enhancing housing security of domestic violence survivors kris billhardt volunteers of america,...

Enhancing Housing Enhancing Housing Security of Domestic Security of Domestic Violence SurvivorsViolence Survivors

Kris BillhardtKris BillhardtVolunteers of America, Oregon - Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Home

[email protected]@voaor.org

NAEH Annual Conference 7/10NAEH Annual Conference 7/10/07/07

Kris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home FreeKris Billhardt, VOA Oregon - Home Free 22

VOA Home Free

Emergency Services

Children’s Services

Out-stationed Services

Housing First and Transitional Services



Domestic Violence and Domestic Violence and HomelessnessHomelessness

Families comprise 40% of homeless population and is fastest growing segment

60% of homeless women have children60% of homeless women have children

Nine of ten homeless mothers been victims Nine of ten homeless mothers been victims of violence, often domestic of violence, often domestic

2/3 of homeless women have been assaulted 2/3 of homeless women have been assaulted by an adult partnerby an adult partner

38% of all DV survivors become homeless at 38% of all DV survivors become homeless at some pointsome point



The Link Between DV and The Link Between DV and Housing Insecurity Housing Insecurity

22-57% of homeless women identify DV as the main cause of 22-57% of homeless women identify DV as the main cause of their homelessnesstheir homelessness

46% of homeless women report having stayed in an abusive 46% of homeless women report having stayed in an abusive relationship because they had nowhere else to gorelationship because they had nowhere else to go

Housing insecurity strongly implicated in return to an abuserHousing insecurity strongly implicated in return to an abuser

Poor women experience DV at higher rates and have fewer Poor women experience DV at higher rates and have fewer resources with which to seek/maintain safe and stable housingresources with which to seek/maintain safe and stable housing

DV has significant effects on many areas of survivors’ lives DV has significant effects on many areas of survivors’ lives that can increase risk of poverty and homelessness ( physical that can increase risk of poverty and homelessness ( physical & mental health, employment, education, social supports)& mental health, employment, education, social supports)



DV and Housing InsecurityDV and Housing Insecurity Homelessness is only one end of a continuum Homelessness is only one end of a continuum

of housing problems faced by women of housing problems faced by women experiencing DVexperiencing DV

Missed or late payments for rent/utilitiesMissed or late payments for rent/utilitiesCompromises: selling belongings or skipping food to Compromises: selling belongings or skipping food to make paymentsmake paymentsIneligibility for housing services due to credit, Ineligibility for housing services due to credit, landlord, or criminal justice problemslandlord, or criminal justice problems

Some families face barriers to using emergency Some families face barriers to using emergency shelterssheltersRacism results in disproportionate number of Racism results in disproportionate number of survivors of color among the homelesssurvivors of color among the homeless



The Need for Specialized The Need for Specialized ServicesServices

Denials, evictions, ruined credit, lease Denials, evictions, ruined credit, lease terminations often based on terminations often based on violence/abuser interference violence/abuser interference

Survivors experience discrimination Survivors experience discrimination based on status as victims based on status as victims

High density/high violence in public High density/high violence in public housing complexes may place women housing complexes may place women at continued risk, trigger traumaat continued risk, trigger trauma




Women who move to housing where “the Women who move to housing where “the abuser can’t find them” are more likely to abuser can’t find them” are more likely to be re-assaulted by the most dangerous be re-assaulted by the most dangerous abusersabusersStalking, harassment, on-going violence and Stalking, harassment, on-going violence and threats by the perpetrator may occur even threats by the perpetrator may occur even after survivor is housedafter survivor is housedWhen obstacles to affordable housing seem When obstacles to affordable housing seem insurmountable, this may mean a return to a insurmountable, this may mean a return to a dangerous homedangerous home




More than ½ of domestic violence survivors More than ½ of domestic violence survivors live in households with children under 12live in households with children under 12

47% of homeless school-aged children and 47% of homeless school-aged children and 29% of homeless children under 5 have 29% of homeless children under 5 have witnessed domestic violence in their familieswitnessed domestic violence in their families

Witnessing violence has significant negative Witnessing violence has significant negative impact on development, behavior, education, impact on development, behavior, education, health, mental health, and increased risk- health, mental health, and increased risk- taking behaviors as adolescents and adultstaking behaviors as adolescents and adults



SHARE Study:SHARE Study:““Effectiveness of a Housing Intervention for Effectiveness of a Housing Intervention for

Battered Women”Battered Women”

Co-PI: Chiquita Rollins, PhDCo-PI: Chiquita Rollins, PhDNancy Glass, PhD, MPH, RNNancy Glass, PhD, MPH, RN

Multnomah County, Oregon Multnomah County, Oregon

U49CE000520-01U49CE000520-01 Centers for Disease Control and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Controland Control



SHARE: Study DesignSHARE: Study DesignParticipants: Women domestic violence victims, age 18-64Participants: Women domestic violence victims, age 18-64

Study begins at “post-crisis” stage of service deliveryStudy begins at “post-crisis” stage of service delivery

Data collected:Data collected:

Outcomes for women and their childrenOutcomes for women and their children

Cost of domestic violence and cost effectiveness of the housing Cost of domestic violence and cost effectiveness of the housing modelsmodels

Interviews at 6-month intervals for 18 months, with reimbursementInterviews at 6-month intervals for 18 months, with reimbursement

Qualitative interviews focusing on inter-relationships between Qualitative interviews focusing on inter-relationships between housing and victimizationhousing and victimization

Cost effectiveness studyCost effectiveness study



SHARE Results: Baseline SHARE Results: Baseline Preliminary (89 participants)Preliminary (89 participants)

Almost one-quarter (24.7%) of participants Almost one-quarter (24.7%) of participants reported it was very unlikely to unlikely that reported it was very unlikely to unlikely that they would be able to pay for housing this they would be able to pay for housing this month (month of the interview). month (month of the interview).

An additional 21.5% reported that it was An additional 21.5% reported that it was somewhat likely that they would be able to somewhat likely that they would be able to pay for housing.pay for housing.



SHARE Results: Baseline SHARE Results: Baseline PreliminaryPreliminary

The vast majority (88.8%) of women reported The vast majority (88.8%) of women reported difficulty in meeting basic needs (e.g. food, difficulty in meeting basic needs (e.g. food, transportation, health care visits).transportation, health care visits).

Over one-third (37.2%) of women reported often Over one-third (37.2%) of women reported often to sometimes not having enough food to eat.to sometimes not having enough food to eat.

Almost half (49.4%) of women reported their Almost half (49.4%) of women reported their general health as poor or fair in the past 6 general health as poor or fair in the past 6 monthsmonths



SHARE Results: Risk Factors for SHARE Results: Risk Factors for Housing InstabilityHousing Instability

1. Had to live somewhere did not want to in the past 6 1. Had to live somewhere did not want to in the past 6 monthsmonths

81%81%

2. Difficulty paying for housing in past 6 months2. Difficulty paying for housing in past 6 months 75%75%

3. Had to borrow money from family/friends to pay for 3. Had to borrow money from family/friends to pay for housing in past 6 monthshousing in past 6 months

45%45%

4. Trouble with landlord (e.g. taking side of abusive 4. Trouble with landlord (e.g. taking side of abusive partner during/after incident; charging fees for damage partner during/after incident; charging fees for damage caused by partner) in past 6 monthscaused by partner) in past 6 months

44.3%44.3%

5. Landlord threatened to evict in past 6 months5. Landlord threatened to evict in past 6 months 31.4%31.4%

6. Served an eviction notice in past 6 months6. Served an eviction notice in past 6 months 24%24%

7. Do not expect to stay in current housing 7. Do not expect to stay in current housing 64%64%



SHARE Results: Risk of Lethal SHARE Results: Risk of Lethal ViolenceViolence

Danger Assessment (20 item measure of risk Danger Assessment (20 item measure of risk for lethal violence in abusive relationships)for lethal violence in abusive relationships)

Mean score =11.4 (extreme danger for Mean score =11.4 (extreme danger for lethal violence)lethal violence)

Examined the correlation between risk of Examined the correlation between risk of housing instability and risk of lethal violence housing instability and risk of lethal violence

Increased housing instability was Increased housing instability was significantly associated with increased significantly associated with increased risk of lethal violence.risk of lethal violence.



DV/Housing Link Requires An DV/Housing Link Requires An Integrated ApproachIntegrated Approach

Finding and keeping housing is one of the greatest Finding and keeping housing is one of the greatest barriers faced by women who leave abusers barriers faced by women who leave abusers

Mothers with less stable financial, social, and living Mothers with less stable financial, social, and living situations reported their children to have intervened situations reported their children to have intervened more during past violent incidentsmore during past violent incidents

Women who secure housing reduce their chances of Women who secure housing reduce their chances of re-victimization, but housing vouchers not paired re-victimization, but housing vouchers not paired with special interventions may not be effective with special interventions may not be effective

Women linked with advocates during post-crisis Women linked with advocates during post-crisis period report higher quality of life, more social period report higher quality of life, more social supports and less re-victimizationsupports and less re-victimization



What Can Be Done: DV What Can Be Done: DV ProvidersProviders

In addition to continued focus on immediate safety, In addition to continued focus on immediate safety, incorporate services that respond to survivors’ critical incorporate services that respond to survivors’ critical need for housing as part of DV advocacyneed for housing as part of DV advocacyExpand ability to provide long-term advocacy Expand ability to provide long-term advocacy involvement with survivorsinvolvement with survivorsIdentify ways for some staff to provide mobile servicesIdentify ways for some staff to provide mobile servicesIntervene with landlords to help overcome barriers based Intervene with landlords to help overcome barriers based on credit or rental historyon credit or rental historyDevelop relationship with local housing authority Develop relationship with local housing authority Form partnerships with homeless services providersForm partnerships with homeless services providersBe a voice in your community’s Ten-Year PlanBe a voice in your community’s Ten-Year Plan



What Can Be Done: Homeless What Can Be Done: Homeless Service ProvidersService Providers

Form partnerships with your local DV agencies Form partnerships with your local DV agencies Screen for and be prepared to address domestic violenceScreen for and be prepared to address domestic violenceDevelop safety planning protocol (for use with victims and Develop safety planning protocol (for use with victims and in housing facilities)in housing facilities)Incorporate awareness of batterers’ on-going stalking, Incorporate awareness of batterers’ on-going stalking, harassment and assaults into policy and practiceharassment and assaults into policy and practiceTraining for staff that includes strong focus on countering Training for staff that includes strong focus on countering victim-blaming victim-blaming Link to other community resources vital for safety (law Link to other community resources vital for safety (law enforcement, civil legal, courts, protection orders)enforcement, civil legal, courts, protection orders)Screen for and respond to needs of children exposed to Screen for and respond to needs of children exposed to batterers batterers



What Can Be Done – DV and What Can Be Done – DV and Homeless Service ProvidersHomeless Service Providers

Cooperative - not competitive!- advocacy for Cooperative - not competitive!- advocacy for more fundingmore fundingAdvocate for change in federal housing Advocate for change in federal housing policy (ex. HUD definition of chronic policy (ex. HUD definition of chronic homelessness and “special needs” that homelessness and “special needs” that limits federal housing support)limits federal housing support)Training, training, training!Training, training, training!Partnerships galorePartnerships galoreSurvivor-driven approachesSurvivor-driven approachesTrauma-informed servicesTrauma-informed servicesBe willing to create new modelsBe willing to create new models



Home Free’s Housing First Home Free’s Housing First ProgramProgram

Eligibility: Immediate DV crisis somewhat Eligibility: Immediate DV crisis somewhat stabilized, housing stabilization a primary stabilized, housing stabilization a primary need, financial resourcefulness need, financial resourcefulness compromised by DV/other barriers compromised by DV/other barriers Staffed by mobile advocatesStaffed by mobile advocatesEarmarked funds for direct client assistance Earmarked funds for direct client assistance 8-12 participants per advocate8-12 participants per advocateDuration of services: Up to two yearsDuration of services: Up to two yearsScattered-site model (private market or Scattered-site model (private market or public housing)public housing)



Advocacy Services Include:Advocacy Services Include:

Danger Assessment and ongoing safety planning Danger Assessment and ongoing safety planning

Accompaniment to appointments, court hearingsAccompaniment to appointments, court hearings

Housing search, job search, job training referralsHousing search, job search, job training referrals

Home visitsHome visits

Rental subsidy and other direct financial assistanceRental subsidy and other direct financial assistance

Systems navigation/coordinate with other providersSystems navigation/coordinate with other providers

Advocacy with landlords, Housing AuthorityAdvocacy with landlords, Housing Authority

Linkages to civil legal and immigration law servicesLinkages to civil legal and immigration law services

Direct services to childrenDirect services to children

Help with budgeting, goal planningHelp with budgeting, goal planning

DV and parenting support groupsDV and parenting support groups



Who We Are Serving

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

U.S. Not

Country of Origin

23%

Disability 16% Arrest History

26%

Alcohol and

Drug History

30%

Mental Health

History 46%

Households with

Children 80%

Involvement

with Child

Welfare System

63%



Early ResultsEarly Results

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Enrolled ObtainedHousing

Remains inHousing

Left Program

89% Obtained Housing

92% remain in housing

Avg. time in housing TD: 13 mo. (range 1 – 30 mo.)

enhancing housing security of domestic violence survivors kris billhardt volunteers of america,...

Documents

housing services

homeless slide

voa oregon home free

housing insecurity dv

naeh annual conference

stationed services housing

dv survivors

stable housing dv