There are 1200 shelters in the U.S. for women and children only . There are 3 times as many animal shelters as there are protective houses for battered women. In these shelters, women and children are fed, clothed and protected. Each family can stay in the shelter for up to six weeks. The shelter housed 30 women a month, that averages about one woman a day.
Women can also call hot lines.
The Safehouse's crises line received 5,997 calls in 1993. Five percent of the women return to the abuser. Children alone are NOT allowed to come to shelters. They must be with their mothers. It is not legal for them to come alone.