Text-to-911 is a reliable and safe way to reach emergency services in New York City.

It is beneficial to people who are:

• Deaf
• Hard of hearing
• Have a speech disability
• Not able to safely call 911

You should:

• Only text 911, if you can't call 911
• Never text and drive

Restrictions

Text-to-911 is free and works through short message service (SMS) with cellular carriers but requires a text or data plan.

Text-to-911 is also only available in English and Spanish in the five boroughs.

How to Text

To use Text-to-911 as efficiently as possible you should: 

• Enter 911 in the “to” field without spaces or hyphens
• Let the operator know if you are deaf
• Text the reason for your emergency
• Text your full address with borough and cross streets if available
• Use complete words and sentences, not abbreviations
• Not text 911 in a group chat or send photos, videos, GIFs, or emojis
• Answer all of the operator’s questions. The operator will end the chat when appropriate.

Home+ is a free city-wide program sponsored by the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV).

The Home+ Program helps survivors stay safely in their homes by providing:

• Pendant alarm systems to call for help
• Lock change and repair services for doors and windows
• Grants to help cover expenses to maintain or secure housing
• Housing-related case management
• Safety planning

All Home+ participants are connected to additional support services, like case management and safety planning through contracted community-based organizations.

Contact a Family Justice Center for more information.

The Kings County District Attorney’s Office established a hotline to help sex-crime victims in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish communities report abuse. English, Yiddish and Hebrew languages can be accommodated.

The NYC Hope website provides information and resources for survivors of domestic violence and those seeking to help a victim of domestic violence.

Learn about help available for victims of domestic violence.

The Project Home pilot program will provide intensive, specialized housing search assistance to domestic violence survivors with children living in Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters.

Project Home will help domestic violence survivors find safe, permanent homes and reduce the amount of time spent in shelter.

This program is starting with one hundred families staying in DHS shelters. Families were randomly selected from a pool of eligible households.

Learn more about Project Home.