This tab provides helpful tips and essential resources for anyone seeking support or safety. Below, you’ll find important safety advice, information about local shelters and emergency hotlines, and details on charities and programs that offer assistance. It also covers key laws and protection orders designed to keep individuals safe, as well as ways to contribute through donations. Whether you’re looking for help or want to support others in need, this guide offers practical information and trusted resources to make a difference.
Information about going out and having fun while staying safe:
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Go with friends and stick together. It is important to go with friends you trust and to leave with them. If you get separated, have a designated meeting spot. Make sure to always have each person’s phone number.
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Inform friends and family. When going out, let friends and family know where you are going and an estimated time when you are leaving/heading back from the place you are going. Tips: Have someone on a tracking app if you feel comfortable with it. Have a detailed plan for the night.
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Watch your drink. Never leave your drink unattended. Even if you step away for a moment, it is safer to get a new one than risk it being tampered with. Be aware of scams, like someone claiming to be your partner to add charges to your tab.
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Always have a safe ride home. Before drinking, decide who is going to be the designated driver. If no one is sober, plan to use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.
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Know your limit and pace yourself. Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soda and don't take shots until you know your tolerance.
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Pick a place that fits your vibe. Don't feel pressured to go to a loud club if you prefer a quieter experience. A local dive bar or a bar at a restaurant can be a more low-key starting point.
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Pay attention to social cues. While some people go to bars to be social, others prefer to keep to themselves. Don't pressure someone to talk if they don't seem interested. If you are looking to meet people, try making eye contact and smiling at those around you. Also stick to people
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Educate yourself on safety procedures and hand gestures. There is different ways to discreetly and safely get out of uncomfortable/dangerous situations. Below will be listed in these different types of words and gestures.
Things to know
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Angel shots: Is a coded drink order for a person to discreetly ask a bartender or restaurant staff for help when feeling unsafe or threatened. There are different variations, such as ordering it "neat," "on the rocks," or "with lime," with each type signaling a different level of assistance needed, such as needing an escort, a taxi, or police intervention. Use these if you are a date, alone, or with others.
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How to order an angel shot
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Neat:
Signifies the person needs an escort to their car or another safe way to leave the establishment, but they do not want to be followed.
Example: You could go up to the bartender and say calmly, “Can I get an Angel Shot neat, please?”
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On the rocks/Ice:
Indicates the person needs help booking a taxi or rideshare, as they plan on leaving but want to ensure they get home safely.
Example: You could go up to the bartender and say calmly, “Can I get an Angel Shot on the rock/ over ice, please?”
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With lime:
This is reserved for a more urgent situation, meaning the member is in immediate danger and needs staff to call the police.
Example: You could go up to the bartender and say calmly, “Can I get an Angel Shot with lime, please?”
Signal for help hand gestures: The universal hand gesture for help involves holding your hand up, tucking your thumb into your palm, and then folding your fingers down over it to "trap" the thumb. This one-handed, silent signal can be used in situations where a person is in danger and cannot speak, such as during domestic violence or kidnapping.
These links provide access to shelters and safe spaces for individuals experiencing homelessness or seeking refuge from unsafe situations. Each resource is dedicated to offering warmth, safety, and support for those who need a place to rest, recover, and rebuild. Whether you’re in need of emergency housing or looking for longer-term shelter options, these links can help guide you to trusted local organizations ready to provide care and assistance.
Websites and organizations for shelters for homeless
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ShelterListings.org: Provides a list of homeless shelters by state.
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The Salvation Army: Allows you to search for services, including shelter, by zip code on their website.
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Maintains a list of local homeless assistance providers.
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The National Center for Homeless Education: Offers information on the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grantee webpage.
​These links connect you to verified local and government programs designed to support individuals and families in need. From financial assistance and food programs to healthcare and counseling services, these resources exist to help you find stability and hope. We share these links to make it easier for you to access legitimate support systems and community programs that are here to help when you need them most.
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Local and government resources
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Local Public Housing Authority (PHA): Can provide assistance moving from homelessness to more permanent housing.
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Local Council: Can give you contact details for local hostels, night shelters, and refuges.
Other options
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Mobile Apps: Several apps are available, such as the Shelter App and OurCalling, which may have location-based shelter information.
Domestic shelters
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​These links offer direct access to general and crisis support hotlines available to anyone in distress or seeking guidance. Whether you’re facing emotional struggles, abuse, or uncertainty, trained professionals are ready to listen and help 24/7. You are never alone — these helplines exist to provide confidential, compassionate support and connect you with the care and safety you deserve.
General and crisis support
Call or text 988 for 24/7, free, and confidential support. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat.
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Text START to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor for free, 24/7 support.
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Provides 24/7 referrals for mental health and substance use treatment. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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Specific issues
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Domestic Violence: The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for confidential assistance.
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LGBTQ Youth: The Trevor Project offers 24/7 crisis intervention. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678.
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Veterans: Dial 988 and press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.
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Child Abuse: The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1-800-422-4453.
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Sexual Assault: The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-HOPE.
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Runaway and Homeless Youth: The National Runaway Safeline can be reached at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929).
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Eating Disorders: The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline can be reached at 1-800-931-2237.
Other resources
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211: Dial 211 to find local health and human services, including crisis support, in many areas.
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine: Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) for information and support.
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Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990 for support during disasters.
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Emergency
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911: In case of immediate danger, always call 911 first.
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​These links provide information about legal rights, protection laws, and advocacy resources available to victims and survivors. Understanding your rights is a crucial step toward safety and empowerment. The listed organizations and official sources can help you learn about restraining orders, reporting options, and other forms of legal protection designed to keep you safe and informed.
Laws and protection orders
In general, domestic violence restraining order laws establish:
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who can file for an order;
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what protection or relief a person can get from such an order; and
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how the order will be enforced.
While there are differences from state to state, all protective order statutes allow the judge to order one or more of the following provisions:
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Cease abuse- order the abuser to stop hurting or threatening you.
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Stay away- the majority of states’ orders can instruct the abuser to stay away from you, your home, your workplace, or your school.
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No contact- to prohibit all contact, whether by telephone, text messages, notes, mail, fax, email, through a third person, or delivery of flowers or gifts.
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Support- order the abuser to pay you temporary child support or continue to make mortgage payments on a home owned by both of you.
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Exclusive use- to award you sole use of a home or car owned by both of you.
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Restitution- to pay you for medical costs or property damage caused by the abuser, for example.
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Relinquish firearms- some courts might be able to order the abuser to turn over any guns, rifles and ammunition s/he has.
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Treatment- to attend a batterers’ treatment program, appear for regular drug tests, or start alcohol or drug abuse counseling.
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Custody, visitation, and child support- many jurisdictions also allow the court to make decisions about the care and safety of your children as part of your restraining order. Courts can order the abuser to stay away from and have no contact with your children’s doctors, daycare, school or after-school job and many courts can make temporary custody/visitation decisions. Some can even issue child support orders within the restraining order. You can also ask the court to order supervised visitation, or to specify a safe arrangement for transferring the children back and forth between you and the abuser.
The links provided below/above are trusted resources and where you can make donations to support those in need. Please note that we are not a donation site and do not collect any funds directly. Our goal is simply to share accurate information and help connect people with legitimate organizations that make a real difference. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or officially endorsed by any of these organizations; we simply admire their work and wish to highlight their efforts. These links are provided solely for informational purposes, and all donations made through them go directly to the respective organizations.
Donations:
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