⚡ Emergency? Call 911  ·  DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233  ·  Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673
Downtown Orlando · Free Women's Safety Resource

You deserve to feel
safe everywhere.

S.H.E. is your free, centralized safety guide for navigating Downtown Orlando. Emergency contacts, safety tips, safe routes, self-defense skills, and local help — all in one place.

If you're being followed

🏃‍♀️
Go somewhere public immediately. A busy store, restaurant, or lit area. Do NOT go home.
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Call someone and stay on the line. Tell them your location and describe who is following you.
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Test it: turn right four times. If they're still behind you, call 911 immediately.
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Find a police officer, security guard, or business staff member and ask them to stay with you.

If someone grabs you

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Yell "FIRE!" loudly — not just "help." People respond faster and it draws more attention.
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Target vulnerable areas: eyes, nose, throat, groin. You don't need to be strong — be decisive.
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Run toward people and light. Your goal is escape, not winning a fight.
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Call 911 as soon as it's safe. Even if nothing "officially" happened, reporting creates a record.
🚶‍♀️
Walking & Transit

Walk with confidence

Keep your head up, walk at a steady pace. Avoid looking lost or distracted.

🎧
Walking & Transit

One earbud only

Keep one ear free so you can hear what's around you and notice threats early.

📍
Walking & Transit

Share your location

Use Google Maps or Find My Friends live location with trusted people.

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Walking & Transit

Plan your route ahead

Know your route before you leave. Identify well-lit streets and busy areas.

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At Night

Stick to lit streets

Choose well-lit routes even if they're longer. Avoid shortcuts through dark alleys.

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At Night

Check your car first

Before getting in at night, glance in back seats. Have keys ready before approaching.

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At Night

Use the buddy system

Travel with a friend when possible. If alone, let someone know your whereabouts.

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Digital Safety

Download a safety app

Apps like bSafe, Noonlight, or Shake2Safety let friends track you in real time.

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Digital Safety

Lock your privacy settings

Keep social media accounts private. Never post your real-time location.

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Social Situations

Never leave your drink

Keep your drink in hand at all events. If you leave it, get a fresh one.

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Social Situations

Verify your rideshare

Check the license plate, car model, AND driver photo before getting in.

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Social Situations

Bystander intervention

If you see someone being harassed: check in, create a distraction, or get help.

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For Teens

Set up a code word

Agree on a secret word with a trusted adult. If you text it, they come get you.

🙅‍♀️
For Teens

Trust your gut — always

If something feels wrong, it probably is. Your instincts are powerful.

💬
For Teens

Talk to a trusted adult

If something happened to you or someone you know, speak up. You're not alone.

Safety Zone Guide

Click any marker on the map for details. Tap a zone card below to zoom in.

✅ Generally Safe

Lake Eola Park (Daytime)

Well-lit, high foot traffic, frequent events. Avoid isolated areas after dark.

✅ Generally Safe

Dr. Phillips Center Area

Event venue with good lighting, security staff, and consistent evening crowds.

✅ Generally Safe

Orange Ave (Daytime)

Main commercial corridor. Active during business hours with shops and pedestrian traffic.

⚠️ Use Caution

Church Street / Bars District

Busy at night but alcohol-related incidents increase. Go with friends, have a plan.

⚠️ Use Caution

Parking Garages After Dark

Poor lighting in many structures. Park near exits, have keys ready, try to use daytime.

🔴 Extra Caution at Night

Isolated Side Streets

Less-trafficked streets behind main corridors have poor lighting and minimal foot traffic.

Self-defense isn't just physical. Awareness, confidence, and preparation are your most powerful tools.

👁️ Situational Awareness Foundation

Always know what's around you. Before entering any space, identify exits, note who's nearby, and trust your instincts if something feels off.

  • Scan your surroundings when entering a new space — exits, lighting, people.
  • Avoid distractions like phones or headphones in unfamiliar areas.
  • Walk confidently — predators target people who appear unaware or distracted.
  • Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, leave immediately.
🗣️ Using Your Voice No Training Needed

Your voice is your first and most powerful weapon. Using it correctly can deter an attacker and attract help.

  • Yell "FIRE!" not "HELP!" — bystanders respond faster to fire.
  • Be loud and direct: "STOP! Get away from me!" — a firm, loud voice signals you're not an easy target.
  • Make noise immediately if grabbed — yelling disrupts the attacker and alerts others.
👊 Basic Escape Techniques Practice Helps

You don't need to be strong — you need to be decisive. Target vulnerable areas and run toward safety.

  • Eyes: Thumb gouge or finger jab — causes temporary blindness.
  • Nose: Palm strike upward — painful and disorienting.
  • Throat: Edge-of-hand chop — causes choking and gasping.
  • Groin: Knee strike or kick — effective regardless of your size.
  • Instep: Stomp hard if grabbed from behind.

Remember: The goal is to escape, not to win. Strike once decisively and run toward people and light.

📱 Safety Technology Easy to Set Up

Use technology as an extra layer of protection before you need it.

  • Share your live location with a trusted friend via Google Maps or Find My.
  • Safety apps: bSafe, Noonlight, and Shake2Safety can alert contacts and call 911.
  • ICE contacts: Set up "In Case of Emergency" contacts in your phone.
  • Charge your phone before going out — a dead battery can leave you vulnerable.
💜
Domestic Violence
Harbor House of Central Florida
Orlando's primary DV shelter with emergency housing, counseling, and legal advocacy. 24/7 crisis line.
📞 Call 407-486-1111
🤍
Sexual Assault
RAINN National Hotline
Free, confidential support 24/7 for survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment.
📞 Call 1-800-656-4673
💬
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Free, 24/7 text-based crisis support. Text anytime for immediate mental health help.
💬 Text 741741
🧠
Mental Health
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, confidential support from trained crisis counselors.
📞 Call or Text 988
⚖️
Legal Help
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida
Free civil legal help for low-income residents, including restraining orders and family law.
📞 Call 1-800-432-0008
🏠
Emergency Shelter
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida
Emergency and transitional shelter options for women and families in crisis.
📞 Call 407-839-7300
🔒 This survey is 100% anonymous. Your responses directly shape our community safety map.
📋

Take Our Community Survey

Tell us about where and when you feel unsafe in Downtown Orlando. Takes under 3 minutes.

Open Survey →

Follow S.H.E.

Stay connected for safety tips, real stories, community updates, and resources.

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Our Mission

S.H.E. — Safety for Her Empowerment — exists because every woman deserves to feel safe wherever she goes. We're a community-led initiative providing free, practical, and accessible safety resources tailored to Downtown Orlando.

From emergency contacts and self-defense skills to safe route mapping and local support organizations, everything on this platform is designed to be immediately useful — no sign-up, no cost, no barriers.

How S.H.E. Works

1
Community Surveys — Women in Downtown Orlando report safety concerns, incidents, and recommendations through our anonymous survey.
2
Data Mapping — We analyze that data to identify safe zones, caution areas, and patterns of concern across the city.
3
Resource Sharing — We connect women with the emergency contacts, local shelters, hotlines, and skills they need — all for free.

Meet the Team

The young women behind S.H.E., working to make Downtown Orlando safer for everyone.

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Kaitlyn Achong
Head of Project Development

Hi, I'm Kaitlyn Achong and I'm our Head of Project Management for our community project, Safety for Her Empowerment, also known as S.H.E. I am in charge of creating and planning ideas on how to improve and spread our mission. Our mission is to expand awareness around Central Florida, specifically in Downtown Orlando in hopes of making the area safer for women and young girls.

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Kashvi Gupta
Head of Analytics

Hi, I'm Kashvi Gupta and I'm our Head of Analytics. I provide insight and information regarding the statistics of harassment, violence, and accessibility of resources towards women. As young girls living and going to school in the Downtown district, we found that over half of women on average experience verbal harassment in some form.

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Mabel Lin
Head of Media

Hi, I'm Mabel Lin and I'm our Head of Media. I manage all of our social media platforms across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and our website. Through our socials and website, our objective is to increase our audience's knowledge on women's safety and how to protect yourself, wherever you live.

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Elena Mchayleh
Research Specialist

Hi, I'm Elena Mchayleh and I'm our Research Specialist. I'm in charge of managing all research aspects of our project. I assist in cumulating research to inform our audience and searching for women's shelters, defense classes, and whichever other tools are provided to assist women in any situation.

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Collette Baum
Community Outreach Specialist

Hi, I'm Collette Baum and I'm our Outreach Specialist. I contact and connect us with prominent figures, such as government officials, community leaders, and specialists. Our goal is to ensure that our data encompasses a diverse range of local residents.

Want to help?

Take the survey, share with friends, or follow us on social media to help S.H.E. reach more women in Orlando.