# Presentation: 329188

## Intimate Partner Violence and Homelessness

- Georgia Department of Human Resources
- Family Violence Unit
- Sharon Stearns, LMSW

## IPV and Homelessness

- 92% of homeless women have experienced severe physical and/or sexual assault at some point in their lives  (Browne, 1998)
- IPV is the leading cause of homelessness for women in the United States (Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2004)
- Between 50% and 60% of women receiving financial assistance have experienced physical abuse by their partner (compared to 20% of the general population) (Browne, 1998)

## IPV and Homelessness

- 2003 Study of Victims of IPV
- 38% reported homelessness (Baker, Cook, & Norris, 2003)
- Another 30-40% reported housing problems such as late rent, skipping meals, threat of eviction (Baker et al., 2003)
- The greater the severity of violence, the more likely the woman will have housing problems and the *less* likely she will have informational support (Baker et al., 2003).

## IPV and Homelessness

- “Why doesn’t she leave?”
- Social Exchange Theory or Cost/Benefit Analysis (Gordon, Burton, & Porter, 2004)
- Is the abuse so horrific that it justifies homelessness?
- IPV is only one of the women’s struggles
- Mental and physical health problems
- Substance abuse
- Lack of child care
- Housing instability
- Transportation

## IPV and Homelessness

- 1989 study of women exiting battered women’s shelters indicates the *longer* the length of stay at the shelter, the *less* likely the woman will return to an abusive partner and move to independent living (Compton, Michael, Krasavage-Hopkins, Schneiderman, & Bickman, 1989)
- 60% of women with mental health or substance abuse issues are victims of IPV (Logan, Walker, Cole, & Leukefeld, 2002).
- Coordination of resources is vital in helping women and their children achieve self-sufficiency

## IPV and Homelessness

- What shelters are doing
- Residential as well as nonresidential services
- Support services remain after a family has exited the shelter
- Linking families to resources
- Support groups for women
- Support groups for children and teens
- Parenting skills
- Budgeting
- Creating and achieving goals
- Community Outreach
- School counselors
- Faith community

## IPV and Homelessness

- TANF Assessors
- Educated in assessment of IPV
- Educated in resources
- Hired by the shelters to work with local Human Resources Department
- Train case workers (CPS, Foster Care, etc.)
- Receive referrals from case workers

## IPV and Homelessness

- Future Directions
- Educating shelter advocates on substance abuse issues
- What is substance abuse, what are the consequences, what are the symptoms, and *what are the resources?*
- Educating victims about substance abuse in their partners
- Women who blame substance abuse for the violence are much more likely to return to an abusive relationship

## IPV and Homelessness

- Future Directions (Cont.)
- Linking shelters with community resources
- Mental health outpatient treatment
- Substance abuse treatment
- Transitional housing
- Include case management to encourage self-sufficiency
- Educating children and teens about healthy relationships
- Outcome studies

- References
- Baker, C.K., Cook, S.L., & Norris, F.H. (2003).  Domestic violence and housing problems.  *Violence Against Women*, 9: 754-784.
- Browne, A. (1998).  Responding to the needs of low income and homeless women who are survivors of family   violence.  *Journal of American Medical Women’s Association*, 53: 57-64.
- Compton, W.C., Michael, J.R., Krasavage-Hopkins, E.M., Schneiderman, L.S., & Bickman, L. (1989).  Intentions for postshelter living in battered women.  *Journal of Community Psychology*, 18: 126-129.
- Family Violence Prevention Fund (2004).  The facts on housing and domestic violence.  Retrieved _[http://](http://endabuse.org/resources/facts/Housing.pdf)__[endabuse.org/resources/facts/Housing.pdf](http://endabuse.org/resources/facts/Housing.pdf)_
- Gordon, K.C., Burton, S., & Porter, L. (2004).  Predicting the intentions of women in domestic violence shelters to return to partners: does forgiveness play a role?  *Journal of Family Psychology*, 18
- Logan, T.K., Walker, R., Cole, J., & Leukefeld, C., 2002).  Victimization and substance abuse among women: contributing factors, interventions and implications.  *Review of General Psychology*, 6: 325-397.
- Tolman, R. (2000).  A review of the research on welfare and domestic  violence.  *Journal of Social Issues*, 56: 655-682.