Huntsville, Alabama
Survivor Resource Guide
You deserve safety, support, and choices.
You can ask for help while staying, leaving or rebuilding. Start with one resource that meets your needs.
Immediate Danger: 911
Crisis Services of North Alabama / HOPE Place | 256-716-1000
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Start Here: Help at a Glance
Use a safer phone/device if your calls, accounts or location may be monitored
Immediate Danger
DV Shelter / Safety Planning
State DV Hotline
National DV Hotline
Mental Health Crisis
Legal Help/ PFA
Sexual Assault Support
Food, Rent, Utilities, Rides
Teen Dating-Abuse Support
911
24/7 helpline 256-716-1000 | Office: 256-716-4052
800-650-6522 | 24/7 | Acadv.org/get-help
800-799-7233 | text START to 88788 | thehotline.org
call/text 988 | 988lifeline.org
English: 866-456-4995 | Spanish: 888-835-3505
24-7 helpline: 256-716-1000 | Office: 256-716-4052
211 or 888-421-1266 | text ZIP to 898-211
866-331-9474 | text LOVEIS to 22522 | loveisrespect.org
Find what you need
Pages
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS
County and nearby service areas | Call for confidential shelter access
Crisis Services of North Alabama / HOPE Place
24/7 helpline: 256-716-1000 | Office: 256-716-4052
Address / access: Shelter Location is confidential
Services: Emergency shelter, safety planning, PFA/court advocacy, adult/child counseling, case management and forensic nurse exam
Eligibility: People feeling an abusive partner and their children; Madison, Morgan, Limestone, and Jackson counties
What to ask at intake
Is a bed available today?
Is transportation available?
Can my children come?
Can I get advocacy without entering the shelter?
What about disability access, interpretation, service animals and companion pets?
Tell staff how to contact you safely
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Huntsville, Alabama
LEGAL PROTECTION & FAMILY LAW
Share urgent hearing dates, existing parenting orders and safe contact details with intake
Legal Services Alabama - Huntsville Office
Intake: 866-456-4995; Spanish: 888-835-3505; Local: 256-536-9645
Address: 2409 Commerce Court SW, Huntsville, AL 35801
Services: Free civil legal help with PFA, abuse-related divorce, custody/child support, housing and benefits
Eligibility: Subject to legal-aid income/program rules, case assessment and capacity; call intake to determine eligibility.
Before you go: Intake Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm. Call before visiting; disclose important hearing deadlines and a safe callback number.
Alabama State Bar - Lawyer Referral Service
800-392-5660
Address: 415 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36104
Services: Contacts callers with private lawyer for family law, housing, and other legal matters
Eligibility: Open to people seeking an attorney. Fees apply: participating lawyers offer an initial 30-minute consultation for no more than $50; later fees are negotiated.
Alabama Courts - Protection From Abuse Forms
For Case Guidance: LSA 866-456-4995
Address: Online forms; file through the appropriate county circuit court
Services: Official C-02 Protection From Abuse petition and related hearing forms. An advocate or attorney can help with safety, filing, hearings and service
Eligibility: Eligibility depends on the facts and Alabama law; obtaining a form does not establish eligibility or guarantee an order.
Before you go: Tell an advocate about urgent danger, children, safe contact information and existing orders. Court clerks provide procedural help, not legal advice
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Huntsville | Alabama
POLICE, COURTS & VICTIM SERVICES
County/jurisdiction determines the appropriate court a prosecutor. These offices are not independent confidential advocates
Huntsville Police
Non-emergency: 256-722-7100
Address / access: Huntsville; call for the appropriate precinct/reporting location.
Services: Reporting/navigation for local incidents; ask about victim services, report copies and available safety assistance.
Eligibility: People needing police/victim-service assistance in the jurisdiction. Call 911 for immediate danger.
Before you go: Online forms may not be monitored after hours. Police-linked services have different confidentiality rules from independent DV advocates.
Madison County DA - Victim Assistance
256-327-3886 or 256-532-3460
Address / access: 100 North Side Square, Huntsville, Alabama
Services: Criminal-case information, victim-rights support and referrals; ask about court accompaniment, restitution and compensation applications.
Eligibility: Crime victims connected to cases in the relevant jurisdiction; services and confidentiality differ from independent DV advocacy.
Before you go: Call to confirm the assigned victim-service officer and case jurisdiction. DA staff do not act as your personal family-law attorney.
Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission
800-541-9388
Address / access: 5845 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36117-2329; statewide applications.
Services: Financial assistance for eligible crime-related losses. Ask about medical care, counseling, lost income and other covered expenses.
Eligibility: Eligibility, deadlines, reporting requirements, exceptions and other payment sources matter. Apply promptly with a victim advocate; approval is not automatic.
Before you go: Compensation is different from emergency rent assistance or restitution. Ask the agency about exceptions if a crime was reported late.
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SEXUAL ASSAULT & MENTAL HEALTH
For urgent injury or breathing problems, call 911 or seek emergency care. For forensic care options, call the local sexual assault service promptly.
Crisis Services of North Alabama / HOPE Place
24-7 Helpline: 256-716-1000; Office: 256-716-4052
Address: Confidential
Services: Emergency shelter, safety planning, PFA/court advocacy, adult/child counseling, case management and forensic nurse exams
Eligibility: People fleeing an abusive partner and their children; Madison, Morgan, Limestone and Jackson counties.
Before you go: HELPline receives calls, not texts. County coordinators: Madison 256-716-4052; Morgan 256-337-3670; Limestone 256-230-1240 (weekday services).
WellStone Emergency Services / Pediatric Crisis Care
256-705-6444
Address / access: 4020 Memorial Parkway SW, Huntsville, AL 35802
Services: 24/7 mental-health/substance-use crisis assessment, stabilization and referrals.
Eligibility: People in a behavioral-health crisis; regional provider for Madison, Morgan, Limestone and surrounding counties. Call about age-specific services.
Before you go: A behavioral-health crisis center is not a confidential DV shelter. For immediate DV safety use the local DV crisis line.
RAINN - National Sexual Assault Hotline
800-656-4673 (HOPE)
Address / access: Telephone and online support nationwide.
Services: Confidential support and connections to local sexual-assault services.
Eligibility: Survivors and people supporting them; available regardless of when the assault occurre
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CHILDREN, FAMILIES & PUBLIC BENEFITS
Child welfare, SNAP/TANF and child support are different DHR programs. Ask for the correct division.
Madison County DHR
Child/family services: 256-427-6200; SNAP: 256-427-6000; TANF/JOBS: 256-427-6050
Address / access: 2206 Oakwood Avenue NW, Huntsville, AL 35810
Services: SNAP/food assistance, TANF/JOBS, child-support services, child welfare and adult protective services.
Eligibility: County residents; financial programs have income/household rules. Call the correct division; protective-services reports are different from benefit applications.
Before you go: Government agency, not a confidential DV advocate. Ask about confidentiality, safe mail/callbacks and documentation; use 911 for immediate danger.
National Children's Advocacy Center
256-533-5437
Address / access: 210 Pratt Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35801
Services: Child-focused advocacy and coordinated abuse response; ask about forensic interviews, therapy and medical referrals.
Eligibility: Local child-abuse services in Madison County; it does not oversee investigations/court matters elsewhere.
Before you go: A child advocacy center is not an emergency shelter or custody decision-maker. Do not repeatedly question a child about abuse; let trained professionals guide next steps.
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HOUSING RESOURCES
Confidential DV shelter is listed on page 3. General housing programs may have waitlists.
Downtown Rescue Mission
256-536-2441
Address / access: 1400 Evangel Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816
Services: Shelter, meals and longer-term support programs for men, women and children.
Eligibility: North Alabama/South Tennessee residents in need; call about household-specific admission, requirements and space.
Before you go: Faith-based general homelessness resource; ask about program expectations and DV safety needs.
211 Connects Alabama
211 or 888-421-1266; text ZIP code to 898-211
Address / access: Statewide phone/text/online resource navigation.
Services: Free referrals for housing, food, rent, utilities, transportation, childcare, health care and local assistance.
Eligibility: Anyone in Alabama seeking resources. Individual programs have separate rules and funding limits.
Before you go: Phone navigation is available 24/7. A referral does not guarantee funding, a bed or transportation.
Make the next call concrete
Ask:
Where do I apply?
Which documents can I replace later?
Is the waitlist open?
Is there rapid-rehousing or eviction prevention assistance?
Can my household stay together?
A legal-aid advocate can explain survivor protections for qualifying housing.
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FOOD, UTILITIES & FAMILIY NUTRITION
For SNAP/TANF use you county DHR contacts on page 7. For current rent/utility funds call 211.
Food Bank of North Alabama
256-539-2256
Address / access: 225 Finney Drive, Huntsville, AL 35824
Services: Connects households with partner food pantries and regional hunger-relief programs.
Eligibility: People in the food bank's service region; each partner pantry or nutrition program has its own eligibility and schedule.
Before you go: Ask for the nearest open distribution site; a warehouse/office address is not a promise of walk-in groceries.
Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP)
Financial assistance: 256-539-2320
Address / access: Huntsville pantry: 206 Beirne Avenue NE; Madison West: 103 Gin Oaks Court, Madison, Alabama.
Services: Emergency food pantries and limited financial assistance, including a portion of eligible utility bills.
Eligibility: Financial aid is for Madison County residents, by appointment, generally no more than once in 12 months. Residency and photo ID required.
Before you go: Pantry schedules differ by site. Confirm current hours/documents. Madison city residents in Limestone County should ask about other assistance.
Alabama WIC - nutrition for families
888-942-4673
Address / access: Call for the nearest county health-department WIC clinic.
Services: Supplemental nutrition, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and health referrals.
Eligibility: Pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding applicants, infants and children under five who meet residency, income and nutrition-risk requirements.
Before you go: Ask about interpretation and communication accommodations; do not assume eligibility from age alone.
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TRANSPORTATION & HEALTH ACCESS
Check service boundaries before booking; regional programs do not necessarily cover every city address.
Orbit / Access - Huntsville
Resources
Plan a safe ride
Ask about wheelchair access, children/car seats, reservation deadlines, fares, return trips and whether pickup information is shared. For an urgent escape, ask a DV advocate about safe options; a bus route may not provide enough protection.
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LANGUAGE, DISABILITY & OLDER ADULTS
Ask for an interpreter, accessible format, support person or other accommodation when contacting services.
Resources
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TRAFFICKING, MILITARY & PET SAFETY
Additional culturally responsive trafficking support:
Resources
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SAFETY PLANNING & TECHNOLOGY
Use these prompts with an advocate. Choose the steps that fit your situation; do not confront an abusive person to follow this checklist.
Resources
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MY SAFETY & RESOURCE PLAN
Optional worksheet. Leave it blank if recording this information could put you at risk.
Safe contact and safe callback time
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Where I can go / backup place
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Transportation and return-ride plan
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Children: safe adult, school and pickup plan
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Medications, disability access and items
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Documents or legal deadlines I need help with
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Pets: safe placement, records and transportation
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First resource I will call / next appointment
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A simple way to start a call
"I am looking for help with ___. I am in ____ County. Is it safe to explain my situation here? Please contact me only by ________ at _______. Is this service available now? What do I need to bring? What can I do if documents are missing?"
You can ask about confidentiality and mandatory-reporting expectations before sharing details. Ask for another referral if a program is full or you do not qualify.
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