Emergency Shelters

Texas law now allows emergency shelters to help minors and any of their children during an emergency. An emergency is defined as immediate danger to the physical health or safety of the minor or the minor's children. The shelter or care given to the minor may not continue after the 15th day without: (1) the minor's permission or (2) if the minor has qualified for specified government sponsored financial assistance and is on the waiting list for housing assistance.

As of July 2005, there is no legal requirement for a minor to have a parent's consent to receive emergency shelter. However, some shelters have their own requirements of whether or not a parent or legal guardian must be involved in the decision for a minor to receive emergency shelter. If a pregnant minor is in the situation of trying to find emergency shelter to leave an abusive home, she can call the toll-free, 24 hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

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