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Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program

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Title: Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program


1
Responding to Violence Against Women through a
Housing First Program
  • Volunteers of America, Oregon
  • Home Free
  • Kris Billhardt
  • Kbillhardt_at_voaor.org

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 programs story as to whether or how
    it may be applicable in your community to add to
    options available to DV survivors.

3
DV in Multnomah County
  • 28,000 victims 3/5 have children
  • Police DV Unit10,000 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

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
  • DVs effects can dramatically impact the ability
    to obtain/maintain stable housing, incl. physical
    and mental health, employment, education, and
    connection to social supports

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

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

7
  • VOA Home Free History
  • 1926 VOA est. Mothers and Childrens Home to
    serve abandoned women and children
  • DV became focal in the 70s
  • Family Center/
  • Transition House, 1989

8
VOA Home Free History II 1998 The Beginnings
of Change Outreach component added to residential
service elements
9
  • Home Frees 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

10
VOA Home Free Program Design
Emergency Services
Out-stationed Services
Childrens Services
Transitional and Housing Services
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)

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

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

14
VOA Home Frees 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)

15
Referrals to Home Free Housing Services
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 4 Active work on long-term goals.
Focus taking increasing responsibility for
finances and systems navigation.
MILESTONE 5 Transition to permanency. Focus
Discontinue reliance on subsidy.
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

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)

19
Who We Are Serving II
20
Early Results
89 Obtained Housing 92
remain in housing Avg. time in
housing TD 13 mo. (range 1 30
mo.)
21
A Study of the Effectiveness of a Housing
Intervention for Battered Women
A cooperative agreement between Multnomah County
Domestic Violence Coordinators 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 IPV and their
children.
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

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)

24
Importance of the Research Project
  • Current housing research doesnt consider
    effectiveness of housing first for DV victims
  • Current DV research doesnt consider impact of
    housing instability on victims ability to stay
    safe or on childrens 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
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