(Posted 2023 November)

Survivors of domestic violence deserve to feel safe, and securing housing is a crucial step in their healing journey. No survivor should be forced to stay with someone who harms them just to keep a roof over their head. Learn more about the connection between domestic violence and homelessness and how to find available resources.

1. Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness, with studies show it is behind between 22 percent and 57 percent of homelessness among women. More than 90 percent of homeless women experience severe physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, and 63 percent have been victims of intimate partner violence.
2. Housing is safety. Survivors of domestic violence often must flee their homes to escape life-threatening violence from an abuser. Securing safe, affordable housing is a crucial step on the pathway to a survivor’s long-term security and often means the difference between being able to leave and having no choice but to stay.
3. Thousands of adults flee domestic violence with nowhere to land except transitional housing. Emergency shelters are often the first step for survivors fleeing abuse, which means shelters and local programs must have the resources to keep space available for victims in need. When shelters are full, survivors are often faced with an impossible decision between returning to someone who caused them harm or risking homelessness.
4. Housing remains a critical unmet need for survivors. In one study, 84% of survivors in domestic violence shelters say they needed help finding affordable housing. In another nationwide study, more than half of the victims who identified a need for housing services were not able to receive them.
5. Housing insecurity leaves survivors vulnerable. Survivors who experienced food or housing insecurity in a 12-month period faced a significantly higher likelihood of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in that same time period compared to those who did not have these same vulnerabilities.
6. Domestic violence programs provide more than emergency shelter. The National Network to End Domestic Violence found 90% of victims of domestic violence were aware of resources and knew more ways to better plan for safety after receiving services from a local domestic violence program. Safety planning is an important step to ensure long-term security; it helps survivors feel prepared to escape an unhealthy relationship should they so choose. In Fairfax County, this vital assistance comes from the Advocacy Services team in Domestic and Sexual Violence Services. To reach them for support, call 703-246-4573.
7. Financial violence impacts a survivor’s ability to access housing. Domestic abusers commonly sabotage a victim’s economic stability, making them more vulnerable to homelessness. Many survivors can’t rent an apartment because their credit, rental, and work histories have been damaged. 
8. There’s a nationwide shortage of affordable, safe housing. Only a small percentage of eligible people receive public housing, and the number of low-income households who receive housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs is often far fewer than those who need it.

If you or someone you know has experienced interpersonal violence, call the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline at 703-360-7273 for more information about resources and support.

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