Intimate partner violence can precipitate homelessness, particularly for victims with limited economic resources.
A new study The Housing and Homelessness Initiative published last month by the University of California, San Francisco found that at least 17% of homeless people fled their homes due to intimate partner violence.
During the videoconference “Domestic violence: one step away from becoming homeless”, organized by Ethnic Media Servicesadvocates and scholars discussed how domestic violence often leads to homelessness, but also discussed the findings of a new study and the rise of domestic violence in New York and its neighborhoods.
Intimate partner violence and homelessness
Dr. Anita Hargrave, assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), lead researcher on the report, said that intimate partner violence, commonly known as domestic violence, encompasses abuse and assault committed by a current or former intimate partner such as a husband or boyfriend.
“40% of study participants reported that intimate partner violence led to homelessness; 20% indicated they had extremely low incomes, less than $600 than the median rent for a room in the state.”
He said the study showed that intimate partner violence can precipitate homelessness for many people, and is particularly dangerous for those on the economic margins.
“Another key finding is that many participants reported that relatively modest amounts of financial support could have helped them avoid homelessness.
“Among survivors who reported intimate partner violence before becoming homeless, 73% believed that a reduced monthly subsidy would have helped them avoid becoming homeless for at least two years; and 92% considered that a housing voucher would have assured them a roof for at least two years.”
But the study also shows that 95% of violence survivors reported that the high cost of housing was a barrier to leaving homelessness.
Even 61% said that their poor credit history and history of evictions, which are often a consequence of intimate partner violence, is another barrier to re-housing.
Victims noted in the report that to achieve healing and housing stability they require access to domestic violence shelters, financial support, specialized services for intimate partner violence, and support in finding permanent housing.
Dr. Hargrave indicated that the study’s recommendations were to increase access to affordable housing for victims of intimate partner violence, and to shelters that serve survivors in times of crisis.
“Because in California the cost of housing is very high. “Many survivors are forced to make the impossible choice of staying in abusive relationships or escaping at risk of living on the streets due to a lack of affordable housing.”
In California, there is a lack of one million units of available and affordable housing for extremely low-income people. One mechanism to make current housing more affordable is housing subsidies.
“We need to support survivors with their basic economic needs by offering flexible financial assistance and affordable permanent housing,” said the UCSF doctor and researcher.
Empowerment and education
Jennifer White-Reid, team leader and advisor to the president of the Urban Resource Institute (URINYC), a nonprofit organization that provides services to victims of domestic violence and the homeless in New York, said they are the largest provider of temporary housing for survivors.
“We are committed to ending cycles of violence and homelessness by offering trauma support to families. We operate 23 shelters in New York City, including 15 for survivors of domestic violence.”
He said they also empower families to obtain economic stability, and work with youth and in communities to end cycles of violence, involving those who cause harm.
“Approximately 40% of the women and children in family homeless shelters in New York are there because of domestic violence.”
He noted that between 2021 and 2022, homicides committed by intimate partners increased 29% throughout the city and were even more pronounced in the neighborhoods.
“Brooklyn experienced a 225% increase in intimate partner homicides and the Bronx, a 57% increase in the same period.”
He highlighted that this rise in homicides disproportionately impacts African American and Hispanic women.
“Homelessness and domestic violence are linked. By preventing domestic violence, we will prevent homelessness.”
She said we can reduce domestic violence and homelessness by investing in the community and in solutions that center equity and survivors’ voices.
“The solutions that New York City and other government agencies can use to address domestic violence, and consequently reduce homelessness, focus on prevention, investing in education, expanding economic opportunities and improving access to shelters and accessible permanent housing.”
She also said it’s crucial to educate young girls in high and middle schools about healthy relationships, especially in high-risk communities, to interrupt the cycles that fuel domestic violence.
We are not invisible
Desiree (Dez) Martinez, CEO of We Are NOT Invisiblesaid she experienced homelessness after experiencing emotional and mental abuse, which led to a mental crisis.
“Despite not meeting the requirements for a domestic violence shelter bed, I found myself in a homeless shelter sleeping on the floor among several individuals.”
But gender restrictions at the shelter led her to live on the streets.
“I preferred that to returning to abuse. “I took advantage of my time on the street to use my photography skills to document realities and advocate for change.”
She said she discovered a platform to share her experiences and advocate for others in similar situations.
“Currently I have a permanent place to live because I have a housing voucher that helps me pay for it, but I am nervous every year because the rents continue to increase and my voucher does not increase, but I am hopeful that there will be changes as long as the solidarity with the homeless”.
She said she is currently a national advocate for universal housing, civil rights for the homeless, and a crisis intervention worker for homeless encampments.
And he also established a homeless union, formed a social media platform, and a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the homeless community.