Women's Shelters in Germany: How to Get Protection from Domestic Violence

Frauenhaus is a protected women’s shelter in Germany for women and their children when it is unsafe for them to stay at home because of physical, sexual, psychological, or economic violence. In this situation, you do not need to prove in advance that your story is “perfect”: safety, contact with a crisis service, and a plan for leaving without additional risk come first.

If there is immediate danger, call the police on 110. For advice without an urgent police dispatch, you can use the Hilfetelefon “Gewalt gegen Frauen” at 116 016 or 08000 116 016. The consultation is free, confidential, available 24/7, and offered in several languages.

When you can contact a Frauenhaus

People turn to a Frauenhaus not only after being beaten. Any situation in which a woman or children are under threat can be enough: stalking, threats, sexual violence, coercion, control over money, isolation from relatives and friends, constant intimidation, or pressure related to documents or residence status.

Help is available to women of different nationalities, religions, and family situations. You can contact a shelter with children. Rules for accommodating teenagers, especially older boys, depend on the specific shelter and the federal state, so it is best to clarify this during the first call.

How to get into a women’s shelter

Usually, the first step is a phone call with a Beratungsstelle, the Hilfetelefon, a local women’s support service, or the police. Frauenhaus addresses are not published openly for safety reasons, so the meeting point and the next steps are explained individually.

Possible options:

• call an advice service or hotline and describe the situation;
• ask a trusted person to call if speaking German is difficult;
• contact the police if you need to leave home urgently at night, on a weekend, or because of a threat of attack;
• ask the Hilfetelefon for the contacts of the nearest Fachberatungsstelle or a Frauenhaus with free space.

If there are no places in the nearest shelter, staff usually help look for an option in another area. This is normal: for safety reasons and because of a lack of places, a woman may be sent not to the closest shelter, but to the one that can actually accommodate her.

What to take with you if there is time

The main thing is to leave safely. If packing increases the risk, it is better not to delay. When possible, it is useful to take documents and belongings for yourself and the children:

• passport, Aufenthaltstitel, ID card, birth certificates, and marriage certificate;
• bank cards, some cash, important contracts, and letters from authorities;
• medical documents, health insurance cards, and vaccination certificates;
• documents related to benefits, Kindergeld, Jobcenter, rent, work, or studies;
• medicines, glasses, baby food, school items, and the most necessary things for children;
• phone, charger, SIM card, keys, and valuables that you can carry without risk.

If you suspect that your partner is tracking your phone, watch, tracker, family account, or car, discuss this with the advisers. In an acute situation, you can switch off geolocation, put the device in airplane mode, or leave tracked gadgets behind, but it is better to plan such steps so they do not trigger extra danger.

How accommodation works

Frauenhaus is not a hotel and not a hospital, but temporary protected housing with advisory support. A woman usually takes care of herself and her children: she cooks, buys food, handles everyday matters, and, if possible, continues work or studies. The room may be private, while the kitchen, bathroom, and common areas are often shared with other residents.

You must not tell acquaintances, relatives, and especially the person a woman is hiding from the shelter’s address. Visits are usually forbidden or strictly limited. These rules may seem strict, but they protect everyone staying there.

Frauenhaus staff help with the next urgent steps: financial support, Jobcenter or Sozialamt matters, kindergarten and school, medical care, protective measures, custody issues, separation, and divorce. In complex legal matters, they may refer you to specialized counseling or a lawyer.

Money and payment for accommodation

Funding for Frauenhäuser in Germany is organized differently: conditions depend on the federal state, municipality, the woman’s status, her income, and the type of benefits she receives. Because of this, there is no universal daily price for staying there. In some cases, the costs are covered through social benefits or public authorities; in others, individual arrangements for support may be needed.

Lack of money should not be a reason to stay in a dangerous situation. If you have no income, no documents at hand, or no access to a bank account, say this when you ask for help: the advisers will explain which options are available in your city.

Rules that are important to know

Every Frauenhaus has its own internal rules, but most often the general principles are:

• you must not disclose the shelter’s address;
• you must not bring visitors without prior approval;
• women are responsible for their children and take part in household tasks;
• shared spaces are used according to the rules of living together;
• school, kindergarten, doctor, and authority-related matters are handled together with staff;
• the safety of all residents is more important than everyday comfort.

If a woman has a teenage son, a pet, a disability, a partner with an addiction, a risk of stalking, or special medical needs, this should be mentioned immediately during the consultation. That makes it easier to find a suitable place and avoid losing time.

Help for men and other victims

Men can also be victims of domestic violence. The Opfer-Telefon WEISSER RING 116 006 is available for people affected by crime. There is also a specialized Hilfetelefon Gewalt an Männern, which advises men who have experienced violence in a partnership, family, in public, or in other situations.

In some regions, there are Männerhäuser or crisis accommodation places for men. Their addresses, like the addresses of women’s shelters, are usually not made public.

Where to ask for help

In an emergency, call 110. If you need to talk, make a plan to leave, or find the nearest advice center, use federal and local services:

• Hilfetelefon Gewalt gegen Frauen: 116 016 or 08000 116 016: available 24/7, free of charge, confidential, with consultations in different languages;
• website hilfetelefon.de: telephone and online counseling;
• help search via Frauenhauskoordinierung: Frauenhäuser and Fachberatungsstellen;
• police 110: if there is an immediate threat to life, health, or freedom;
• local Beratungsstellen, Jugendamt, Sozialamt, or Jobcenter: for further everyday, financial, and family-related issues.

Even if the decision to leave has not yet been made, counseling can help assess risks, prepare documents, plan a safe route, and understand whom you can trust with information.