Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in the D.C. region can now get free Uber rides to safety through a program operating about 10 miles from the District line in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

The Prince George's County Family Justice Center is the only confirmed site in the Washington area participating in Uber's Hope Rides program, which pairs ride credits with Family Justice Centers so staff can book transportation for clients fleeing dangerous situations or getting to court hearings, counseling and protective order appointments.

The program matters locally. D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, said in an April 28 post on X that domestic violence assaults in the District are increasing even as overall violent crime has dropped significantly. She called the trend "incredibly disturbing and unacceptable."

No Hope Rides site exists inside D.C. proper. Whether District residents can access the Prince George's County center through cross-jurisdictional referrals has not been confirmed.

Hope Rides launched in July 2025 through a partnership between Uber and Alliance for HOPE International. At its one-year mark in late July, the program had logged more than 3,000 rides and 30,000 miles nationwide, according to Uber's newsroom. It has grown from 18 pilot sites to 30 Family Justice Centers across 17 states. Alliance for HOPE International named the Prince George's County center in a July 10 post recognizing participating locations.

"It's one thing to know that a resource is there, but if you can't get to it, what good is it?" said Dr. Denise McCain, director of the Prince George's County Family Justice Center.

Under Hope Rides, center staff use a dashboard to request rides for clients. Survivors do not need the Uber app. Safety features include an option for women to request women drivers, GPS monitoring, an in-app 911 button and privacy protections that hide pickup and drop-off addresses from driver trip history.

The Prince George's County Family Justice Center houses 25 co-located agencies serving survivors. It is located at 14757 Main St., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (301) 780-8008.

D.C. residents seeking immediate help can call the 24-hour DC Victim Hotline at 844-4-HELP-DC (844-443-5732) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.