🛑 If you are in immediate danger, call 911 now. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. If you need urgent local help finding shelter, food, safety, or basic services, call 211. This page is not emergency response. 🛑
Crisis & Safety Help
Start here if you or someone you care about may be unsafe, overwhelmed, in crisis, fleeing violence, or unsure where to turn.
This page is designed to help you sort the first step. Some situations require immediate emergency response. Some require a crisis hotline. Some require shelter, safety planning, mental health support, domestic violence help, youth crisis support, or local navigation through 211. The goal is to make the next move clearer when everything feels urgent.
QUICK CRISIS LINKS
Crisis Need
Emergency danger
Mental health crisis
Local urgent help
Local mental health crisis
Domestic violence
Domestic violence shelter
Domestic violence / shelter
Youth crisis shelter
Resource directory
The City of St. Louis domestic violence resource page lists ALIVE, Saint Martha’s, and The Women’s Safe House with crisis hotlines and shelter-related support. (stlouis-mo.gov)
Start Here First
Choose the situation closest to what is happening right now.
Immediate Danger
If someone is in immediate danger, violence is happening now, someone needs emergency medical help, or there is an active threat, call 911.
Mental Health Crisis
If someone may hurt themselves, is thinking about suicide, is in emotional crisis, or needs immediate crisis counseling, call or text 988. For local Eastern Missouri support, Behavioral Health Response also provides crisis support. (Behavioral Health Response)
Not Sure / Need Local Routing
If you need help but are not sure whether the issue is shelter, food, safety, mental health, family support, transportation, or another basic need, call 211. 211 is a strong first route for local referrals. (United Way of Greater St. Louis)
Start Here STL describes itself as a St. Louis area resource directory with agency, shelter, employment, food pantry, and other listings. (START HERE)
What This Page Helps With
Use this page if you are dealing with immediate safety concerns, domestic violence, sexual violence, mental health crisis, suicidal thoughts, family crisis, youth crisis, unsafe housing conditions, emergency shelter needs, or a situation where you do not know which system to call first.
This page does not replace emergency services, professional medical advice, legal advice, or crisis intervention. It is a guide to help people find the right first door
Common Crisis & Safety Situations
Open the situation that sounds closest to yours. These are not legal or medical instructions. They are starting points.
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Call 911 immediately. Leave the area if you can do so safely. Do not wait on a campaign form, email, or website page if there is immediate danger.
Call 911 — tel:911
Call 211 — tel:211
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Call or text 988 now. You can also call Behavioral Health Response for local crisis counseling in Eastern Missouri. BHR lists 988 and a local crisis number, 314-819-8811. (Behavioral Health Response)
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Call a domestic violence hotline before taking steps that could increase danger. ALIVE, Saint Martha’s, and The Women’s Safe House are listed by the City of St. Louis as domestic violence support resources with hotline and shelter-related services. (stlouis-mo.gov)
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If there is immediate danger, call 911. If the issue is a child/youth emergency, shelter, safety, or family crisis, start with 211 and youth crisis organizations. Annie Malone is listed in crisis resource directories as providing a safe 24-hour environment for children birth to 18. (Don't Call The Police)
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Call 211 first for emergency shelter routing. Start Here STL notes that many emergency shelters require admission through St. Patrick Center Welcome Center, and it lists emergency intake contact options. (START HERE)
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Start with 211, Start Here STL, or the campaign’s request-help form. If the issue is not an emergency, the District Repair Office can help identify the right starting point.
LOCAL CRISIS & SAFETY ANCHORS
These organizations and directories can help with crisis support, safety planning, shelter, domestic violence, youth crisis, mental health, and emergency local routing.
314Oasis
Best for: community recovery, trauma-informed support, and resilience-related organizing.
Redeeming Love Outreach Ministries
Best for: faith-based outreach, crisis support, and local connection.
Freedom Community Center STL
Best for: community organizing, education, and justice-centered support.
Saint Martha’s
Best for: domestic violence shelter and safety support.
City Domestic Violence Resource Page
The City of St. Louis lists Saint Martha’s with a 24/7 emergency hotline, shelter, drop-in center, advocacy, and community education. (stlouis-mo.gov)St. Patrick Center
Best for: emergency shelter intake, homelessness support, and housing navigation.
United Way 211
Best for: urgent local referrals across shelter, food, utilities, crisis support, mental health, and basic needs.
Start Here STL
Best for: searching multiple St. Louis resource categories when you are not sure where to begin.
The Women’s Safe House
Best for: domestic violence crisis hotline, emergency services, advocacy, and shelter.
The Women’s Safe House lists a 314-772-4535 crisis hotline and describes emergency services, education, and advocacy for women and families fleeing domestic and sexual abuse. (The Women's Safe House)
ALIVE
Best for: domestic violence support, emergency shelter/sanctuary, counseling, and safety support.
ALIVE describes its Nights of Safety program as temporary emergency shelter and transportation available 24/7/365 for domestic violence victims. (alivestl.org)Safe Connections
Best for: domestic and sexual violence crisis intervention, therapy, and prevention education.
Safe Connections states that it works to prevent and end domestic and sexual violence in St. Louis through prevention education, crisis intervention, therapy, and support services. (Safe Connections)
Behavioral Health Response
Best for: mental health crisis support and local crisis counseling.
What to Gather If It Is Safe
🛑 Only gather documents if it is safe to do so. Do not delay leaving danger to collect paperwork. 🛑
Safety Note
If gathering documents would put you at risk, leave first and call for help.
Checklist
ID or driver’s license
phone charger
medications
important phone numbers
children’s documents
protection order or court papers, if any
lease, eviction notice, utility shutoff notice, or shelter paperwork
photos of damage or unsafe conditions, if relevant
medical documents, if relevant
agency letters or denial notices
safe contact method
trusted person’s phone number
🛑Safety First🛑
If someone monitors your phone, email, browser history, location, or messages, use a safer device if possible. Consider using a trusted person’s phone, a public computer, or calling a hotline directly. Do not fill out a campaign form if that could put you in danger.
Related Help Pages
Legal Help & Documents
Civil legal aid, protective documents, ID, court papers
Transportation Help
Getting to shelter, clinics, court, or appointments
Access Federal Resources
Social Security, Medicare, VA, IRS, FEMA, USCIS, etc.
Mental Health & Substance Use Help
Crisis support, counseling, recovery, emotional distress
Housing & Shelter Help
Shelter, homelessness, unsafe housing, housing instability
Food & Family Basics Help
Food, diapers, basic needs, household support