24-hour help
Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger. Family violence is a crime.
Family Violence Information Line: 310-1818 to get help anonymously in more than 170 languages.
Family violence includes physical, verbal, emotional, financial and sexual abuse, neglect, stalking or being kept from seeing other people or forced to stay in one place.
Helplines
Online chat
Talk anonymously with trained staff/counsellors.
Hours: noon to 8 pm MST daily
How it works:
- Enter your information and click Start.
- Watch for a pop-up window to know when the next chat staff is free.
- Begin entering your chat when you see a message in the chat window.
What you need to know:
- the average chat session is 30 minutes
- chat is in English only
- for a more secure chat, set your internet browser to private mode
- there may be long wait times for the service
- for a faster and more stable connection use a desktop computer
- if you lose your chat connection, log in again or call 310-1818 (Family Violence Information Line)
- after you finish, click ‘End chat’ instead of closing your browser
Reporting helplines
If you suspect someone is experiencing family violence or abuse:
- Alberta provincial abuse helpline: 1-855-4HELPAB (1-855-443-5722) for assistance in more than 100 languages from 7:30 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday
- Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-KIDS (5437) for help 24/7
- Protection for Persons in Care Reporting Line: 1-888-357-9339 to report the abuse of an adult receiving care or support services from public funded service providers such as:
- hospitals
- seniors’ lodges
- nursing homes
- mental health facilities
- shelters
- group homes
- addictions treatment centres
- other supportive living settings
Health helplines
- Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642 for mental health advice 24/7
- HealthLink: Call 811 to find health care and get health advice 24/7
Financial supports
- Help with costs to leave an abusive situation – if you need help with expenses and other supports to get to safety and start a new life
- Safer Spaces Certificate – if you need to break your rental lease without paying a penalty
- Victims of Crime Financial Benefits program – if you were a victim of a crime in Alberta that you reported to police you may be eligible for an injury, witness or death benefit
- Payment for out-of-pocket expenses related to a crime – if you apply for restitution to have the offender pay these costs
Other supports
Shelters
- Local emergency shelters – for individuals and families escaping family violence or facing homelessness
- Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters – a map of member shelters across Alberta
Victim services and legal supports
- Local victim services units – if you need help with restraining and protection orders or other supports for victims of crime
- Local sexual assault centres – if you have experienced any form of sexual violence and need crisis support or counselling
- Legal Aid Services at 1-866-845-3425 – if you need help with legal issues
- Steps to file a restraining order or emergency protection order – if someone has made you afraid for your safety
Indigenous supports
- Native Counselling Services of Alberta – if you need help with court processes or Children’s Services, or connecting to youth supports and other community resources
- Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association – if you want to connect with services for people who have been abused or who abuse others
- Metis Settlements Child and Family Services or Delegated First Nations Agencies – if you are a member of either community and need help with supports for your children
Pet safety
- Alberta SPCA’s pet safekeeping program – if you need temporary pet care at no charge
The law and your rights
Alberta’s Protection Against Family Violence Act protects abused family members of all ages, whether they live together or apart. This includes:
- couples who are married, common-law, separated or divorced who may have children together, or not
- parents who have not resided together
- birth, adopted, foster and step-children
- adults who live together and one person has legal care and custody over the other
A victim of family violence and abuse has a right to:
- be free and safe from violence
- be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect
- get information about their legal rights
- press charges for criminal actions
- have the maximum protection from abuse permitted by law including restraining or protection orders
- get help from community resources