Women's Shelter

A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape and domestic violence.

Having the ability to leave a situation of violence is valuable for those who are under attack. Such situations frequently involve an imbalance of power that limits the victim's financial options. The most dangerous time for a domestic violence sufferer is on the point of exit. A person in a domestic violence situation should create an exit safety plan, to leave the situation in a safe manner.

Initially a response to violence against women, a women's shelter may also serve as a place for women to organize for equality, which is an important distinction from standard government-funded service-based approaches to domestic violence. Many states and cities have domestic violence coalitions supporting women's shelters. In the U.S., the National Network to End Domestic Violence provides a national voice, supporting shelters for victims of domestic violence as well as other resources.