Safety When Preparing to Leave

If you are living with an abusive person, you may decide to leave your residence.  Violence often escalates when abusers believe their partner is leaving the relationship, so plan safely and with care.

1. Open a checking/savings or credit card in your own name.  Make sure the mailing address is for somewhere other than your residence.  Make sure the phone number attached to the account(s) is not your home phone.
2. Get your own post office box.
3. Get a safety deposit box to store valuable belongings.
4. Identify a safe place where you can go – family or friends, distant relative, shelter
5. Identify someone who may be able to lend you money if needed.
6. Keep the crisis line number with you at all time and call if you need to review your safety plan, find out about shelters, or just for support. 
7. Be careful if you are making plans over the phone, and try to use a phone that the abuser can not access and see your call log or telephone bill. 
8. If you do make a call from your home/cell phone, call another number immediately after, so your abuser can’t redial the last number called.
9. Keep change or a calling card with you in case you need to call for help from a pay phone or another phone.
10. Make arrangements for a safe place for your pets.
11. Refer to the checklist of important items to bring with you.
12. If making copies of important documents, do so cautiously.
13. Review your plan again and again prior to leaving.  The crisis line can assist you with this.