Canada’s Family Violence Safety Planning Guide: What It Means and How to Use It Safely

Canada’s “Family violence: Plan for your safety” page is a public health resource that helps people think through safety steps if they are experiencing family violence, abuse, coercive control, or fear at home. It is not a news story about a single incident; it is a practical government guide meant to help people prepare for danger, leave more safely, and connect with support.

For someone who is scared, overwhelmed, or being monitored, a resource like this can matter a lot. It offers a starting point when it may be hard to think clearly, trust your memory, or know what to do next.

Safety planning can reduce risk, but it does not guarantee safety. Abuse often escalates when a person tries to leave, asks for help, or changes routines. That means the most useful part of this resource is not just the checklist itself, but the reminder that you deserve a plan that fits your situation.

This matters for:

• People experiencing physical, emotional, sexual, financial, digital, or spiritual abuse
• Children and youth living with violence at home
• Older adults and people with disabilities who depend on a caregiver
• Immigrants, refugees, and temporary residents who may fear losing housing, income, or status
• Friends, family members, and professionals supporting someone at risk

A safety plan is a private, practical set of steps for what to do before, during, and after a violent situation. It may include:

• Identifying safer places in the home
• Planning how to leave quickly if needed
• Saving important documents and emergency contacts
• Creating a code word with a trusted person
• Preparing money, medication, keys, and essentials
• Thinking about digital safety, like location sharing and passwords
• Planning for children, pets, or dependents

If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services now if it is safe to do so.

You do not need to do everything at once. Even one small step can help.

Write down or memorize:

• A trusted friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative
• A local shelter or crisis line
• Emergency services
• A lawyer, doctor, or social worker if relevant

If paper is unsafe, store the list under a neutral name in your phone, or use a device the other person cannot access.

If possible, keep a small bag in a hidden or trusted place with:

• ID, passports, immigration papers, health cards
• Cash, debit card, spare keys
• Medications, prescriptions, glasses
• Phone charger, important phone numbers
• Children’s documents, comfort items, school info
• Copies of evidence if you choose to keep them

If you cannot keep a bag, think about what you could gather quickly if you had only a few minutes.

Abusive partners may track phones, accounts, or location.

• Turn off location sharing if it is safe
• Change passwords from a safe device
• Use two-factor authentication where possible
• Check shared cloud accounts, ride apps, and smart home devices
• Clear browser history only if that will not increase risk

If you suspect your device is monitored, use a safer device such as a library computer, trusted friend’s phone, or a domestic violence service.

• Teach children how to call emergency services if age-appropriate
• Create a simple code word for “leave now” or “call for help”
• Pack copies of custody papers, school records, and medications
• Ask a shelter or local service about pet-friendly options if needed

Leaving is not always the safest first step. A support worker can help you assess:

• When the person is away or asleep
• Whether public places are safer than home
• Whether police accompaniment or an escort is available
• Whether you need a temporary shelter, hotel, or alternate address

Some people keep photos, screenshots, dates, or incident notes. This can help with legal or support services, but it can also be dangerous if discovered. Only collect evidence if it is safe.

You do not have to decide everything today. Many people stay for a while because of finances, children, immigration concerns, disability, love, fear, or hope that things will change. That does not mean you are failing.

You can still:

• Reach out quietly to a domestic violence service
• Ask about emergency housing, legal aid, benefits, and counseling
• Make a plan for the next incident
• Identify one person who can help without judgment

This resource is broadly useful, but some people face extra barriers:

• Rural and remote communities: fewer shelters, longer travel, less privacy
• Indigenous survivors: may need culturally grounded, community-based supports
• Newcomers and non-citizens: fear around status, sponsorship, language access
• People with disabilities: dependence on caregivers, accessibility needs, assistive devices
• 2SLGBTQIA+ people: fear of being outed, discrimination, or lack of inclusive services
• Men and boys experiencing abuse: may face shame or fewer visible services
• Older adults: financial control, isolation, or caregiver abuse

If a service does not feel safe or respectful, you are allowed to keep looking.

If you are in Canada, consider these options:

• Emergency services: if you are in immediate danger
• Local domestic violence shelters and transition houses: for emergency housing and safety planning
• 211: to find local social, housing, and crisis supports in many areas
• Victim services: for safety planning, court support, and referrals
• Legal aid or family law clinics: for protection orders, custody, and immigration-related concerns
• Health care providers: for injuries, documentation, and referrals

If you are outside Canada, look for your local domestic violence hotline, shelter network, or emergency number.

• Use a device and account the abusive person cannot access if possible
• Clear your tracks only if doing so will not create more danger
• Trust your instincts if something feels off
• A safety plan should fit your reality, not someone else’s idea of what you “should” do
• If you are in immediate danger, prioritize getting to a safer place over collecting information

The source page is a standing government resource, not a time-sensitive announcement. Because the publication date is unknown and the page may change over time, the safest interpretation is that it remains a general planning guide rather than a guarantee of services, legal outcomes, or emergency protection.

If you are reading this while scared, please know this: you do not need to solve everything at once. Safety planning can be a series of small, quiet steps. If you want, start with one action today: save one number, tell one trusted person, or contact one support service.

You deserve help that is calm, respectful, and on your terms.