Atlanta Safe House: Local Resources, Shelters, and Safe Housing Options in Atlanta, GA

If you are searching for an “Atlanta safe house,” you’re likely looking for a safe place to stay, escape harm, or stabilize your housing in or around Atlanta, Georgia. In Atlanta, the phrase “safe house” can mean several different things:

• A domestic violence or family violence shelter
• A youth or trafficking safe house
• An emergency homeless shelter or transitional housing
• A confidential location where people in danger can stay short-term

This guide walks through what “safe house” can mean in Atlanta, who each option is for, and how to reach local agencies that help people find safe, emergency, or supportive housing.

What “Safe House” Usually Means in Atlanta

In everyday Atlanta usage, a safe house is usually:

• A secure, confidential home or facility
• Staffed or overseen by trained professionals
• Designed to protect people at immediate risk of harm, homelessness, or exploitation

Because of safety concerns, exact addresses of safe houses are rarely public. Instead, you typically:

1. Call a hotline or intake line
2. Complete a phone screening or intake
3. Get directions or transportation to a confidential location if space is available

Understanding which type of help fits your situation will make it easier to reach the right Atlanta resource.

If You’re Facing Domestic Violence or Abuse

For many people, “Atlanta safe house” means a protected place to escape domestic or family violence, dating violence, or stalking.

Key Atlanta-area resources for domestic violence safety

1. Safe House Outreach vs. Safe Houses for Abuse Survivors

There is a well-known Atlanta nonprofit called SafeHouse Outreach, but it primarily focuses on homeless services, not specifically domestic violence. If you’re fleeing abuse, you’ll want to contact domestic violence–focused services.

2. Georgia Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline (serves Atlanta)

• Phone (24/7): 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836)
  This line can:
• Connect you to Atlanta-area shelters and safe houses
• Help with safety planning
• Give referrals to legal help, counseling, and support groups

3. Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV) – Atlanta-focused
While exact safe house locations are confidential, PADV is one of the main domestic violence agencies serving metro Atlanta. Through their hotlines and offices, they can help with:

• Connections to emergency shelters / safe houses
• Safety planning if you’re not ready or able to leave immediately
• Referrals for protective orders through Fulton County Superior Court or DeKalb County Superior Court, depending on where you live or where the abuse occurred

➡️ If you are in immediate physical danger, call 911 and, if safe to do so, tell dispatch that you need help due to domestic violence so they can prioritize your safety.

If You’re Experiencing Homelessness in Atlanta

Some people search for “Atlanta safe house” when they’re really looking for a safe place to sleep because they are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or staying in unsafe conditions.

Coordinated entry and emergency shelter in Atlanta

In Atlanta, most homeless services operate through centralized or coordinated entry systems. These are designed to assess people’s needs and connect them to the right level of support.

1. City of Atlanta / Fulton County – Homeless Services

Residents in the City of Atlanta and Fulton County commonly access shelter by:

• Calling a central intake line (varies by provider and can change over time)
• Visiting a walk-in resource or day center downtown or in nearby neighborhoods
• Being connected to emergency shelter, transitional housing, or rapid rehousing programs

Because specific numbers and providers can change, many people start with 2-1-1.

2. United Way of Greater Atlanta – 2-1-1

• Phone: 2-1-1 (from most phones in metro Atlanta)
• Alternate: Often a 10-digit number is also available if 2-1-1 doesn’t connect
  2-1-1 can:
• Look up current shelter availability (including faith-based shelters, family shelters, and women’s shelters)
• Provide information on food, clothing, and crisis counseling
• Give addresses for day centers and intake offices

3. SafeHouse Outreach (Name Often Confused with “Safe House”)

SafeHouse Outreach is a downtown Atlanta nonprofit that:

• Offers supportive services for people experiencing homelessness
• Often operates outreach and day services rather than traditional overnight “safe house” stays

If you’re downtown and need help getting connected to services, organizations like SafeHouse Outreach, Atlanta Mission, and other established nonprofits can be entry points, even if they are not technically “safe houses.”

Youth, Trafficking, and Exploitation: Safe Housing in Atlanta

Atlanta has been a major hub for youth homelessness and trafficking responses, so some safe houses here are designed specifically to protect minors and young adults.

If you’re a minor or helping a young person

Youth in Atlanta facing family rejection, abuse, trafficking, or dangerous street situations may be able to access:

• Youth shelters (often age-specific, such as 16–21 or 18–24)
• Specialized trafficking safe houses
• Crisis drop-in centers

Key general steps in Atlanta:

1. Call 2-1-1 and say you’re seeking youth shelter or youth safe house options.
2. If trafficking or exploitation is involved, ask about trafficking-specific programs and confidential shelters.
3. For immediate safety concerns involving a minor, contact 911 or Georgia’s child abuse reporting hotline if you believe a child is in danger.

Because youth and trafficking safe house locations are often highly confidential, you will typically need to go through a hotline or case manager rather than walking up to a public address.

What to Expect When You Call for a Safe House in Atlanta

Whether you call a hotline, a nonprofit, or 2-1-1, the process usually follows a similar pattern:

1. Brief intake or screening

You’ll usually be asked:

• Your current location (city or neighborhood)
• Whether you’re in immediate danger
• Whether you have children with you
• Any health, mobility, or accessibility needs
• Basic background (domestic violence, homelessness, youth, trafficking, etc.)

This helps them decide which Atlanta-area safe house, shelter, or service is most appropriate.

2. Checking space and eligibility

Because beds are limited, the person you speak with will:

• Check whether there is space in nearby shelters
• Confirm eligibility rules (for example: women only, families only, single men only, youth only, etc.)
• If a safe house is full, they may refer you to another program in Atlanta or nearby counties

3. Transportation and meeting place

For confidential safe houses, instead of giving you an address, they may:

• Arrange to meet you at a neutral public place (like a police station, hospital, or agency office)
• Provide transportation or coordinate with another agency to get you safely to the location

Public vs. Confidential Locations in Atlanta

To protect guests, true “safe houses” are almost always confidential. But many intake points and public offices in Atlanta are known:

If someone will not provide an address over the phone, that is usually a safety measure, not a red flag.

Government Offices and Legal Steps in Atlanta That Relate to Safe Housing

Sometimes getting to a safe house or staying safe in Atlanta also involves legal protections or government offices.

Protective orders and courts

If your safety issue involves abuse, stalking, or threats, you may be directed to:

• Fulton County Superior Court –
  136 Pryor Street SW
  Atlanta, GA 30303

• DeKalb County Superior Court –
  556 N McDonough Street
  Decatur, GA 30030

These courts handle:

• Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs) in domestic violence and stalking cases
• Some family law matters that affect housing stability

Advocates from organizations like Partnership Against Domestic Violence or other legal aid groups can often help you navigate paperwork and court visits.

Public benefits and housing support

Safe housing sometimes also requires financial or long-term housing support. In Atlanta, you may interact with:

• Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) for benefits such as food assistance or child welfare matters
• Atlanta Housing (the city’s housing authority) for public housing or voucher programs
• Fulton County and DeKalb County offices for certain local assistance programs

Hotline workers or case managers at shelters can help you understand which applications and offices are most relevant to your situation.

Tips for Staying as Safe as Possible While You Seek Help

While this is not medical or legal advice, people in Atlanta looking for a safe house often find these general safety tips useful:

• Use a safe phone if possible.
  If you are in danger from someone in your household, consider using a friend’s phone, a work phone, or a public phone to make calls.

• Clear call history and texts if that’s safe to do.
  On shared devices, someone else might see who you’ve contacted.

• Know your nearest public “safe” spots.
  In Atlanta, many people in crisis go to:

  • A hospital emergency room
  • A police precinct
  • A busy public area like Five Points or Midtown, then call a hotline from there

• Keep important documents where you can reach them quickly.
  If possible, know where your ID, key documents, and medications are, in case you need to leave quickly. If collecting them isn’t safe, your safety comes first.

How to Decide Which Atlanta Resource to Contact First

If you’re not sure where to start, this quick guide may help:

• You’re fleeing abuse by a partner, spouse, or family member:
  → Call Georgia Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836)
  Mention you are in Atlanta and need shelter or a safe house.

• You’re homeless or about to lose housing in Atlanta and need a safe place to stay:
  → Call 2-1-1 and ask about emergency shelter, transitional housing, or safe housing resources.

• You’re a youth or helping a minor in a dangerous situation:
  → Start with 2-1-1 and ask specifically for youth shelter or youth safe house options in or around Atlanta.
  If a child is in immediate danger, contact 911.

• You’re not in immediate danger but need long-term housing help:
  → Ask 2-1-1 or a local nonprofit for case management and housing assistance resources within the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, or DeKalb County.

Finding a true “Atlanta safe house” usually means going through hotlines, coordinated entry, or local nonprofits, rather than walking up to a building with a public sign. By understanding how Atlanta’s system works—confidential shelters, emergency housing, youth programs, and legal supports—you can choose the best next step for your specific situation and get connected to a safer place.