Iowa Support Resources
Statewide and national support services for people in Iowa seeking crisis help, safety planning, housing, legal support, recovery resources, and survivor-centered care.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are in emotional distress, experiencing a mental health crisis, struggling with substance use, or thinking about suicide, call or text 988. For local service referrals including shelter, food, housing, and crisis resources, dial 211.
You do not need perfect words to ask for help. Start with 911, 988, 211, or one of the resources below.
Domestic Violence
- Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Statewide coalition focused on domestic violence prevention, survivor advocacy, safety planning, public policy, and community education.
https://www.icadv.org/ - ICADV Get Help / Program Directory
Find domestic violence programs, advocacy support, shelter connections, and survivor-centered services across Iowa.
https://www.icadv.org/get-help/ - Iowa Victim Service Call Center
24/7 support for victims and survivors, including domestic violence, sexual assault, homicide, human trafficking, and other violent crime.
Call: 1-800-770-1650
Text: IOWAHELP to 20121 - National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential support, safety planning, and crisis help.
Call: 1-800-799-7233
Text: START to 88788
https://www.thehotline.org/ - StrongHearts Native Helpline
Support for Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence.
Call or text: 1-844-762-8483
https://strongheartshelpline.org/ - Love Is Respect
Support for teen dating abuse and unhealthy relationship dynamics.
Call: 1-866-331-9474
Text: LOVEIS to 22522
https://www.loveisrespect.org/ - Domestic Violence Help for Men
Male survivors can contact Iowa victim service programs, 211 Iowa, ICADV programs, the Iowa Victim Service Call Center, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline for referrals and support.
Mental Health / Crisis
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
National crisis support for mental health, suicide prevention, substance use crisis, and emotional distress.
Call or text: 988
https://988lifeline.org/ - Your Life Iowa
24/7 support for mental health, substance use, problem gambling, suicidal thoughts, and emotional crisis.
Call: 855-581-8111
Text: 855-895-8398
https://yourlifeiowa.org/ - Iowa Department of Health and Human Services – Behavioral Health
State mental health, crisis, disability, substance use, and behavioral health services.
https://hhs.iowa.gov/ - NAMI Iowa
Mental health education, advocacy, family support, peer support, and local affiliate connections.
https://namiiowa.org/ - SAMHSA Find Support
National mental health and substance use support information.
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support - FindSupport.gov
Federal support resource directory for mental health, substance use, and crisis needs.
https://www.findsupport.gov/
Addiction / Substance Use
- Your Life Iowa – Substance Use Support
24/7 support and referrals for alcohol, drugs, gambling, mental health, and crisis needs.
Call: 855-581-8111
Text: 855-895-8398
https://yourlifeiowa.org/ - Iowa Department of Health and Human Services – Behavioral Health
State behavioral health and substance use services, program information, and treatment support.
https://hhs.iowa.gov/ - FindTreatment.gov
Search for addiction treatment, mental health treatment, detox, outpatient care, inpatient care, and recovery programs by location.
https://findtreatment.gov/ - SAMHSA Find Help
National treatment referral and support resources for substance use and mental health needs.
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help - 211 Iowa
Search detox programs, counseling, recovery programs, addiction treatment services, housing help, food, and local support referrals.
Dial: 211
https://www.211iowa.org/
Homelessness / Shelter / Housing
- 211 Iowa
Search for shelter, housing assistance, food, utility assistance, transportation, crisis resources, and other local services.
Dial: 211
https://www.211iowa.org/ - Iowa Finance Authority
State housing programs, rental assistance information, affordable housing resources, homelessness support, and homebuyer programs.
https://www.iowafinance.com/ - HUD Iowa
Federal housing resources, rental help, homelessness assistance direction, fair housing support, and local HUD contacts for Iowa.
https://www.hud.gov/states/iowa - FindHelp Iowa
Search local shelter, housing, food, transportation, financial assistance, and social service programs by ZIP code.
https://www.findhelp.org/ - Adult Men’s Shelter and Emergency Housing
Use 211 Iowa, FindHelp, HUD Iowa, Iowa Finance Authority, or local county/city service offices to locate emergency shelters, transitional housing, and housing support. - Family Shelter and Housing Support
Use 211 Iowa, Iowa Finance Authority, HUD Iowa, and local community agencies to locate family shelter, rental help, and emergency housing support.
Legal Help / Protective Orders / Family Law
- Iowa Legal Aid
Free civil legal help for eligible Iowa residents, including family law, housing, consumer issues, public benefits, and domestic violence-related legal needs.
https://www.iowalegalaid.org/ - Iowa Courts Self-Help / Representing Yourself
Legal forms and self-help guidance for protective orders, custody, divorce, family law, housing, and civil court needs.
https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/ - Iowa Courts – Domestic Abuse and Protective Orders
Court information and forms related to protective orders and domestic abuse cases.
https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/domestic-abuse - Iowa State Bar Association
Information for finding legal help, lawyer referrals, and private attorneys in Iowa.
https://www.iowabar.org/ - Iowa Legal Aid Resource Center
Legal information and self-help resources for Iowa residents.
https://www.iowalegalaid.org/resource-center
Victim Rights / Crime Victim Support
- Iowa Attorney General – Crime Victim Assistance Division
Victim services, compensation information, advocacy resources, victim rights, and support for people impacted by crime.
https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims - Iowa Crime Victim Compensation Program
Financial help for eligible victims of violent crime and certain crime-related expenses.
https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/victim-compensation - Iowa Victim Service Call Center
24/7 confidential support and referrals for victims and survivors of crime.
Call: 1-800-770-1650
Text: IOWAHELP to 20121 - Victim Connect Resource Center
National referral helpline for victims of crime.
Call: 1-855-484-2846
https://victimconnect.org/ - Office for Victims of Crime – Iowa Help in Your State
Federal victim assistance resource page for Iowa, including victim support links and national assistance tools.
https://ovc.ojp.gov/help-for-victims/help-in-your-state/iowa
Sexual Assault Support
- Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Statewide sexual assault advocacy, prevention, training, public policy, and survivor support resources.
https://www.iowacasa.org/ - IowaCASA Get Help / Program Directory
Find local sexual assault programs, rape crisis centers, advocacy services, and survivor support in Iowa.
https://www.iowacasa.org/get-help - Iowa Victim Service Call Center
24/7 support and referrals for sexual assault survivors and other victims of crime.
Call: 1-800-770-1650
Text: IOWAHELP to 20121 - RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
24/7 confidential sexual assault support and online chat.
Call: 1-800-656-4673
https://www.rainn.org/ - StrongHearts Native Helpline
Support for Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence.
Call or text: 1-844-762-8483
https://strongheartshelpline.org/
County / Local / City Support
Use these tools to find help near you in Iowa. Local services can vary by county, city, ZIP code, funding, availability, and eligibility, because apparently getting help requires a scavenger hunt with paperwork now.
- 211 Iowa
Search for local shelter, food, housing, transportation, mental health, domestic violence, legal, and crisis services.
Dial: 211
https://www.211iowa.org/ - FindHelp
Search for local programs by ZIP code.
https://www.findhelp.org/ - FindTreatment.gov
Search addiction and mental health treatment by location.
https://findtreatment.gov/ - ICADV Get Help
Find domestic violence programs, shelter connections, and survivor advocacy across Iowa.
https://www.icadv.org/get-help/ - IowaCASA Get Help
Find sexual assault support, local advocacy programs, and rape crisis resources across Iowa.
https://www.iowacasa.org/get-help - HUD Iowa
Federal housing and homelessness support information for Iowa.
https://www.hud.gov/states/iowa
Special Populations
- Male Survivors
Male survivors can use Iowa victim service programs, 211 Iowa, RAINN, 1in6, the Iowa Victim Service Call Center, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support and referrals. - Teen Dating Abuse
Love Is Respect provides support for young people experiencing dating abuse or unhealthy relationship dynamics.
https://www.loveisrespect.org/ - Native Survivors
StrongHearts Native Helpline supports Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence.
Call or text: 1-844-762-8483
https://strongheartshelpline.org/ - Veterans Crisis Line
Support for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and loved ones.
Call 988, then press 1
Text: 838255
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ - LGBTQ+ Youth Support – The Trevor Project
Crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people.
Call: 1-866-488-7386
Text: START to 678678
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Quick Reminder
If you are scared, unsafe, struggling with addiction, facing homelessness, or thinking about suicide, start with 911, 988, 211, Your Life Iowa, the Iowa Victim Service Call Center, or one of the resources above. You do not need to explain everything perfectly. You just need a place to begin.