Resources

Police & RCMP can help victims of DIPV in a number of ways, both in emergency and non-emergency situations. Find police services near you using these lists of Municipal and Regional Police Forces and RCMP detachments in NB.

Victim Services are available to all victims of crime in NB. Find the office nearest to you here.

PLEIS-NB provides in-depth information about the law, including abuse and violence and family law, through their many resources. The toll-free Family Law Information Line at 1-888-236-2444 is available if you have questions.

The New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission provides legal assistance to low-income individuals for certain family and criminal matters. Find the office nearest to you here.

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program is for victims of sexual or domestic violence looking for support and a possible forensic examination. There are twelve designated hospitals offering this service across NB. To receive services, please go to the Emergency Department at one of these locations and ask to see the SANE nurse. You may also see the SANE program referred to as the Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) program.

Community-based sexual violence services are available for survivors of sexual violence in various regions of the province. For more information, please call 211.

Child Protection provides protection to any child under age 19. Any person with information causing them to suspect that a child has been abandoned, deserted, physically or emotionally neglected, physically or sexually ill-treated or otherwise abused must inform Child Protection of the situation without delay by calling 1-833-SDDSTel (1-833-733-7835) or After Hours Emergency Social Services at 1-800-442-9799.

Adult Protection provides services to seniors and adults with disabilities who are victims of abuse or neglect. Referrals can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling the closest Social Development Regional Office.

Income Assistance provides people in financial need with assistance to meet their basic needs. You can find more information on eligibility, how to apply, and contacts here.

NB Housing is who you should call if you want to be added to the waitlist for subsidized housing. You can let them know that you are a victim of DIPV. To reach NB Housing, call 1-833-733-7835.

The New Brunswick Housing Corporation provides information on housing-related programs and supports. Call 1-833-355-3262 or email assistance@gnb.ca to speak to a housing navigator for help with general information on housing and housing programs, access to available housing services and support, and meeting basic needs and overcoming challenges related to housing.

You can also ask your local DIPV services for information on housing programs and benefits or how to access possible financial support for leaving and start-up costs.

The New Brunswick Multicultural Council (NBMC) IMvisible project provides many resources in multiple different languages for non-status, refugee, and immigrant women, international women students, and temporary women workers who have experienced DIPV. The 'Personal Journey' document aims to provide clear direction for accessing support services in NB. Additionally, NBMC has many other programs for newcomers, as well as 20 member organizations that provide settlement services across NB.

For resources for Indigenous Peoples, please see our “Indigenous Women” page.

An Emergency Intervention Order (EIO) is a temporary protection order for cases of DIPV where the situation is serious enough to require an immediate response. An EIO can include any number of conditions (as examples, granting the victim sole occupation of the family residence or sole custody of the children) that are in effect for a short time period, to allow a victim to make more long-term plans. Applications for EIOs must be made with the help of a designated Service Provider or Assister. You can find more information about EIOs and how to apply here.

Protective Orders include EIOs, however there are other types of protective orders as well. These include Peace Bonds, Restraining Orders, Emergency Protection Orders (EPO) for couples living on reserve, and No Contact Orders. Protective orders differ based on what area of court they fall under, what they are for, how long they last, who can apply, how to apply, and what happens if someone disobeys them. You can find full information about the different types of protective orders here. When deciding whether or not to apply for a protective order, it is important for you to consider all of the factors, including what the protective order can and cannot do, how the person you’re applying against could react, and your risk level. Your local DIPV services can help you with this. If you decide to apply, you should have a safety plan in place and update it as the situation changes.

Coordinated Community Response (CCR) is an approach where community and government service providers work together as a multi-agency team to develop a common plan for responding to high risk/high danger cases of DIPV. The plan will focus on victimized partners and those connected to them who are also at risk. It will ensure that interventions and services are coordinated, and resources are used in the best way possible. Service providers determine eligibility and make referrals for CCR. For more information, please use the CCR Framework.

A Safety Plan is a helpful tool for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe in cases of DIPV, whether you are still in the relationship, planning to leave, or have left. A safety plan can cover multiple environments (for example, home, work, children’s school or extracurricular activities) and include other people (for example, your children, your pets, others you think could be at risk). A service provider can assess your level of risk, help you create your own unique safety plan, and update it as needed. You can also find resources to help you with safety planning here.

Safe For Pets Too is a province-wide program that shelters the pets of people who are seeking shelter from DIPV. You can apply for the program by meeting with a transition house, second stage, or domestic violence outreach worker, who will help you complete and submit an Intake Form and Waivers Admission package. You can find more information about the program here.

Ending a lease early is something that victims of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or criminal harassment (stalking) in a year-to-year lease or a fixed-term lease can do for their safety or the safety of their children, without the financial impact of breaking a lease agreement. The tenant must provide one full rental month written notice to their landlord, who may request more documentation. A designated service provider can help you. You can find more information here.

The Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence or Sexual Violence Leave allows for individuals who experience domestic, intimate partner or sexual violence to take a workplace leave for up to 10 days used intermittently or continuously, and up to 16 weeks used in one continuous period, of which the first five days would be paid. Reasons for taking the leave can include dealing with safety concerns, seeking medical attention, obtaining support services, relocating temporarily or permanently, and seeking legal or law enforcement assistance. The employee must provide their employer with written notice of the leave, with reference to one or more of the above specific purposes. All documentation or other material received will be kept confidential. You can find more information here.

It’s Your Business: A DIPV Workplace Toolkit is intended to provide employers, unions and employees with information and resources to recognize and respond to situations in which DIPV enters the workplace. You can find more information about the toolkit here.

The iHEAL app helps Canadian women who have experienced abuse from a current or past partner to find personalized ways to stay safe and be well. It is available for devices using iOS or Android and as a web app. It is free, private, and secure. You can find more information about the app here.

Love Shouldn’t Hurt is a provincial campaign that provides information about DIPV and how we can all play a part in putting an end to this serious issue. There is also information about how to stay safe online.

Women’s Equality provides a full list of support services for DIPV in the province and information about DIPV in many languages.

There are additional services, programs, and resources in NB not listed here that may be useful to those who have experienced DIPV. For information or connections to the following, please contact your local DIPV services or call 211.

• Services offered in specific regions of the province

• Services specific to children and youth witnesses or victims of DIPV

• Services to help with food insecurity and other basic needs

• Services for mental health and addictions

• Services for physical health

• Services for helping with employment or education

• Services to assist with daycare or childcare

• Services for individuals with disabilities

• Services for queer, trans, and non-binary individuals

• Services for youth and seniors

There are also a number of helplines that are available if you need immediate support.

• CHIMO Helpline (1-800-667-5005) is a provincial crisis phone line, accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to all residents of New Brunswick.

• The Addiction and Mental Health Helpline (1-866-355-5550) is a 24/7 free provincial helpline for anyone struggling with their mental health or substance use.

• Mobile Crisis Units provide interventions to defuse situations in the community with individuals and families who are experiencing a mental health crisis outside of the usual hours of operations, including evenings and weekends. This service is available through Horizon in five regions and through Vitalité in four regions. For the various phone numbers, please use the links provided.

• Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) is a national service providing 24/7 free, confidential mental health support to young people.

• The 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline is three-digit number for suicide prevention and emotional distress available to everyone in Canada 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Trans Lifeline’s Hotline (877) 330-6366 is a peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning peers.