Domestic Violence is Leading Cause of Women’s Homelessness

An addendum to Misunderstanding of Homelessness Gets in the Way of Solutions. Domestic violence is such a large factor in homelessness that it deserves its own post.

“If you’re leaving shelter and don’t have a support system or anywhere to go, 9 out of 10 times you’re going to go back because you don’t want your kids living on the streets. You’re going to do what it takes not to do that. If it means grin and bear another ass whipping, most women will do that.

“I wouldn’t have had a choice, I would’ve had to go back. Or stay with friends or family, but probably I would’ve gone back. Financially and emotionally, I wouldn’t have been able to deal with it. Either that, or I wouldn’t be alive because he would’ve been able to find me.”

— Anonymous Survivor of Domestic Violence

In the United States, one in five women will be physically abused by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Every year, domestic violence directly causes 1,200 deaths and more than two million injuries among women. Lasting far longer than the physical toll of domestic violence, an incalculable number of survivors suffer mental health and socioeconomic consequences, such as depression, PTSD, poverty, and social isolation.

Despite a falling crime rate citywide, the City of New York — as an example — has seen both a higher rate and a greater absolute number of reported domestic violence incidents since 2009. In 2009, the New York Police Department’s CompStat program reported 25,761 domestic violence incidents. In 2015, the number of incidents had risen 31% to 33,808. Simultaneously, the number of reported domestic violence incidents in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments rose from 820 in 2009 to 1,642 in 2013, a greater than 100% increase in domestic violence affecting the very people least able to afford to leave such terrifying living situations.

As many abusers take steps to prevent their partners from leaving abusive situations — including restricting financial independence, destroying their victim’s credit, and preventing abused partners from building a respectable rental history — domestic violence victims are extremely vulnerable to homelessness. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, a majority of homeless women are or have been victims of domestic violence, while more than a quarter of incidences of family homelessness are a direct result of domestic violence. Many victims and survivors of domestic violence have trouble finding rental properties because they may have poor credit, rental, and employment histories as a result of their abuse.” In a survey of U.S. mayors, one-fifth cited domestic violence as the primary cause of family homelessness.

Furthermore, the supply of low-income housing cannot keep up with the demand of domestic violence survivors who need affordable housing, even though survivors are typically designated as a top priority for placement. In this perverse arrangement, victims of domestic violence living with abusive partners are either given a choice to stay with the abuser or seek temporary, emergency shelter while awaiting an affordable housing placement — all while their abuser remains safely and affordably housed.

Less than one percent of supportive housing in New York City is allocated for survivors of domestic violence. Only three percent of eligible survivors are placed in NYCHA housing before their emergency shelter stay ends. Despite City and State promises that state no domestic violence survivor should be in shelter for more than 180 consecutive days, the majority are frequently transferred into the general shelter system when that time period expires, where “temporary, emergency” shelter can last upwards of a decade before permanent, affordable housing is obtained.

Survivors cannot wait a decade or more to get their lives — and their family’s lives — back on track. They need assistance immediately, so that the legacy of their abusers doesn’t continue to terrorize them. Each day that a domestic violence survivor is denied the help they need is yet another extension of their abuse.

Citations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Adverse health conditions and health risk behaviors associated with intimate partner violence — United States, 2005.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 57. 2008.

“Committee Report of the Governmental Affairs Division on Proposed Int. №869A, 948A, 961A, and 968A.” New York City Council. 14 September 2016.

Corden, Carol. “Be Our Guest: City must help domestic violence survivors find safe, affordable housing.” New York Daily News. 8 September 2013.

“Domestic Violence and Homelessness.” National Coalition for the Homeless. July 2009.

“Domestic Violence Victims Reported in 2015: New York City.” New York City Police Department. March 2016.

Lowe, E.T., Thomas, G., and Salmas, G. “A Status Report on Hunger & Homelessness in America’s Cities: A 22-City Survey.” U.S. Conference of Mayors, December 2015

Melbin, A., Sullivan, C.M., and Cain, D. “Transitional Supportive Housing Programs: Battered Women’s Perspectives and Recommendations,” Affilia 18.4. Winter 2003.

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “Costs of intimate partner violence against women in the United States.” 2003.

“NYC Counties 2009 Domestic Violence Victim Data.” New York City Police Department. May 2010.