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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND HOUSING

Section 5: Now What Do I Do? – Scenarios for Discussion

What Housing and Homeless Organizations Need to Know

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• There’s current DV!• We don’t have the resources—our location

isn’t confidential!• She needs to go to a domestic violence

agency, but she wants a housing program.

– What are your fears?– What can you do?

SCENARIO 1

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Safety Planning• Safety planning is a process, not a one-time event or

check list• Safety planning is tailored to the survivor’s life and

daily activities—each day may even be a little different• Ask the survivor what the abuser’s power and control

tactics are• Listen to the survivors and ask what s/he needs• Survivor activities and abuser’s tactics will guide the

safety planning process

Tips: Safety Concerns

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• We know there’s DV in that unit, but they’re both violent!

– What do we do? How do we know who the victim is?

SCENARIO 2

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• You can’t rely on gender or a list of behaviors• Consider CONTEXT, INTENT, EFFECT to see

who is establishing a system of power & control

• Assess needs versus screening out & evicting both.

• Is there actual or imminent danger to other tenants or to program/facility employees?

Tips: Talk to them–separately

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• He assaulted her right in the parking lot!• There were lots of witnesses, but she doesn’t

want to do anything about it and denies that there’s DV

SCENARIO 3

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• Remember the reasons a survivor stays in or returns to an abusive relationship:– Fear– Love– Economic Security– Cultural/community pressure– Kids need both parents– Doesn’t feel like she can make it on her own

Is there actual or imminent danger to other tenants or program/facility employees?

Tips:

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• We bifurcated the lease and evicted him, but he’s still there all the time!

SCENARIO 4

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• She may need help filing for or enforcing a Protection Order

• She may have to comply with a court order for visitation with the children

• He’s homeless and has no other options—she can’t say no

• She misses him

Tips:

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• She has told us that she doesn’t feel safe in her unit and wants to move

• What can we do? We have no place to move her

SCENARIO 5

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• What does your model emergency transfer plan say?

• If you need to develop one, consider– Your partnership with the DV program and

emergency shelter while transfer in process– Hotel voucher and rental unit for belongings– Prioritize these cases for the next available unit– Seek agreements with other PHAs or housing

programs

Tips:

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• We’re trying to help her find another apartment, but she doesn’t show up for appointments or follow through with the things she needs to do

SCENARIO 6

Tips: Trauma Impacts• Hyper-arousal, flashbacks, nightmares, startle reaction• Memory and concentration problems• Short attention span; easily distracted• Problem-solving deficits• Intrusive thoughts, confusion• Slow reaction time• Loss of sense of time and space• Decreased awareness of self and others• Trouble understanding abstract concepts• Compromised information- processing• Trouble following complex directions

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What it May Be Mistaken For• Apathy• Poor self-worth• Lack of follow-through, unreliability• Disinterest in getting help• Uncooperative or oppositional manner• “Spaciness”• Poor judgment, inability to make good choices• Deeper mental health issues

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