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
2Caveats 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.
3DV 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
4Link 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
5Link 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
6Link 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
8VOA 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
10VOA Home Free Program Design
Emergency Services
Out-stationed Services
Childrens Services
Transitional and Housing Services
11Housing First
- Stresses immediate return to permanent,
neighborhood-based housing, along with 6-12
months of individualized support to ensure
retention (Portland Community Standard)
12Housing 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
13The 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
14VOA 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)
15Referrals to Home Free Housing Services
16Participant 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.
17Advocacy 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
18Who 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)
19Who We Are Serving II
20Early Results
89 Obtained Housing 92
remain in housing Avg. time in
housing TD 13 mo. (range 1 30
mo.)
21A 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.
22Study 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
23Study 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)
24Importance 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