates listen first. Many people call simply because something feels wrong and they want to say it out loud to someone who will not flinch.
- Crisis intervention and emotional support, 24 hours a day.
- No pressure to leave, report, or make a decision.
- Interpretation is available through the national hotline in 200+ languages.
I need help making a safety plan
A safety plan is not a decision to leave. It is a set of specific, realistic steps for whatever your situation is right now — including staying. Advocates build it with you, and it changes as your circumstances change.
- Covers home, work, children, pets, money, documents and technology.
- Written around your actual life, not a template.
- Revisited whenever something shifts.
I need legal or community resources
Protective orders, housing, food, healthcare, benefits, employment, childcare. Maxine’s Arms provides legal advocacy and case management, and maintains a directory of verified resources you can search yourself.
- Help understanding protective orders and court processes.
- Referrals to legal services, housing and financial assistance.
- Advocates are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice.
I am helping someone else
Believe them. Tell them it is not their fault. Do not issue ultimatums — a person being isolated needs one relationship with no conditions attached. Ask what would be useful rather than telling them what to do.
- You can call an advocate on someone else’s behalf to understand the options.
- Leaving is rarely a single event, and the period around leaving is the most dangerous.
- Staying in contact is the most useful thing most people can do.
I am not sure what I need
That is an ordinary place to start, and it is a good enough reason to reach out. You are allowed to ask questions without committing to anything. Nothing you say obligates you to a next step.
- Abuse is not only physical. You do not have to prove anything.
- Reading about warning signs is a legitimate first move.
- Nothing on this website requires an account, a name, or an email address.
Right now
Other places you can call tonight
These are statewide and national services. They are free, confidential, available 24 hours a day, and none of them is operated by Maxine’s Arms. To reach Maxine’s Arms directly, call 773-243-5464.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Support for anyone affected by relationship abuse — including people who are unsure whether what they are experiencing counts.
800-799-SAFE (7233) Or text START to 88788 · TTY 1-800-787-3224 · thehotline.orgIllinois Domestic Violence Hotline
Illinois’ statewide 24-hour hotline. Call, text or chat with an advocate who can connect you to a program anywhere in the state.
877-863-6338 877-TO END DV · 240+ languages · the-network.orgStrongHearts Native Helpline
Culturally appropriate support for Native Americans and Alaska Natives affected by domestic, dating and sexual violence.
844-7NATIVE 844-762-8483 · strongheartshelpline.orgRAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
For survivors of sexual assault, by phone or online chat, routed to a provider near you.
800-656-HOPE 800-656-4673 · rainn.org988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential support during any mental health or emotional crisis, by call or text.
988 Call or text 988 · 988lifeline.orgIf you are in immediate danger or facing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Every part of this work is held up by someone.
Survivors reaching out. Advocates answering. Neighbors giving. Partners opening doors. There is a place in it for you.