Domestic Violence Assistance

In July 2020, as part of the CAHSD’s effort to increase victims’ access to services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department added texting capabilities to the Domestic Violence Helpline. This added feature allows victims to text the Helpline as an alternative method of communication. Additionally, a Quick Response Code was created for quick access to services provided by the Violence Prevention and Intervention Division. The new texting feature is designed to help victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking who are unable to make a telephone call safely. Text messages can be sent to 305-285-5900, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Call or visit the Coordinate Victims Assistance Center or one of the five Domestic Violence Outreach Units (Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, Hialeah District Court, Joseph Caleb Community Center, North Dade Justice Center and South Dade Government Center).

• Injunctive relief
• Counseling information and referral
• Safe shelter
• Transportation
• Emergency financial assistance
• Emergency food and clothing
• Advocacy support
• Individual treatment and family group counseling

Collaborative Intake Questionnaire in English and Spanish

In October 2020, the CAHSD, in conjunction with the Animal Services Department, launched the Healing Together Project which promotes the implementation of pet-inclusive domestic violence shelter program in Miami-Dade County. The project includes on-site pet friendly crates and enclosures as well as pet supplies that allow victims and their dependents to care for their pets while at the shelter and during their journey to healing.

Residential assistance

Four Miami-Dade County certified domestic violence shelters (Safepace Empowerment Center, SafeSpace Central, SafeSpace South and Safespace North) provide temporary emergency shelter, advocacy and support services to victims of domestic violence, their dependents. Two Miami-Dade County transitional housing programs (Inn Transition South and Inn Transition North) provide traditional housing, advocacy and supportive services to victims of domestic violence and their dependents. 

Advocates for Victims/Safespace shelters

Provides temporary emergency shelter, advocacy and supportive services to victims of domestic violence and their dependents.

Inn Transition Housing Program

Provides transitional housing opportunity to victims of domestic and their dependents.

Services for both programs include:

• Crisis counseling
• Advocacy and supportive services
• Relocation assistance
• Emergency financial assistance
• Communty referrals
• Transportation
• Food
• And many more

Non-Residential Assistance

Several programs offer assistance and coordinated services with community partners and other agencies.

Coordinated Victims Assistance Center(CVAC)

A Miami-Dade County one-stop, non-residential center for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and human trafficking. The center provides on-site coordinated services in collaboration with community partners, faith-based organizations, universities, nonprofit agencies and other governmental agencies.

Domestic Violence Outreach Units

This court-based program offers injunctions for protection assistance and representation, advocacy and referrals, emergency financial assistance, crisis counseling and other services.

• Assault and Aggravated Assault
  This threat must be by word or act and the person threatening you must have done something to make you believe that this violence is about to happen. If the person uses a deadly weapon when committing this act, it is an aggravated assault.
• Battery and Aggravated Battery
  An act of domestic violence becomes a battery when someone intentionally touches you without your permission. If that person's touching you causes you great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement, or if the person uses a deadly weapon, or if you were pregnant and the person know or should have known, the act becomes aggravated battery.
• Stalking and Aggravated Stalking
  If someone purposefully follows you or harasses you repeatedly over a period of time for no legitimate purpose, which causes you a great amount of emotional stress, they have committed the act of stalking. If in doing this they threaten your life or threaten to cause injury to you, with the intent to cause you to reasonable fear for your safety, then the act becomes aggravated stalking.

Read about more specific signs and types of abuse.

If you are being physically or sexually abused, threatened by a family or household member, or believe you are in danger, file a restraining order, or a temporary or permanent injunction.

Get additional information and resources from the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County.

The legal definition of domestic violence, as stated by Florida Statute 741.30, means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another who is or was residing in the same single dwelling unit.