Examining contextual influences on the service needs of homeless and unstably housed domestic violence survivors

Abstract

Domestic violence (DV) is a leading cause of homelessness for women, yet many DV agencies are just beginning to focus on helping clients stabilize their housing situations.

Can This Provider Be Trusted? A Review of the Role of Trustworthiness in the Provision of Community-Based Services for Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

“…In the United States, there is a systemic shortage of affordable housing (National Low-Income Housing Coalition, 2022) along with limited economic supports, especially for families with children (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019). Survivors—in particular, those who are poor or more likely to face housing discrimination such as Black (Arnold & Slusser, 2015) or transgender people (Wirtz et al, 2020)—bear the effects of this inadequate safety net, with extensive studies demonstrating the lack of available housing as one of their most critical unmet needs (Ammar et al, 2014; Chiaramonte et al, 2021; Clough et al, 2014; Eastman & Bunch, 2007; Fisher & Stylianou, 2019; Fox et al, 2018; Jayasundara et al, 2018; Kulkarni et al, 2010; Logan et al, 2005; Macy et al, 2010; Mookerjee et al, 2015; Park, 2015; Rizo et al, 2022; Robinson et al, 2021; Sabri et al, 2015; Stone et al, 2021; Ting & Panchanadeswaran, 2009; Valdovinos et al, 2021; Wilson & Laughon, 2015). Transportation and child care are other significant unmet economic needs reported by survivors (Aguillard et al, 2021; Alvarez & Fedock, 2018; Edwards, 2015; Kulwicki et al, 2010; Ta & Hayes, 2010).…”

“…Intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors face grave risks to their physical and mental health, including traumatic brain injury (Government Accounting Office, 2020; Kwako et al, 2011), chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, depression (Dutton et al, 2006), and even death (Velopulos et al, 2019). They often have pressing legal and economic needs as well, as they try to protect themselves from the abuse, attain safety, and—if they have left or are planning to leave their abusive partner—establish their own household (Chiaramonte et al, 2021). However, many survivors do not access formal services.…”

Actionable research for understanding and addressing homelessness

“…Erangey et al (2021) argue for a reorientation of service delivery that promotes self-directed change as opposed to prioritizing program-directed outcomes and like Barr et al (2021), point to the value of peer support that is based in relationship In addition to including people with lived experience in homelessness research and practice, this special issue points to the need for understanding unique experiences and trajectories for subgroups of people engaged in housing and support services (Lei & Brown, 2021). The articles in this issue address a wide range of subpopulations, including individuals who have experienced domestic violence (Chiaramonte et al, 2021), Indigenous groups (Ansloos et al, 2021), youth (Ansloos et al, 2021;Barr et al, 2021), single mothers (Brott et al, 2021), urban and rural populations (Brott et al, 2021;Gleason et al, 2021), and transgender and gender diverse groups (Vandenburg et al, 2021). Addressing the diversity of barriers, pressures, and necessary supports for people living in extreme poverty is critical to engaging and changing systems that disproportionally impact historically marginalized communities.…”

“…Others focus on more “downstream solutions.” For example, Brott et al (2021) explore the benefits of building education and social supports into transitional housing and community programs to prevent chronic homelessness. Chaiaramonte et al (2021) suggest that prevention will require linking service sectors—for example, equipping domestic violence providers with resources and skills needed to assist unstably housed families (Chiaramonte et al, 2021). Gleason et al (2021) demonstrate the value of geographic information system methodologies in prevention and service planning efforts, showing how they can be used to identify rural areas that are high needs but resource poor (Gleason et al, 2021).…”

Domestic violence survivors’ housing stability, safety, and well-being over time: Examining the role of domestic violence housing first, social support, and material hardship.

“…The goal of these agencies is to provide the individualized services needed to ensure that all survivors are safer, more stable, and experiencing greater well-being after receipt of services (Cattaneo et al, 2021;Davies & Lyon, 2013;Sullivan, 2018). Avoiding homelessness and attaining affordable, safe housing is a tremendous hurdle for many IPV survivors exiting an abusive relationship (Chiaramonte et al, 2021;Pavao et al, 2007). With affordable housing becoming less available across the United States, agencies have accelerated their focus on helping unstably housed survivors obtain safe and stable housing.…”