Lastly, a “communal model” houses survivors in one building each individual has their own private bedroom (and sometimes bathroom), but living spaces, such as a kitchen and living room, are shared. A “clustered model” houses multiple survivors in one building, with each survivor’s family in their own private unit, typically owned by the local program. A “scattered-site model” secures housing in the community that is rented by the organization or the individual, and the local program pays the rent to the landlord. It is a safe, affordable option that empowers survivors to begin rebuilding their lives and helps them prepare for permanent housing.īecause of the unique safety needs of survivors, many domestic violence programs across the United States have implemented transitional housing services under three distinct models. While emergency shelters address a survivor’s immediate safety needs, transitional housing provides short-term housing with the same supportive services. “Upon receiving the keys to her new home, the survivor was elated and stated, ‘I finally feel free.’” – Ohio Advocate Improving Service Provision to Survivors in Transitional Housing Programs In addition, we work towards a future with more housing options for survivors. Together, we aim to improve policies, identify promising practices, and strengthen collaborations between housing and homelessness providers, domestic violence service providers, and state and territorial domestic violence coalitions so that survivors will receive supportive, confidential services no matter where they seek them. NNEDV and our Consortium partners help to provide training and technical assistance to the domestic violence and homelessness advocacy fields, and we assist in the development of resources that address the intersections of domestic violence, homelessness, and housing. We are a collaborative partner on the National Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium, along with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), Collaborative Solutions, and the National Alliance for Safe Housing (NASH). In recognition of this fact, NNEDV provides in-depth assistance to states and communities working to transform their housing systems. Survivors face barriers to housing that can be exacerbated by housing systems that do not address their specific needs. Our goal is to empower survivors and secure not only permanent housing, but also their independence.” – Puerto Rico Advocate The Importance of Collaboration in Systems Advocacy “, survivors and their children now have the opportunity to settle into a safe environment. You will see quotes from advocates throughout this article that were collected through the 11 th annual Domestic Violence Counts Report. Through our annual Domestic Violence Counts survey and report, we collect stories and statistics about survivors’ experiences, including their access to safe housing. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) is dedicated to addressing these issues and working to enhance the housing options available to survivors. Lack of access to safe, affordable housing creates an additional barrier to safety for survivors. Additionally, victims are limited in the locations and types of housing they can access because of their unique safety and confidentiality needs, and many housing or homelessness assistance programs have barriers that inadvertently exclude victims of violence.

Victims may also face discrimination in accessing or maintaining housing based on the violent or criminal actions of perpetrators. The majority of survivors experience financial abuse, meaning that they have not had access to the family finances, have been prohibited from working, or have had their credit scores destroyed by an abusive partner. More than 90% of homeless women experience severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives, and 63% have been victims of domestic or sexual violence.Īlthough safe housing can provide a pathway to freedom, there are many barriers that prevent survivors from obtaining or maintaining safe and affordable housing. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and their children. The intersection of domestic violence, homelessness, and housing insecurity is undeniable, as lack of safe and affordable housing is often reported as one of the primary barriers survivors of domestic violence face when they choose to leave an abusive partner. The Impact of Safe Housing on Survivors of Domestic Violence

Safe house center