1 / 24

Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program

Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program. Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free Kris Billhardt Kbillhardt@voaor.org. Caveats and Disclaimers.

daniel_millan
Download Presentation

Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free Kris Billhardt Kbillhardt@voaor.org Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 program’s story as to whether or how it may be applicable in your community to add to options available to DV survivors. Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  3. DV in Multnomah County • 28,000 victims; 3/5 have children • Police DV Unit:10,000 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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 • DV’s effects can dramatically impact the ability to obtain/maintain stable housing, incl. physical and mental health, employment, education, and connection to social supports Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  7. VOA Home Free – History • 1926: VOA est. Mothers and Children’s Home to serve “abandoned” women and children • DV became focal in the 70’s • Family Center/ • Transition House, 1989 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  8. VOA Home Free – History II 1998 – The Beginnings of Change Outreach component added to residential service elements Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  9. Home Free’s 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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  10. VOA Home Free – Program Design Emergency Services Out-stationed Services Children’s Services Transitional and Housing Services Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  14. VOA Home Free’s 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) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  15. Referrals to Home Free Housing Services Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 5 Transition to permanency. Focus: Discontinue reliance on subsidy. MILESTONE 4 Active work on long-term goals. Focus: taking increasing responsibility for finances and systems navigation. Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  19. Who We Are Serving II Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  20. Early Results 89% Obtained Housing 92% remain in housing Avg. time in housing TD: 13 mo. (range 1 – 30 mo.) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  21. A Study of the Effectiveness of a Housing Intervention for Battered Women • A cooperative agreement between Multnomah County Domestic Violence Coordinator’s 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 IPVand their children. Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  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) Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

  24. Importance of the Research Project • Current housing research doesn’t consider effectiveness of housing first for DV victims • Current DV research doesn’t consider impact of housing instability on victim’s ability to stay safe or on children’s 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 Volunteers of America, Oregon - Home Free

More Related