Dónde encontrar ayuda directa o asistencia
Where to Find Direct Help or Assistance (English and Spanish guide)
There are many organizations and advocacy groups in the Chicago area that address the needs of victims and survivors of sexual violence. Some address primarily domestic or intimate partner violence, others, especially workers’ center, workplace sexual violence. In this section you will find a broad spectrum of assistance and services, such as individual counseling of adult or child survivors, support groups, and legal or medical assistance. Some organizations offer direct services, or reliable referrals, or a combination of both.
Depending on your particular need for help, or the location of the agency or workers center, contacting one of them may be a good start. It may help you find out where to go for assistance, what informal or formal steps to take to document and resist the abuse, where and how to obtain legal or medical help, and how to start the healing process.
PLEASE NOTE that we give you only brief summaries of services each organization provides. You will find more detailed descriptions of all services offered by a particular organization by clicking on the link provided
Hotlines
Chicago’s Domestic Violence Help Line
If your situation is an emergency, please call the City at
1-877-863-6338 (voice) or
1-877-863-6339 (TTY).
The Help Line may be called 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Illinois Sexual Harassment Hotline
1-877-236-7703
Rape Crisis Hotlines
Chicago Metropolitan Area hotline: (888) 293-2080
DuPage County hotline: (630) 971-3927
South Suburbs hotline: (708) 748-5672
Rape Crisis Hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; they provide victims and survivors of sexual violence and their significant others immediate support, crisis intervention and referrals for the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
Specific populations Chicago Hotlines
Apna Ghar hotline for immigrant communities: (773) 334-4663
Howard Brown hotline for LGBTQ communities: (773) 388-8882
KAN-WIN hotline for Asian American communities: (773) 583-0880
National Human Trafficking Hotline:
1-888-3737-7888
Human trafficking is a situation in which an individual is compelled to work or engage in commercial sex through the use of force, fraud or coercion. If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking hotline. Anti- Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking.
Community Service Providers
A Long Walk Home (ALWH) 1658 N Milwaukee Ave Suite 104
1-877-571-1751
ALWH is a Chicago-based national non-profit that uses art to educate, inspire, and mobilize young people to end violence against girls and women. Through he Girl/Friends Leadership Institute, teens design campaigns and policies to end dating violence, sexual assault, and street harassment.
Apna Ghar 4350 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613
Office: (773) 883-4663
Crisis Line: (773) 334-4663 or (800) 717-07171 for out of state calls
http://www.apnaghar.org/
Apna Ghar provides holistic, culturally relevant services and conducts outreach and advocacy across immigrant and refugee communities to end gender violence. It also provides a shelter for victims of abuse and violence.
Its primary language is English, but it is also considerate to other languages spoken by different South Asian as well as other immigrant communities.
Center on Halsted 3656 N Halstead St, Chicago, IL 60613
LGBTQ Violence Resource Line (773) 871- CARE (2273)
http://www.centeronhalsted.org/ACE.html
Center on Halsted provides a LGBTQ Violence Resource line for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive (LGBTQH) people. It assists in the recovery of LGBTQH victims, witnesses, and friends of those who have experienced bias/discrimination, or domestic, sexual, hate or police violence in the Chicago area.
The Resource line can provide callers with safety planning, information and referrals, personal, legal and medical advocacy, and crisis counseling. There are no fees for Violence Resource Line services.
If you want to find out about other services provided for the LGBTQ community, you may want to consult the Chicagoland LGBTQ Services Directory by clicking on https://queery.org
Centro Romero 6216 N Clark, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 508-5300
http://centroromero.org/
Centro Romero’s Domestic Violence Program serves the Latina community’s domestic violence victims and survivors. It offers a variety of services for victims and survivors as well as their children. It provides court advocacy, assistance in obtaining an order of protection, individual counseling, and empowerment support groups. All services are provided in Spanish.
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) 1240 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 492 3700
To report abuse in Illinois: 1-800-252-2873
Outside of Illinois: 1-800-422-4453
https://www.chicagocac.org/who-we-are/
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC) responds to reports of child sexual
abuse, of child physical abuse, witness to violence, and other serious maltreatment. Its
team investigates alleged abuse, conducts forensic interviews, provides family advocacy,
reduces trauma and identifies resources so that children and families may begin the
healing process.
Services are provided in English and Spanish (and other languages if needed).
Family Rescue 8811 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60617
Administrative and Community Outreach Home: (773) 375-1918
24-Hour Crisis Line: (800) 360 6619, or (773) 375-8400; TTD (773) 375-8774
https://familyrescueinc.org/
Family Rescue is dedicated to eliminating domestic violence in the Chicago community by engaging in advocacy to promote future system change and encouraging prevention through community education. It provides comprehensive support services and shelter to victims of domestic violence, particularly to abused women and their children. It offers survivors a variety of services to help them rebuild their lives, such as: crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and legal and social service advocacy. It also has a children’s program.
Family Refuge operates out of five different locations. To find a location near you call
(773) 375-1918. All services are bilingual (English and Spanish) and free of charge.
Hana Center 4300 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60618,
and 664 N. Milwaukee Ave. Suite 213, Prospect Heights, IL 60070
Chicago Office: (773) 583-5501
Northwest Office: (847) 520-1999
https://www.hanacenter.org/
Hana Center’s mission is to empower Korean American, immigrant, and multi-ethnic youth communities through a continuum of social services, education, culture, and community organizing to advance human rights and justice for all. Its coordinated Community Wellness and Workforce Empowerment programs support survivors of sexual / gender-based violence through crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, case management, legal referrals, financial capacity-building, know your rights training, and job readiness / employment services. Services are available in English, Korean and Spanish.
Howard Brown Health 4025 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 388-1600
https://howardbrown.org/
Howard Brown provides refuge for survivors of domestic violence. These services address the unique issues LGBTQ survivors face. The program also provides prevention services and community education. The Violence Recovery Project (VRP) offers individual and group counseling, plus comprehensive services to survivors and victims of domestic or intimate partner violence. Participants can be open about their sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexuality and begin to heal from emotional financial, sexual and physical abuse in a safe, affirming setting.
KAN-WIN P.O. Box 25644, Chicago IL 60625 (location is confidential)
24-Hour Hotline: (773) 583-0880
(773) 583.1392 (Chicago Office)
(847) 299.1393 (Park Ridge IL Office)
http://www.kanwin.org/whoweare/
KAN-WIN’S mission is to eradicate all forms of violence against women, including domestic violence and sexual assault, by empowering Asian American survivors and engaging the community through culturally competent services, community education and outreach, and advocacy.
KAN-WIN provides direct crisis intervention and on-going legal advocacy services. It offers support groups for survivors as well as counseling to resolve issues caused by traumatic experiences. It provides opportunities for group activities, and has a creative and artistic storytelling project. Services for children provide a culturally sensitive and safe space to address their experiences of violence. Services are in Korean, English, Chinese and many other languages with access to interpretation.
Life Span
Legal Assistance: 312-408-1210
Counseling: 847-824-0382
Please contact the office during business hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for information on how you can access Life Span services:
http://life-span.org/
Life Span provides comprehensive services for women and children, enabling them to live without violence, build upon their strengths and become self-sufficient. It provides victims of domestic violence and sexual assault a range of options, including legal services, advocacy, counseling, and immigrant services. The Immigrant Battered Women’s Project includes services related to legal residency via battered spouse waivers, U visas, or the Violence Against Women Act. It offers adult counseling and support groups, as well as teen and child counseling.
Mujeres Latinas en Acción 2124 West 21st Place, Chicago, IL 60608
Chicago office: (773) 890-7676
North Riverside office: 708-442-1299
24 hour domestic violence crisis hotline: (312) 738-5358
http://www.mujereslatinasenaccion.org/
Mujeres’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs provide support for adult survivors of sexual violence at many stages in their recovery. Staff members also work with parents of children who have been sexually abused, as well as partners, or adult family members of survivors. The Sexual Assault Program offers counseling, both individual and group, as well as medical and legal advocacy. It also provides assistance in applying for U-Visa, and self-petition for legal residency via the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
All services are provided in either English or Spanish except counseling groups that are conducted in Spanish
Pillars Community Health 6918 W. Windsor Ave., Berwyn, IL 60402
Office: (708) 745-5277
Domestic Violence Confidential Hotline: (708) 485-5254
Sexual Assault Hotline: (708) 482-9600
https://pillarscommunity.org/
Pillars’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs provide a domestic violence shelter, and services related to crisis intervention, individual, family, and group counseling, medical and legal advocacy, and links to ongoing support services such as financial assistance and housing programs. Services are multicultural and multilingual (English, Spanish, and Arabic). All services are available to both residential and non-residential adults and children at no cost. However, after 10 free counseling sessions adults are asked to pay a fee on a sliding scale based on income. Children continue to receive free services.
Resilience, formerly Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60601
Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline: (888) 293-2080485-5254
Central Office: (312) 443-9603
https://www.ourresilience.org/
Resilience has various satellite offices on the north and westside of the city, is partnering with the YWCA RISE Children’s Center, and a number of hospitals in different parts of the city. For obtaining more information, please call the central office. Here are the addresses of the satellite offices:
Austin Community Office (773)-287-6057
4909 W. Division St., Chicago
Northside Office (773) 275-8340
1945 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago
Resilience is dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group trauma therapy, and medical and legal advocacy in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. It partners with local hospitals and organizations to deliver services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Resilience provides therapy for survivors of all ages. Services include individual therapy (available in English and Spanish) as well as group, family, and couples therapy. It also provides many workshops that practice different trauma-informed mind-body healing modes, or that involve art, poetry, or creative writing (https://www.ourresilience.org/category/therapy/workshops). All services are free of charge. Services are provided in both English and Spanish. Here you can find services offered in Spanish: https://www.ourresilience.org/programs-services/servicios-en-espanol/
YWCA Metro Chicago 1 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60602 (Administrative Office)
(312) 762-6600
YWCA has other locations in Chicago south and west suburbs:
Main Number: (888) 525-9922
https://ywcachicago.org/about/
YWCA Metro Chicago – Parks and Francis Center
6600 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago
(773) 955-3100
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago – Englewood Satellite
641 W. 63rd St., Chicago
(773) 783-1031
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago RISE Center
820 W. Jackson Blvd. Ste. 550, Chicago
(312) 733-2102
The YWCA provides assistance to survivors of sexual violence, educates about the effects of violence in our community, and provides general health and wellness through the programs offered by its Sexual Violence Support Services. It offers medical and legal advocacy, as well as confidential individual, family, and group counseling, including art therapy groups. It regularly offers a variety of support groups, with different kinds of topics, or activities at its various service locations. For finding out about schedules and locations, click on https://ywcachicago.org/our-work/sexual-violence-support-services/groups-client- workshops/
Agencies that offer primarily legal assistance:
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) 307 N Michigan Ave., Suite 1818, Chicago. IL 60607
(773) 244-2230 ext. 204
CAASE addresses the culture, institutions, and individuals that perpetrate, profit from, or support sexual exploitation. It advocates for legislative and policy reforms that will increase legal and social accountability for perpetrators of harm, especially sex traffickers, pimps, people who buy sex, and those who commit sexual assault.
It provides free legal services for survivors of sexual assault, rape, or sex trafficking.
Legal Assistance Foundation (LAF) 120 S. LaSalle St., Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60603
LAF: (312) 341-1070 http://www.lafchicago.org/
LAF provides a number of free legal services to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. It makes equal justice a reality for many of the most vulnerable members of our community, including victims of human trafficking, and of domestic battery or violence, sexual assault, extreme mental cruelty, or a number of other crimes that are included in the U- or T -visa laws, and in the Violence Against Women Act.
Metropolitan Family Services / Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services
One North Dearborn, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60602
Intake Line: (312) 986-4200
MFS is part of the Victim Legal Assistance Network (VLAN), a free-to-use, integrated system for victims of violent crimes such as sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, and stalking. The Human Trafficking Initiative is the collaboration of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services (LAS), volunteer law firms and community groups to provide free legal services to survivors of human trafficking who face legal problems stemming from their exploitation.
MFS provides Domestic Violence Clinical Services for survivors of partner abuse and their children, and for teens and children who have witnessed domestic violence. It provides safety planning, individual and group counseling, case management, information and referrals.
These are the phone numbers of MFS centers that provide domestic violence services:
Calumet Center (South/Southwest Side) 773-371-3642
Midway Center (Southwest Side) 773-884-3310
North Center (Northwest Side) 773-371-3700
Mil Mujeres Legal Services 310 S. Peoria St. Suite 305,Chicago, IL 60607
Chicago Office: (312) 219-2031
Toll-free:1-888-441-1189
Mil Mujeres provides immigration legal services to the low-income individuals in the Latino community. The organization specializes on immigration benefits for survivors of violent crimes in the United States. Although its main focus is on survivors of gender related crimes, and on humanitarian visas such as U visa and VAWA petition, Mil Mujeres also provides services to other survivors.
Languages spoken are English and Spanish
Workers' Centers
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: United Workers Center 9546 S. Ewing Ave, Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 297-3370 http://centrodetrabajadoresunidos.org/
Primary population: immigrant workers
CTU is a grassroots, member-led community organizing group and worker center serving Chicago’s southeast side and south suburbs. CTU strives to build power among immigrant workers and advance systemic change to promote social justice and stabilize low-income immigrants and communities of color. CTU organizes predominantly immigrant workers to fight for workplace rights and advocates for policies to increase standards for immigrant workers. In 2017, CTU-IWP partnered with Healing to Action to build its organizational capacity to address gender-based violence experienced by its members.
Chicago Community and Workers Rights 2801 S. Hamlin Ave., Chicago, IL 60623
(773) 653-3664 https://chicagoworkersrights.org/
Primary population: All workers
All workers fighting for labor rights and just living conditions Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights believes that all people should have access to dignified well-paid work regardless of their identity, immigration status, abilities, age or where they come from. Its areas of work are: Education and empowerment, for workers by workers; emergency support for workers’ in crisis; and self-determination of workers. It carries out Community Defenders training, which are workshops that teach the tools available for workers to fight for their rights and employs the workers’ own experiences to learn from each other how to organize more effectively in their workplaces. One of their workshops addresses how workers can defend themselves against discrimination and sexual assault at their workplace.
Chicago Workers Collaborative 37 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 847-5185 http://www.chicagoworkerscollaborative.org/
Primary population: Temp Workers CWC promotes the creation of stable, living wage jobs with racial and gender equity for temporary staffing workers in the Chicago region through leadership development, public policy advocacy, direct action and community accountability. The Working Women's Committee is fighting for ending violence against women, in the workplace and in our communities. It therefore promotes strategic partnerships across sectors, especially between workers’ centers and gender violence organizations. Its Workers Resistance Theater facilitates an understanding of the root causes of workplace injustices, racial inequality and gender violence.
Latino Union of Chicago 4811 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60625
(312) 491-9044
Primary population: Day laborers and household workers.
Latino Union envisions power for low-wage immigrant and US-born workers, and dignified, respectful work and lives. Latino Union works to defend the rights and dignity of contingent workers, including the right to immigrate, work, live free of oppression and violence, and provide for oneself and one's family. It invites workers to share stories about sexual and gender-based violence, and provides related meetings or workshops, as well as informational material regarding resources for survivors.
Warehouse Workers for Justice 1 Doris Ave., Joliet, IL 60433
(815) 722-5003 WWJ Women’s Committee, wwjwc@warehouseworker.org
http://www.warehouseworker.org
Primary population: Temp and warehouse workers Warehouse Workers for Justice is a worker center fighting for stable, living-wage jobs in warehouses and distribution centers. WWJ has fought for and won justice on behalf of many victims of sexual harassment and gender-based violence