Our 24/7 crisis hotline has been live and answering calls from LGBTQ+ survivors of violence, including those in our community affected by HIV, for over 45 years—and it’s partly supported by volunteers like you.
Whether you’re a student, a parent, part of the LGBTQ+ community, a survivor, or ally, we welcome folks from all walks of life. AVP’s hotline volunteers are fierce, dynamic, and just as diverse as the communities we serve.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with AVP’s Hotline. As a volunteer, you’ll have the chance to pursue New York State Department of Health certification as a Rape Crisis Counselor while providing support to survivors. We appreciate you choosing AVP.
Registration is now closed and will reopen on May 27th.
If you would like to participate in the Fall ‘26 training cycles, please fill out the AVP Hotline waitlist. We will contact you as soon as registration for these cycles is live!
Fall 2026: 9/1, 9/3, 9/5, 9/8, 9/10, 9/13, 9/15, 9/17, 9/19, 9/22
Submit this form if you are interested in registering for AVP’s Hotline Volunteer Training Program. All are welcome to register regardless of prior hotline or professional experience. Your answers help us understand where you are entering the work. We can answer any questions you have about AVP in a training intake we will schedule upon receipt of your interest form! This training is free and 40 training hours are required for certification.
Following training, AVP asks for a commitment of two hotline shifts per month, over the course of a year. Volunteer monthly commitment would be one primary and secondary shift per month. More on those distinctions in the next section!
Volunteer shifts take place overnight and on weekends. Each shift is covered by two volunteers: a “primary” and a “secondary” hotline operator. The primary is the first to answer calls, while the secondary supports as needed, including handling call overflow.
Call volume typically ranges from 0 to 4 calls per shift, depending on timing. Our volunteers sleep during overnight shifts and go about their normal routines during daytime shifts. As long as they can step into a quiet space to take a call, volunteers are encouraged to continue with their day.
You will receive 40 hours of training over a one-month period (evenings and weekends) before volunteering. Training is offered two to three times per year, often in fall and spring. We also hold “volunteer huddles” for additional professional development throughout the year.
You sure can! So long as you have reliable cell service + data/Wi-Fi. You will need to be able to log into our web system and receive calls with good cellphone service.
You must be 18 years of age and able to commit to all 40 hours of our hotline training. That is about it!
It’s a fantastic way to show up for the LGBTQ+ community in a deeply meaningful and tangible way. After completing AVP’s hotline training, you can become a certified Rape Crisis Counselor in NYC if that aligns with your personal or professional goals.
Our hotline is built by and for LGBTQ+ communities. At a time when our communities and resources are under attack, having a space that is specifically for us is not optional, it’s essential.
For over 40 years, AVP has been here to make sure LGBTQ+ people can access support that is safe, responsive, and grounded in our realities.
We are committed to language access. Our hotline operates 24/7 in both English and Spanish so more people can reach us when they need support.
We center survivors. Our hotline supports LGBTQ+ people experiencing crisis, whether that harm is interpersonal or systemic. AVP’s anti-violence framework is unique and we don’t limit our work to intimate partner violence. We know our communities navigate multiple, overlapping forms of harm, and our approach reflects that.
This is what shapes how we listen, how we respond, and how we show up.
From a single landline in Chelsea to the largest LGBTQ+ serving anti-violence organization nationwide, OUR hotline is a lifeline for thousands each year, and you can help it thrive.
