Find alternatives to calling the Boston Police Department or 911.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
These resources may be obligated to call police in the case of an immediate risk of harm to the caller or another, child abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement or involve them beyond what is required by law, we acknowledge that in the listing.
These resources are not intended to cover all situations, only to provide the services described. If you are in danger of immediate harm and feel safe doing so, call 911.
Housing
- Bridge Over Troubled Waters
- Bridge is Boston’s foremost agency providing life-changing services for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. Serving youth ages 14-24. Oversees the Boston Safe Place Network.
- (617) 423-9575 (9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday)
- Text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357) to connect with a Safe Place counselor (youth under 18, 24/7)
- https://www.bridgeotw.org/
LGBTQ+
- The Network/LaRed
- A survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, SM, polyamorous, and queer communities. The Network/La Red’s 24-hour hotline provides confidential emotional support, information, referrals, safety planning, and crisis intervention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and/or transgender (LGBQ/T) folks, as well as folks in SM/kink and polyamorous communities who are being abused or have been abused by a partner. We also offer information and support to friends, family, or co-workers on the issue of domestic violence in LGBQ/T communities.
- (617) 423-7233
- Toll Free: 1 (800) 832-1901
- http://tnlr.org/en/
Mental Health
- Samaritans Statewide Helpline
- 24/7 free, confidential mental health hotline. Volunteer counselors available to speak with callers and address concerns. Available in 240 languages.
- 1 (877) 870-4673
- https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
- (617) 492-8306 (24/7 Crisis Hotline)
- Toll free: 1 (800) 841-8371
- https://barcc.org/
- Our Deaf Survivors Center
- National Deaf Hotline: 1 (855) 812-1001
- Rosie’s Place
- Rosie’s Place was founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in the United States. Provides emergency shelter and other services. Trans inclusive.
- (617) 318.0296 (Advocates line), answered 7:30 a.m – 7:30 p.m., Mon-Fri.
- https://www.rosiesplace.org/
- SafeLink MA
- 24/7 Statewide Crisis Hotline hosted through Casa Myrna, Boston’s largest provider of shelter and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence, providing safety, resources, advocacy and information since 1977. All resources are free.
- 1 (877) 785-2020
- TTY: 1 (877) 521-2601
- https://casamyrna.org/
- Saheli Boston
- Provides personalized, culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed support to South Asian survivors of domestic violence and their families.
- 1 (866) 472-4354 (Bilingual helpline)
- https://saheliboston.org/services/domestic-violence-intervention-and-prevention/
- The Network/LaRed
- A survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, SM, polyamorous, and queer communities. The Network/La Red’s 24-hour hotline provides confidential emotional support, information, referrals, safety planning, and crisis intervention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and/or transgender (LGBQ/T) folks, as well as folks in SM/kink and polyamorous communities who are being abused or have been abused by a partner. We also offer information and support to friends, family, or co-workers on the issue of domestic violence in LGBQ/T communities.
- (617) 423-7233
- Toll Free: 1 (800) 832-1901
- http://tnlr.org/en/
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- Bridge Over Troubled Waters
- Bridge is Boston’s foremost agency providing life-changing services for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. Serving youth ages 14-24. Oversees the Boston Safe Place Network.
- (617) 423-9575 (9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday)
- Text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357) to connect with a Safe Place counselor (youth under 18, 24/7)
- https://www.bridgeotw.org/
Elders
- MA Elder Abuse Hotline
- 1 (800) 922-2275
Crime
Coming soon.
Substances
- Access, Harm Reduction, Overdose Prevention and Education (AHOPE)
- A harm reduction and needle exchange site for active users with a walk-in center at 774 Albany Street, Boston and mobile van and outreach sites around the city.
- (617) 534-3976
- https://www.boston.gov/departments/recovery-services/services-active-users
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Boston Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.