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Enhancing Housing Security of Domestic Violence Survivors

Enhancing Housing Security of Domestic Violence Survivors. Kris Billhardt Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free kbillhardt@voaor.org. VOA Home Free . Emergency Services. Out-stationed Services. Children’s Services. Housing First and Transitional Services.

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Enhancing Housing Security of Domestic Violence Survivors

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  1. Enhancing Housing Security of Domestic Violence Survivors Kris Billhardt Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free kbillhardt@voaor.org

  2. VOA Home Free Emergency Services Out-stationed Services Children’s Services Housing First and Transitional Services Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  3. Domestic Violence and Homelessness • Families comprise 40% of homeless population and is fastest growing segment • 60% of homeless women have children • Nine of ten homeless mothers been victims of violence, often domestic • 2/3 of homeless women have been assaulted by an adult partner • 38% of all DV survivors become homeless at some point Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  4. The Link Between DV and Housing Insecurity • 22-57% of homeless women identify DV as the main cause of their homelessness • 46% of homeless women report having stayed in an abusive relationship because they had nowhere else to go • Housing insecurity strongly implicated in return to an abuser • Poor women experience DV at higher rates and have fewer resources with which to seek/maintain safe and stable housing • DV has significant effects on many areas of survivors’ lives that can increase risk of poverty and homelessness ( physical & mental health, employment, education, social supports) Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  5. DV and Housing Insecurity • Homelessness is only one end of a continuum of housing problems faced by women experiencing DV • Missed or late payments for rent/utilities • Compromises: selling belongings or skipping food to make payments • Ineligibility for housing services due to credit, landlord, or criminal justice problems • Some families face barriers to using emergency shelters • Racism results in disproportionate number of survivors of color among the homeless Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  6. The Need for Specialized Services • Denials, evictions, ruined credit, lease terminations often based on violence/abuser interference • Survivors experience discrimination based on status as victims • High density/high violence in public housing complexes may place women at continued risk, trigger trauma Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  7. The Need for Specialized Services • Women who move to housing where “the abuser can’t find them” are more likely to be re-assaulted by the most dangerous abusers • Stalking, harassment, on-going violence and threats by the perpetrator may occur even after survivor is housed • When obstacles to affordable housing seem insurmountable, this may mean a return to a dangerous home Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  8. The Need for Specialized Services • More than ½ of domestic violence survivors live in households with children under 12 • 47% of homeless school-aged children and 29% of homeless children under 5 have witnessed domestic violence in their families • Witnessing violence has significant negative impact on development, behavior, education, health, mental health, and increased risk- taking behaviors as adolescents and adults Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  9. SHARE Study: “Effectiveness of a Housing Intervention for Battered Women”Co-PI: Chiquita Rollins, PhDNancy Glass, PhD, MPH, RNMultnomah County, Oregon U49CE000520-01Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  10. SHARE: Study Design • Participants: Women domestic violence victims, age 18-64 • Study begins at “post-crisis” stage of service delivery • Data collected: • Outcomes for women and their children • Cost of domestic violence and cost effectiveness of the housing models • Interviews at 6-month intervals for 18 months, with reimbursement • Qualitative interviews focusing on inter-relationships between housing and victimization • Cost effectiveness study Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  11. SHARE Results: Baseline Preliminary (89 participants) • Almost one-quarter (24.7%) of participants reported it was very unlikely to unlikely that they would be able to pay for housing this month (month of the interview). • An additional 21.5% reported that it was somewhat likely that they would be able to pay for housing. Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  12. SHARE Results: Baseline Preliminary • The vast majority (88.8%) of women reported difficulty in meeting basic needs (e.g. food, transportation, health care visits). • Over one-third (37.2%) of women reported often to sometimes not having enough food to eat. • Almost half (49.4%) of women reported their general health as poor or fair in the past 6 months Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  13. SHARE Results: Risk Factors for Housing Instability Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  14. SHARE Results: Risk of Lethal Violence • Danger Assessment (20 item measure of risk for lethal violence in abusive relationships) • Mean score =11.4 (extreme danger for lethal violence) • Examined the correlation between risk of housing instability and risk of lethal violence • Increased housing instability was significantly associated with increased risk of lethal violence. Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  15. DV/Housing Link Requires An Integrated Approach • Finding and keeping housing is one of the greatest barriers faced by women who leave abusers • Mothers with less stable financial, social, and living situations reported their children to have intervened more during past violent incidents • Women who secure housing reduce their chances of re-victimization, but housing vouchers not paired with special interventions may not be effective • Women linked with advocates during post-crisis period report higher quality of life, more social supports and less re-victimization Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  16. What Can Be Done: DV Providers • In addition to continued focus on immediate safety, incorporate services that respond to survivors’ critical need for housing as part of DV advocacy • Expand ability to provide long-term advocacy involvement with survivors • Identify ways for some staff to provide mobile services • Intervene with landlords to help overcome barriers based on credit or rental history • Develop relationship with local housing authority • Form partnerships with homeless services providers • Be a voice in your community’s Ten-Year Plan Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  17. What Can Be Done: Homeless Service Providers • Form partnerships with your local DV agencies • Screen for and be prepared to address domestic violence • Develop safety planning protocol (for use with victims and in housing facilities) • Incorporate awareness of batterers’ on-going stalking, harassment and assaults into policy and practice • Training for staff that includes strong focus on countering victim-blaming • Link to other community resources vital for safety (law enforcement, civil legal, courts, protection orders) • Screen for and respond to needs of children exposed to batterers Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  18. What Can Be Done – DV and Homeless Service Providers • Cooperative - not competitive!- advocacy for more funding • Advocate for change in federal housing policy (ex. HUD definition of chronic homelessness and “special needs” that limits federal housing support) • Training, training, training! • Partnerships galore • Survivor-driven approaches • Trauma-informed services • Be willing to create new models Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  19. Home Free’s Housing First Program • Eligibility: Immediate DV crisis somewhat stabilized, housing stabilization a primary need, financial resourcefulness compromised by DV/other barriers • Staffed by mobile advocates • Earmarked funds for direct client assistance • 8-12 participants per advocate • Duration of services: Up to two years • Scattered-site model (private market or public housing) Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  20. Advocacy Services Include: • Danger Assessment and ongoing safety planning • Accompaniment to appointments, court hearings • Housing search, job search, job training referrals • Home visits • Rental subsidy and other direct financial assistance • Systems navigation/coordinate with other providers • Advocacy with landlords, Housing Authority • Linkages to civil legal and immigration law services • Direct services to children • Help with budgeting, goal planning • DV and parenting support groups Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  21. Who We Are Serving Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

  22. Early Results 89% Obtained Housing 92% remain in housing Avg. time in housing TD: 13 mo. (range 1 – 30 mo.) Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free

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