It is a tragedy that we live in a society where violence against women is all too common. Those seeking to escape abusers have a variety of options, fortunately. The first step is to discreetly contact local law enforcement, who can advise you of your options. Either they or the local welfare agency will be able to refer you to shelter resources in your area. By the same token, contacting law enforcement, social services, and churches in the area where you plan to seek refuge can be fruitful as well. I offer the following contacts for additional study:

Advocates for Battered Women
www.aristotle.net/~abw/abwhist.htm
Assists with shelter, counseling, and support.

Batteredwomen.com
www.batteredwomen.com
A resource to help victims gather information, get help, and realize they are not alone. Includes a state-by-state list of hotlines.

Southern California Coalition for Battered Women
www.sccbw.org
Help for women in California.

Erickson Mediation
www.ericksonmediation.com
Legal and other assistance; many links to other resources.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-7233

Women Against Domestic Violence, Inc.
www.wadv.com
A group of survivors dedicated to stopping domestic violence
through communication and support. This site includes links to a variety of resources.