About Delaware Safe Harbor
We built this because searching for help shouldn't feel like a crisis.
Most domestic violence websites lead with alarming statistics, red sirens, and images designed to shock. We understand why — but we also know that for many survivors, that approach makes it harder to take the first step. Safe Harbor was built to feel different.
Why this place exists
Our mission is simple: to be a calm first step for survivors in Sussex County and throughout Delaware. Many people describe the moment of searching for help as terrifying — sirens, statistics, and alarming images everywhere. We built Safe Harbor to feel like the opposite: a quiet walk with someone who believes you, and a clear path to the local people who can help.
Why here
Rehoboth Beach and coastal Sussex are home to one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in the region — a place built, in CAMP Rehoboth's words, with "room for all." Survivors here deserve resources that know this community and affirm exactly who they are. So this page leads with Delaware's own hotlines and advocates, then offers national support as a backup.
What we believe
- Abuse thrives in silence and shame; healing begins with being believed.
- Every person deserves a home that means rest.
- Leaving is a journey, never a single jump.
Who this is for
Survivors of abuse of every gender and orientation — women, men, transgender and nonbinary people — in relationships of every kind. People who aren't sure yet whether what they're living through "counts." And the friends, family, and chosen family who love them.
An open door for LGBTQ+ survivors
Abuse happens in queer relationships at rates as high as — and often higher than — anywhere else, and it is just as wrong. If someone has threatened to out you, told you that no one would believe you, or said that shelters and hotlines "aren't for people like you" — they were lying. Affirming help exists right here in Sussex County, and you will find some of it on this page.
These numbers aren't meant to frighten you. They are proof that the shame insisting you're the only one is lying — and that a whole community of Delaware survivors and advocates has walked this trail before you.
What this site is — and isn't
- This site does not provide crisis counseling or direct services.
- This site does not collect personal information of any kind.
- All hotlines and resources link to external organizations.
- If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
For direct help, please use the resources on our Get Help page. Get Help →
Ready to take a next step?
There's no pressure and no timeline. Whenever you're ready, we're here.