Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you have a crisis hotline? When is it staffed?

A: AWS has a toll-free, crisis hotline at 1-877-751-0880. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Q: Whom does AWS serve?

A: AWS programs and services are open to all survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, including to those with disabilities.

Q: How many people can be housed at AWS?

A: AWS's Emergency Shelter can house five households simultaneously, including people of all ages. AWS's Transitional Housing Programs house about 50 families per year.

Q: Do you have to pay rent to stay at the shelter? Is there a time limit?

A: Like all domestic violence emergency shelters, there is no rent for staying at AWS. At AWS, the majority of residents stay from 3 to 5 months.

Q: Do you offer legal or mental health services at the shelter?

A: AWS offers a safe shelter and intensive, one-to-one case management for all residents. Although legal and mental health services are not provided on-site, AWS works with over 20 different community-based organizations to offer a gamut of services, including legal and mental health services.

Q: What are your office hours?

A: Our general office hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. If you have an emergency, you can call the crisis hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q: I don't speak English very well, or at all. Can you still help me?

A: The majority of AWS's clients do not speak fluent English. AWS's bicultural, bilingual staff and our pool of MultiLingual Language advocates (MLAMs) provide support in over 40 different languages and dialects used in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you speak a language that is not spoken by staff or by one of our MLAM Language Advocates, AWS will work with you to find an appropriate interpreter.

Q: Where is your shelter located?

A: AWS is located in San Francisco County. For our residents'and staff's safety, the exact location of the shelter is kept confidential.