The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) has partnered with the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program to offer complimentary cell phones and air time to domestic violence victims in need for use during emergency situations, as well as to contact critical service providers. Phones will available through the City’s domestic violence advocates at DFSS’ six Community Service Centers beginning Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.

Verizon Wireless will provide the City of Chicago with up to 30 HopeLine phones that will be made available to individuals who cannot afford a phone, or whose phone has been confiscated or destroyed by their abuser. Each phone will come with up to 3,000 airtime minutes.

Phones will be pre-programmed with vital numbers including the City’s Domestic Violence Help Line. In addition, phones may be used by the client to reach important contacts such as an abuse counselor, an employer, landlord, doctor’s office, or child’s school. Last year in Illinois alone, more than 36,000 phones were donated to the program, totaling more than 4.5 million minutes of service and more than $100,000 in cash grants to help survivors of domestic violence across the state.

For confidential domestic violence information and support, call the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line at 1-877-TO-END-DV or 1-877-863-6338 and TTY 1-877-863-6339. For more information about DFSS, call 312-743-0300 or visit www.cityofchicago.org/fss.