A Family Place Innovation

When shelters are at capacity, advocates and support staff often face the difficult task of finding alternative emergency housing or shelter availability within a certain radius for victims and survivors. Many times, these victims face dangerous circumstances and have a limited window to leave their abusive situation.  Without real-time access to bed availability at other programs, the process often means multiple calls, delays, and added stress for both advocates and survivors. For survivors in crisis, every minute matters—and for advocates, time spent searching is time taken away from offering the care, connection, and support survivors need in that moment.

DVBeds offers a better way.

Created by shelter advocates who have experienced these challenges firsthand, DVBeds is a FREE, secure, and easy-to-use tool that gives participating programs real-time visibility into available beds at collaborating shelters—locally and across state lines. Now active in 17 states and expanding, DVBeds streamlines searches, saves staff time, and connects survivors to safety faster—all at no cost to programs.

Where DVBeds Began

DVBeds started in Dallas, Texas in 2019 as a community-led effort to connect survivors in crisis to safe housing quickly during peak demand. Under the leadership of The Family Place and longtime CEO Paige Flink, local programs came together to design a tool that provided real-time visibility into available shelter beds. What began as a regional solution soon showed the potential to transform how shelter information could be shared and used nationwide.

From Pilot to National Program

In 2020, the National Domestic Violence Hotline piloted DVBeds giving The Hotline’s advocates the ability to see shelter availability in real-time and make faster, and more informed and supportive referrals. The pilot confirmed DVBeds’ regional success and its potential to connect survivors to shelter faster in communities nationwide.

In early 2025, The Hotline acquired DVBeds as an official program with the plan to scale it nationally and at no cost to participating programs. Today, it equips advocates with enhanced information to connect survivors to shelter faster—and offers the same visibility, efficiency, and collaborative network to domestic violence programs nationwide.

What DVBeds Provides

• Real-Time Access, Anytime: Daily updates provide the most accurate bed availability, cutting hours of manual outreach and helping programs respond quickly—even in times of disaster and crisis.

• Simple and Secure: A password-protected system is easy for staff to use, safeguarding information while supporting both residential and non-residential partners.

• Survivor-Centered Connections: No personal details are collected; warm transfers reduce retraumatization while ensuring placements fit both survivor needs and shelter resources.

• Stronger Networks & Smarter Data: Shared information builds collaboration across communities and programs, while accurate data supports funding requests and grant reporting.

• Empowered Staff, Faster Support: Staff can offer immediate options instead of turning callers away, boosting morale and ensuring survivors receive help when it matters most.

Join DVBeds  – It’s Both Easy and Free

The Hotline is proud to offer DVBeds free to participating housing and supportive services programs. Getting started—and keeping your information current—is simple and requires minimal effort. We provide the platform, training, and ongoing support so your staff can stay focused on what matters most: helping survivors.

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