Understanding the Intersections
Domestic and sexual violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and the need for safe and affordable housing is one of the most pressing concerns for survivors of violence and abuse. Many survivors face unique barriers to accessing shelter and affordable housing due to the power and control dynamics involved in these types of abuse and the economic and trauma impacts that result. These barriers are often exacerbated for those most marginalized in our society and with the least access to resources, including many survivors of color, Native Americans, immigrants, those living in poverty and in geographic isolation, formerly incarcerated survivors, and survivors with disabilities. In addition, systemic factors such as institutional discrimination and the lack of affordable housing in communities create further challenges for many survivors. At the same time, housing programs can provide critical services for survivors and are often a key component in helping survivors find safety and stability.
Learn more about the intersections between housing, homelessness and domestic and sexual violence – and download and share the infographic.
The full infographic was developed to demonstrate to the intersection of domestic violence and homelessness. Utilize the infographic on your website as a downloadable file, attach to your email messages, include in your newsletter and magazine.
In just one day in 2016, over 41,000 adults and children fleeing domestic violence found refuge in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program.
In a study of residents in domestic violence shelters across the country, 84% reported that they needed help finding affordable housing.
Among mothers with children experiencing homelessness, more than 80% had previously experienced domestic violence.
Thirty-eight percent of all domestic violence victims become homeless at some point in their lives.
In a California study, women who experienced interpersonal violence in the last year had almost four times the odds of reporting housing instability than women who did not experience interpersonal violence.
In one Florida study, 78.3% of homeless women in the study had been subjected to rape, physical assault, and/or stalking at some point in their lifetimes.
In a 2006 study of rape crisis centers and legal aid providers, 58% of respondents stated that at least one tenant reported sexual assault by a landlord during the survey period.
In a national survey of victim service providers, one third of providers reported that up to 20% of victims and survivors struggle to find or keep housing because of sexual violence.
Thirty-eight percent of respondents to a national survey reported receiving reports of landlord sexual assault; in these cases, 79% of women reported that their landlords refused to repair locks, supply heat, hot water, or make the space “safe."