A recent notice to DOJ grantees says there is a temporary restraining order (TRO) related to a funding pause. In plain language, that means a court has temporarily ordered the government to stop or limit certain actions while the legal issue is reviewed.

For survivors and people seeking help, the most important takeaway is this: some services may be affected, delayed, or uncertain, but many local and national support options still exist. A notice like this can create confusion for agencies, advocates, and survivors, especially when programs rely on federal funding.

Domestic violence services often depend on a mix of federal grants, state funding, local support, and private donations. When there is a funding pause or legal dispute:

• shelters may have to adjust staffing or admissions
• legal advocacy programs may face delays
• hotlines and crisis services may be stretched thin
• community organizations may not know yet how much funding they can use or when

If you are in danger, this kind of policy update can feel overwhelming. You do not need to understand the legal details to deserve help. Your safety and access to support still matter right now.

This update may affect:

• survivors trying to reach a shelter or advocacy program
• people seeking legal help, protection orders, or case navigation
• organizations that receive DOJ grants for victim services
• rural, tribal, immigrant, disabled, LGBTQ+, and low-income survivors who may already face fewer options

It may also affect people who are not in immediate crisis but are trying to plan a safe exit, find counseling, or get help with housing, transportation, or childcare.

A funding pause or TRO does not mean:

• domestic violence services are gone everywhere
• you should wait to ask for help
• your safety concerns are less urgent
• you must stay in an unsafe situation because a program is uncertain

If one program cannot help, another may be able to. It is okay to contact more than one place.

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• If calling is not safe, use text, chat, or a trusted person to reach out.
• Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or use chat at thehotline.org.
• If you are outside the U.S., contact a local domestic violence hotline or emergency service in your area.

You can ask:

• Do you have a waitlist?
• Can you refer me to another shelter or advocate?
• Do you have emergency hotel, transportation, or relocation options?
• Can you help me make a safety plan even if you cannot house me?
• Is there a legal advocate, counselor, or case manager I can speak with?

Ask whether the program can still help with:

• protection orders
• court accompaniment
• safety planning
• referrals to legal aid
• documentation of abuse

If a program cannot take your case, ask for a referral list. You do not need to explain everything perfectly to deserve support.

Try to gather only what is safe to gather. If possible, keep copies of:

• IDs, passports, immigration documents
• birth certificates and Social Security cards
• medications and prescriptions
• bank cards, cash, keys
• children’s documents and school records
• evidence of abuse, if safe to keep

If collecting items could put you at risk, focus on immediate safety first.

• Use a phone, email, or device your abuser cannot monitor if possible.
• Clear browser history only if it is safe and does not create more risk.
• Consider using a friend’s phone, a public library computer, or a trusted advocate.
• If you think your communications are being watched, ask a hotline or advocate how to contact them safely.
• If you are in the U.S., you can also dial 211 for local social services in many areas.

You can help by:

• believing them
• offering a safe phone, ride, or place to sit and talk
• helping them call a hotline or local program
• not pressuring them to leave before they are ready
• asking what would feel safest right now

If you are unsure what to say, try: “I’m glad you told me. I’m here with you, and we can take this one step at a time.”

This notice is about a legal and funding situation, and the exact impact may change as the court process continues. Some programs may already know how they are affected, while others may still be waiting for guidance.

Because of that uncertainty:

• check directly with local programs before assuming they are closed
• ask for backup referrals
• keep a list of more than one support option if you can

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, thehotline.org
• RAINN for sexual assault support: 800-656-HOPE, rainn.org
• 211 for local housing, shelter, food, and crisis resources in many U.S. areas
• Local domestic violence shelters, legal aid offices, family justice centers, and community advocates
• Emergency services if you are in immediate danger

If you are reading this while scared, exhausted, or unsure what to do next: you are not alone, and you do not have to solve everything at once. Even when systems are unstable, your need for safety is real, and help is still worth seeking.

Take the next smallest safe step you can.