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Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program

Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program. Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free Kris Billhardt Kbillhardt@voaor.org. Caveats and Disclaimers.

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Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program

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  1. Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free Kris Billhardt Kbillhardt@voaor.org Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  2. Caveats and Disclaimers • Development of new response models does not negate the need for programs that provide immediate safety for DV survivors. • This is not a prescription or a miracle solution; simply our experience of change and its benefits. • Consider our program’s story as to whether or how it may be applicable in your community to add to options available to DV survivors. Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  3. DV in Multnomah County • 28,000 victims; 3/5 have children • Police DV Unit:10,000 reports/year • Over 50% of all reported violent crime • Largest contributing factor to area homicides • Significant factor in 35% of long term child abuse/neglect cases • Over 30,000 crisis calls to DV hotlines • 15,000 DV shelter bednights annually Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  4. Link Between DV and Housing Stability • Poor women experience DV at higher rates and have fewer resources with which to seek/maintain safe and stable housing • 46% of homeless women report having stayed in an abusive relationship because they had nowhere else to go • 38% of all DV survivors become homeless at some point • DV’s effects can dramatically impact the ability to obtain/maintain stable housing, incl. physical and mental health, employment, education, and connection to social supports Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  5. Link Between DV and Housing Stability II • 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 • Ruined credit • Apartment damage • Discrimination based on status as victims Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  6. Link Between DV and Housing Stability III • Obstacles to affordable housing may seem insurmountable; many remain with or return to abuser • High density/high violence in public housing complexes may place women at continued risk • Chronicity of DV results in repeated choice between homelessness and abuse • Denials, evictions, lease terminations based on violence/ abuser interference Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  7. VOA Home Free – History • 1926: VOA est. Mothers and Children’s Home to serve “abandoned” women and children • DV became focal in the 70’s • Family Center/ • Transition House, 1989 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  8. VOA Home Free – History II 1998 – The Beginnings of Change Outreach component added to residential service elements Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  9. Home Free’s Big Change: • October, 2003 • Closed Shelter • Hotline hours reduced to 8AM- 6PM M-F • Expanded motel vouchering • Expanded housing-focused services • Expanded outstationed services and mobile advocacy Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  10. VOA Home Free – Program Design Emergency Services Out-stationed Services Children’s Services Transitional and Housing Services Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  11. Housing First • Stresses immediate return to permanent, neighborhood-based housing, along with 6-12 months of individualized support to ensure retention (Portland Community Standard) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  12. Housing First Research Findings • Homeless individuals more likely to sustain housing when given a permanent home • Vulnerable/at-risk families more responsive to interventions and community supports after in their own housing Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  13. The Case for Housing First with DV Survivors • Finding and keeping housing one of greatest barriers faced by women who leave abusers • Research suggests that women who secure housing reduce chances of revictimization • Women linked with advocates during post-crisis period report higher quality of life, more social supports, and less re-abuse Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  14. VOA Home Free’s Housing First Program • Staffed by 5 mobile advocates • Budget includes $175,000 in direct client assistance funds • Capacity: 80-100 households/yr (8-12 per advocate) in housing program • Duration of services: Up to two years • Scattered-site model (private market or public housing) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  15. Referrals to Home Free Housing Services Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  16. Participant Flow Through Housing Services MILESTONE 1 First contact. Focus: Response to immediate needs. DESTINATION Full life not defined by DV. Financially stable, making own choices, capable self- advocate. MILESTONE 2 Intake. Focus: taking steps on short term plan, housing search. • Eligibility: • Surviving DV/SA • Immediate crisis stabilized. • Housing stabilization a primary need. • Financial resourcefulness compromised by DV/ other barriers MILESTONE 6 Focus: Embedding pattern of financial self sufficiency. Increased sense of personal power and resourcefulness. MILESTONE 3 Housing obtained. Focus: Addressing issues/needs that better ensure retention. MILESTONE 5 Transition to permanency. Focus: Discontinue reliance on subsidy. MILESTONE 4 Active work on long-term goals. Focus: taking increasing responsibility for finances and systems navigation. Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  17. Advocacy Services Include:(You Name it!) • Accompaniment, home visits • Housing search, job search, job training referrals • Danger Assessments and safety planning • Direct financial assistance • Intervention/case coordination with other systems • 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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  18. Who We Are Serving • Average Age of Adults served: 30 Age Range of adults: 17 – 54 • Race/Ethnicity: • 31% white (79.2% in population) • 29% Latino (9% in population) • 28% African-American (5.7% in population) • 9% Native American (1% in population) • 1% Asian (.4% in population) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  19. Who We Are Serving II Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  20. Early Results 89% Obtained Housing 92% remain in housing Avg. time in housing TD: 13 mo. (range 1 – 30 mo.) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  21. A Study of the Effectiveness of a Housing Intervention for Battered Women • A cooperative agreement between Multnomah County Domestic Violence Coordinator’s Office and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • Study Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness, of an existing permanent housing program provided by VOA Home Free in preventing revictimization and reducing negative health outcomes of survivors of IPVand their children. Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  22. Study Design • Participants: Women domestic violence victims, age 18-64, who speak English or Spanish • Study begins at “post-crisis” stage of service delivery • Data collected (baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months): • Outcomes for women and their children • Cost of domestic violence and cost effectiveness of the housing models Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  23. Study Design II • Intervention group: VOA Home Free housing program (housing first plus DV advocacy) • Comparison groups: • VOA Home Free Mobile Advocacy Services (limited or no rent assistance + DV advocacy) • Raphael House of Portland (emergency shelter with DV advocacy) • DHS Self Sufficiency TA-DVS Program (short-term housing assistance + limited DV advocacy) • Portland Impact Safety Net (housing first + limited DV advocacy) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  24. Importance of the Research Project • Current housing research doesn’t consider effectiveness of housing first for DV victims • Current DV research doesn’t consider impact of housing instability on victim’s ability to stay safe or on children’s outcomes • Funding priorities at OVW and HUD shifting to longer-term housing and to “proven practices” • Some housing policy creates barriers for victims and their children • Study can demonstrate need to expand range of housing options for survivors and their children Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

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