Unsafe at Home Ottawa is a secure text and online chat service for women and members of LGBTQ2S+ communities in Ottawa and Lanark County who may be living through increased violence and abuse at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our personnel provides emotional support, practical advice and referrals using encrypted technology so conversations are confidential and secure.

We can help you with:

• Talk about how you’re feeling
• Create a safety plan to reduce your risk of harm
• Get you the services you need for support
• Cope with your situation during this period of physical distancing

For many, this challenging period of physical distancing means a rise in intimate partner or family violence and domestic abuse. This might mean verbal abuse, emotional abuse, or physical or sexual violence. So how can you stay safe at home or cope with your situation?

Here are some helpful resources:

• Safety planning during COVID-19 (Sanctuary for Families)
• How to use mindfulness to cope with trauma (Stop Domestic Violence)
• How to practice being mindful (verywellmind)
• Domestic Abusers Can Control Your Devices. Here’s How to Fight Back  (New York Times)

Do you feel alone and unsafe during this period of physical distancing?
Are you dealing with physical, emotional, sexual, or other kinds of abuse at home?

Reach out for help now.

Learn about where you can access support during the pandemic, including telephone support and walk-in services in:

• Ottawa and area
• Lanark County

If you’re in immediate danger, please call 911.

Unsafe at Home Ottawa launched in April 2020 to offer those living with abuse or violence during the COVID-19 pandemic a safe space to reach out for help. This community-based initiative is staffed by experienced, bilingual personnel. We are committed to treating women and members of LGBTQ2S+ communities with compassion and respect for their dignity, privacy and diversity during this difficult time.

Our Partners:

• Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre
• Interval House of Ottawa
• Ottawa Victim Services
• Western Ottawa Resource Centre
• Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women
• Crime Prevention Ottawa
• Lanark Country Victim Services
• Kind Space for offering support for LGBTQ2S+ communities
• Immigrant Women Services Ottawa for providing translation services in 70 different languages.

Special thanks to:

• Ottawa Police Service and all partners for promoting Unsafe at Home Ottawa

If your organization wants to launch a similar safe text+chat in your community, please email info(at)octevaw-cocvff.ca for information and resources.

“The Unsafe at Home Ottawa project has been running since April 14th 2020 and has since supported many survivors of Violence against women and Gender-based violence. The work we do would not be possible without the generous contributions of our donors. We would like to acknowledge the following:”

• United Way East Ontario
• The City of Ottawa
• The Ottawa Community Foundation
• The Donner Canadian Foundation
• Crime Prevention Ottawa
• Canadian Women’s Foundation
• and other generous donors