Apna Ghar is a domestic violence shelter serving primarily Asian and Middle Eastern women and children. They have a 24-hour hotline service, a 24-hour emergency shelter for women and children where they can stay for up to 90 days, individual and group counseling for residents and non-residents with a focus on breaking the cycle of violence. Their legal advocacy helps survivors understand and navigate the legal system, both civil and criminal, and they help immigrant survivors of gendered violence obtain status and work authorizations. The center also serves as a location for supervised child visitation and a safe exchange location. They also have an outreach and education department.
Chicago Area Programs
Apna Ghar, Inc. Domestic Violence Shelter
Between Friends
Between Friends is a non-profit agency that provides education, support, counseling, and advocacy services to prevent domestic violence. Their crisis hotline is available 24 hours a day. They offer counseling for individuals, families, and group settings as well as for financial literacy, direct assistance, and for childcare. The court advocacy program helps survivors secure Criminal or Civil Orders of Protection for Rolling Meadows and downtown Chicago in both English and Spanish. They accompany them to court, follow up on their case, and advocate for them with other agencies. Between Friends can also connect you to family law attorneys through their free legal clinics in Rogers Park and Rolling Meadows. A Choice for Hope (REACH) is a comprehensive teen dating violence prevention program and they have community education and healthcare programs. Every month they offer opportunities for domestic violence survivors to meet with family law attorneys who provide free legal advice to survivors of domestic violence. During these one-on-one consultations, attorneys answer questions about orders of protection, divorce, child support, child custody, and other issues. We are currently offering these legal clinics:
North Side of Chicago: When: 4th Wednesday of every month; Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm; Where: Between Friends’ main office in Chicago (Call (773) 274-5232 x 23 for more information or to reserve your space at the next legal clinic.)
In Rolling Meadows: When: 3rd Wednesday of every month; Time: Noon-2:00pm; Where: Rolling Meadows Courthouse; (Please call (847) 818-8900 for more information or to reserve your space at the next legal clinic.)
Connections for Abused Women and their Children
Connections for Abused Women and their Children (“CAWC”) provides a shelter for women and children (including boys up to 18 years old accompanied by their mothers), counseling, and advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. The Haymarket Center has a comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment program. The Hospital Crisis Intervention Project provides quality direct medical services to victims of domestic violence and is located at John Stroger Hospital. The Humboldt Park Outreach Program is a counseling outreach program for victims of domestic violence that have left the shelter or have not yet made the decision to leave their abuser. The services offered include crisis intervention, counseling, safety planning, information and referral and legal advocacy on an individual as well as group basis. Spanish is spoken.
Family Rescue, Inc.
Family Rescue provides support services and shelter for domestic violence victims, all services are provided in both English and Spanish. The shelter is open 24-hours a day, every day of the year, and houses women and their children, including teen boys up to 18 years old accompanied by their mother. Family Rescue also has a subsidized permanent housing to help victims of domestic violence transition from homelessness to an independent and secure lifestyle. This includes programs for children who have been exposed to domestic violence and daycare programs. Finally, the Court Advocacy Program helps clients with orders of protection, child support and custody, and divorce.
Korean American Women in Need (KAN-WIN)
Korean American Women in Need provides free comprehensive services to women and children affected by domestic violence such as a 24-hour hotline, transitional housing, legal advocacy, case management, support group for survivors, children’s programs, and sexual assault services programs. All programs are bilingual (Korean and English) and there is a language translator for non- English or non-Korean-speaking callers to the hotline.
Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services
Metropolitan Family Services has a main office in Chicago and seven community centers in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs,. Their staff includes clinical social workers and counselors, case managers, mental health professionals, early childhood educators, and lawyers who provide counsel and services. The Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services helps low-income clients with a wide range of legal issues from cases of domestic violence, family and elder law, and housing and consumer issues. To reach the Legal Aid Society, please call 312-986-4200. You can find their full list of community centers on their website.
Life Span Center for Legal Services and Advocacy
Life Span provides free legal services for issues related to domestic violence and sexual assault including direct legal representation (in both English and Spanish) in actions for orders of protection, custody, visitation, and child support to Illinois residents including immigrants who are suffering from domestic violence that do not have legal immigration documents. Also provides domestic violence training for those interested in helping others and counseling for adults, teens, and children who have suffered from or been exposed to domestic violence.
Mujeres Latinas en Acción
Mujeres Latinas is a social service that addresses the needs of Latinas such as health, safety, culture, financial security, and women’s rights. All of their services are in both Spanish and English. Mujeres Latinas does not provide legal representation.
Neopolitan Lighthouse
Neopolitan Lighthouse has a 25-bed domestic violence shelter which is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year for women and children fleeing abusive relationships, where families can stay for 180 days, and are provided with counseling, support groups, and case managers. The legal advocacy department helps women obtain orders of protection, and will accompany women to both civil and criminal courts. They can also provide referrals for divorce and child support cases.
SHALVA
SHALVA supports Jewish women experiencing and healing from domestic abuse through counseling, supportive services, and community education. Their Legal Liaison program provides SHALVA clients with knowledge and support to better navigate the legal process. They also provide limited scope legal representation to a small number of SHALVA clients.
Wellspring Center for Hope
Wellspring Center for Hope provides comprehensive walk-in services to victims of domestic violence including crisis intervention and case management, creation of safety and service plans, counseling, legal advocacy including accompaniment to court, referrals for support services.