Content
Housing
Issue Overview
The interrelated nature of domestic violence and homelessness is undeniable: 92% of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives, and 63% have been victims of intimate partner violence as adults.[i]
This is not because homeless women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, rather experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault often forces women and children into homelessness. In 2006, a report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that 44 percent of the cities surveyed identified domestic violence as the primary cause of homelessness.[ii]
Victims of domestic violence struggle to find permanent housing after fleeing abusive relationships. Many have left in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and now must entirely rebuild their lives. As long-term housing options become scarcer, battered women are staying longer in emergency domestic violence shelters. As a result, shelters are frequently full and must turn families away.
NNEDV works with national housing and homeless organizations to ensure that the housing needs of victims of domestic violence are being met not only in domestic violence legislation but also in federal housing legislation such as the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act.
Legislative Action
McKinney-Vento and HEARTH
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is the primary federal funding for homelessness services across the nation. McKinney-Vento funds also support domestic violence programs that are providing transitional housing and emergency shelter to victims. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2005, 663 projects that identified domestic violence victims as the primary population to be served were awarded nearly $118 million to provide housing and services for this vulnerable group. An additional 2,934 projects anticipated providing housing and services to victims of domestic violence, even though this group was not the primary population for the projects.
Recent policies at HUD have stripped McKinney-Vento funding from domestic violence service providers and threatened the ability of homeless shelters to provide lifesaving service to victims of domestic violence. Currently, Congress is working to reauthorize McKinney-Vento and NNEDV has worked closely with other housing policy organizations and leaders in Congress to advocate a reauthorization that gives communities the flexibility to serve those in the most need, including homeless families and victims fleeing abuse.
In July, 2008 the House Financial Services Committee passed the The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act (H.R. 840). This legislation clarifies that victims fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking in their current housing situation would be defined as homeless and would be eligible for HUD homlessness services!
Now we must work to make sure that this language is preserved in the final bill and that HUD's definition a homeless person includes families living in hotels/motels or who are living doubled up with family or friends. We know that many victims of domestic violence do not identify themselves as victims and are, therefore, still vulnerable if the definition is not expanded.
HMIS and Confidentiality
In addition, HUD's Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) has threatened the confidentiality and safety of victims fleeing abuse. NNEDV has worked with policymakers to ensure that local domestic violence service providers do not have to provide identifying information on victims to HMIS and other third-party databases. In addition, NNEDV has worked to increase protections for all homeless individuals whose information is entered in HMIS.
- Learn more about HMIS and confidentiality for victims.
VAWA Housing Programs
The Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA) included important programs to help meet the housing needs of victims of domestic violence. Many victims fleeing violence need safe, affordable housing after leaving shelter otherwise they may be forced to return to their abuser or live on the streets. The Transitional Housing program supports critical interim housing programs that help victims and their families rebuild their lives after escaping abuse. In addition, the Long Term Stability/Housing for Victims program leverages existing resources to help connect victims and their families with affordable housing options in their communities.
Victims of domestic violence and their families across the country have been discriminated against, denied access to, and even evicted from public and subsidized housing because of their status as victims of domestic violence or the abuse perpetrated against them.[iii] The Grants to Combat Abuse in Public and Assisted Housing program provides resources to help public and assisted housing providers improve facilities and policies to keep victims and other residents safe. In order to keep victims safe and prevent future violence, Congress must fully fund these VAWA Housing programs in the FY 2009 budget.
What You Can Do To Help!
- Sign up for NNEDV's action alerts to learn how and when to use your voice to improve the McKinney-Vento reauthorization.
- Contact your Members of Congress and ask them to fully fund VAWA Housing programs in the FY 2009 Congressional Budget.
[i] Browne, A. 1998. "Responding to the Needs of Low Income and Homeless Women Who are Survivors of Family Violence." Journal of American Medical Women's Association. 53(2): 57-64.
[ii] The United States Conference of Mayors. 1999. A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities, p.39.
[iii] See: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and National Network to End Domestic Violence. Lost Housing, Lost Safety: Survivors of Domestic Violence Experience Housing Denials and Evictions Across the Country. February 2007; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Interviews with State Coalitions and Local Shelter Programs. Spring 2003.