• Violence or threats of violence at home and/or from friends or family members
• Registration in Lower Austria
• Minimum age 18 years
• Valid residence permit
• Admission discussion
• In the case of physical or mental illness, the possibility for admission is clarified in the enquiry and/or initial discussion

Initiating legal proceedings or calling the police are not required for admission to the women’s shelter. In the case of immediate danger, however, you should always contact the police first.

Children under 18 are generally accepted with their mothers. Please inform the staff at the women’s shelter in advance about the number and age of your children.

Pets are not allowed at St. Pölten women’s shelter.

When you move to the women’s shelter, there is no obligation to do so; your protection and safety are the priority.

The fewer people who know about your admission to the women’s shelter, the better your protection. You can clarify who should be informed of your whereabouts with the social worker.

Yes, that is your right, the school or kindergarten will be informed if necessary. In the event of high risk, we advise you and your children against leaving the women’s shelter in the first few days.

Your work-related situation will be discussed after you move in. It can be helpful to inform your employers that you will be away from work for a few days.

It is important to take documents, medicines and personal items with you. Children should bring a few toys, their favourite teddy bear and their school things.

Towels, bed linen and household items can be provided by the women’s shelter. If it isn’t possible to bring everything you need with you, we will help you to get replacements for them. Your documents are the most important thing, but your safety comes first here as well. The women’s shelter is able to provide you with your basic needs.

Each woman is allocated a room for herself and her children. A small bathroom is shared with a maximum of one other female resident. A large bathroom and the kitchen are shared with a maximum of 5 women.

Social work counselling and support is available throughout your stay at the women’s shelter. Topics such as initiating legal proceedings, safety measures, finances, training, work, separation, divorce, contacts with visitors, care, housing… will be covered in the discussion.

The residents are allowed to structure their days independently and decide when and whether they want to leave the house during the day. It is important to notify the responsible social workers and to clarify possible safety risks and protective measures in advance.

Non-residents are not allowed to enter the shelter, but social contact can take place outside it. The protection and safety of all the residents of the women’s shelter must always be taken into consideration, however.

In the women’s shelter, mothers are responsible for the supervising, caring for and providing for their children.

The residents are responsible for looking after themselves and manage their household tasks themselves.

For safety reasons, it is not possible to spend the night elsewhere during your stay at the women’s shelter.

You can stay at the women’s shelter for a maximum of one year. After their personal safety has been restored, many women tend to move out of the shelter within a period of three to six months.

You decide on the duration of your stay.

Residents, their children and staff. All other persons require an express authorisation to enter the women’s shelter.