Best Domestic Violence in Massachusetts — 17 resources

About Domestic Violence

Domestic violence resources for men have grown significantly over the past decade. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) accepts calls from any gender, and the Stop Abusive and Violent Environments (SAVE) helpline and ManKind Initiative are dedicated to male victims. Every state has a coalition against domestic violence, and most cities have shelters — though male-specific shelter capacity remains limited. Men can obtain protective orders in family court, request supervised visitation, and work with victim advocates attached to local prosecutor offices. For fathers falsely accused of domestic violence during custody disputes, a criminal defense attorney or family law attorney with DV experience is critical. This directory includes national hotlines, state coalitions, men's shelters where available, and protective order resources.

17 Resources

1. Jane Doe Inc - Massachusetts Coalition Against DV/SA — Free

Statewide coalition coordinating domestic violence and sexual assault services across Massachusetts. Provides training, technical assistance, advocacy, and program referrals for survivors including male victims. Does not provide direct crisis services to individuals; instead directs callers to SafeLink (1-877-785-2020) or the nearest member program. Use the website directory to find a local DV program by county, city, or language preference.

617-248-0922 · 14 Beacon St, Suite 507, Boston, MA 02108 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

2. SafeLink - Massachusetts DV Hotline — Free

Statewide 24/7 multilingual domestic violence hotline providing free, confidential crisis intervention, safety planning, emergency shelter placement, and referrals to local Massachusetts DV programs. Serves all survivors including male survivors, LGBTQ+ survivors, and immigrants regardless of documentation status. Interpreters available in 140+ languages. No ID or insurance required. Also supports friends, family, and professionals calling on behalf of a survivor.

1-877-785-2020 · Statewide · 24/7 · Visit Website

3. National Domestic Violence Hotline — Free

24/7 confidential hotline providing crisis intervention, safety planning, and referrals to local Massachusetts DV programs in 200+ languages via interpreter services. Serves survivors of intimate partner violence and people worried about a loved one. Text START to 88788 or chat online at thehotline.org for text-based support. No ID, insurance, or registration required; calls do not appear on most phone bills when made from a landline.

1-800-799-7233 · National (serves all MA residents) · 24/7 · Visit Website

4. Casa Myrna (Boston) — Free

Boston's largest provider of DV services, offering 24-hour emergency shelter, transitional housing, legal advocacy, individual and group counseling, children's trauma services, and economic empowerment programs. Operates SafeLink statewide hotline. Serves survivors regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or immigration status. Confidential shelter location; call the hotline to be screened for emergency shelter or to request non-residential services.

617-521-0100 · Boston, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

5. REACH Beyond Domestic Violence — Free

Serves 22 communities west of Boston (Waltham, Watertown, Newton, Framingham area) with emergency shelter, a 24-hour hotline, crisis services, court advocacy for restraining orders, individual and group counseling, children's programs, and prevention education. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or schedule non-residential services; no referral, ID, or insurance required.

781-891-0724 · P.O. Box 540024, Waltham, MA 02454 · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

6. YWCA of Western Massachusetts (Springfield) — Free

Provides DV services in the Springfield and Hampden County area including 24-hour emergency shelter, a crisis hotline, individual and group counseling, court advocacy for restraining orders, children's programming, and transitional housing. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or to schedule non-residential services; interpreters available. No ID, income verification, or insurance required.

413-733-7100 · 1 Clough St, Springfield, MA 01118 · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

7. New Hope Inc (Southeastern MA) — Free

Serves southeastern Massachusetts including Attleboro, Taunton, Norwood, and North Attleboro with a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy for restraining orders, individual and group counseling, children's programs, and community prevention education. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or non-residential services; no referral, ID, or insurance required.

508-226-4015 · P.O. Box 183, Attleboro, MA 02703 · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

8. MassLegalHelp - Domestic Violence — Free

Free online legal resource for Massachusetts DV survivors providing self-help guides, printable court forms, and plain-language explanations for requesting 209A abuse prevention orders, harassment prevention orders (258E), emergency custody, and divorce-on-grounds-of-cruel-and-abusive-treatment. Includes filing instructions for Probate & Family and District courts. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish; always safer to leave the browser history cleared afterward.

Online resource · Online 24/7 · Visit Website

9. Independence House (Cape Cod) — Free

Comprehensive DV and sexual assault services on Cape Cod including 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy for restraining orders, individual and group counseling, children's programs, and prevention education across Barnstable County. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or non-residential services; no referral, ID, or insurance required. Offices in Hyannis and Orleans.

508-771-6507 · Cape Cod, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

10. Voices Against Violence (Framingham) — Free

Program of South Middlesex Opportunity Council serving MetroWest communities (Framingham, Natick, Marlborough, Hudson, and surrounding towns) with a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy for restraining orders, individual and group counseling, children's programs, and prevention education. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or non-residential services.

508-626-8686 · Framingham, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

11. Womanshelter/Companeras (Holyoke) — Free

Bilingual (English/Spanish) DV services in the Holyoke and Springfield area providing 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy for restraining orders, individual and group counseling, and children's programs. Specializes in serving Latina survivors and undocumented immigrants; no documentation required. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or schedule non-residential services; interpreters available in additional languages on request.

413-536-1628 · Holyoke, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

12. Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center (Haverhill) — Free

Serves northern Essex County (Haverhill, Newburyport, Amesbury, and surrounding communities) with 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy, individual and group counseling, children's programs, and the nationally recognized Domestic Violence High Risk Team model for cases with lethality indicators. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or non-residential services.

978-388-1888 · Haverhill, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

13. Respond Inc (Somerville) — Free

New England's first DV agency, providing emergency shelter, a 24-hour hotline, individual and group counseling, court advocacy for restraining orders, children's programs, and housing support for survivors in Somerville, Medford, Cambridge, and surrounding communities. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or non-residential services; no referral, ID, or insurance required.

617-623-5900 · Somerville, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

14. Pathways for Change (Worcester) — Free

Worcester-based rape crisis and sexual assault services center providing a 24-hour hotline, hospital accompaniment for SANE exams, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy, and prevention education across Worcester County. Also offers services for DV survivors experiencing sexual violence. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request services; interpreters available. No ID, insurance, or referral required.

508-852-7600 · Worcester, MA · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

15. DOVE Inc (Quincy/South Shore) — Free

Domestic violence services for South Shore communities including Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, and Randolph. Provides 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy for restraining orders, individual and group counseling, and children's programs. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or non-residential services; interpreters available. No referral, ID, or insurance required.

617-471-1234 · Quincy, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

16. Refuge of Hope (New Bedford) — Free

Serves New Bedford and southeastern Massachusetts with DV emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, and court advocacy for restraining orders. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request shelter screening or non-residential services; interpreters available on request. No referral, ID, or insurance required. Outreach offices in the New Bedford area in addition to confidential shelter.

508-996-3343 · New Bedford, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

17. Elizabeth Freeman Center (Pittsfield) — Free

Serves Berkshire County (Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Lenox, and surrounding towns) with comprehensive DV and sexual assault services including 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, court advocacy for restraining orders, individual and group counseling, children's programs, and prevention education. Serves survivors of all genders. Free and confidential. Call the hotline to request services; no referral, ID, or insurance required.

413-499-2425 · Pittsfield, MA (confidential location) · 24-hour hotline; office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many domestic violence resources are in Massachusetts?
Men's Corner tracks 17 domestic violence resources for men and fathers in Massachusetts.
Are domestic violence resources in Massachusetts free?
17 of the 17 listed domestic violence resources in Massachusetts are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Massachusetts have domestic violence resources?
Listings span cities including Boston, Waltham, Springfield, Attleboro, Cape Cod, Framingham.
What are some examples of domestic violence resources in Massachusetts?
Featured entries include Jane Doe Inc - Massachusetts Coalition Against DV/SA, SafeLink - Massachusetts DV Hotline, National Domestic Violence Hotline, Casa Myrna (Boston), REACH Beyond Domestic Violence.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
16 of 17 Massachusetts domestic violence listings include phone numbers.
Can men be victims of domestic violence?
Yes — roughly 1 in 9 men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) and ManKind Initiative serve male victims. Stigma is a major barrier, but the legal protections (protective orders, DV charges) are available to men in every state.
What if I'm falsely accused?
Take it seriously even if untrue. Consult a criminal or family law attorney immediately; don't speak to police or the accuser without counsel. Document your whereabouts, witnesses, communications. Most protective orders can be challenged at a full evidentiary hearing within 10–21 days of initial issuance.
How do I get a protective order?
File a petition at your county's family court or civil court — no attorney required. Temporary ex parte orders can issue same-day; a full hearing typically follows within two to three weeks. Court self-help centers and DV advocates help fill out forms at no cost.
Are there shelters for men?
Male-specific DV shelter capacity is limited but exists in some cities (through organizations like Valor, ManKind, and certain state coalitions). Most DV agencies will arrange hotel placement or referral to emergency shelter for male victims when shelter-specific housing isn't available.