Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free Kris Billhardt [email protected] NAEH Annual Conference 7/17/06 Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free.
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Transcript Responding to Violence Against Women through a Housing First Program Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free Kris Billhardt [email protected] NAEH Annual Conference 7/17/06 Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free.
Responding to Violence Against
Women through a Housing First
Program
Volunteers of America, Oregon
Home Free
Kris Billhardt
[email protected]
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
1
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.
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
2
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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
3
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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
4
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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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VOA Home Free – History II
1998 – The Beginnings of Change
Outreach component added to residential
service elements
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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VOA Home Free – Program Design
Emergency Services
Out-stationed Services
Children’s Services
Transitional and Housing
Services
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
10
Housing First
Stresses immediate return to
permanent, neighborhood-based
housing, along with 6-12 months of
individualized support to ensure
retention (Portland Community
Standard)
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
11
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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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 postcrisis period report higher quality of life, more
social supports, and less re-abuse
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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)
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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Referrals to Home Free Housing Services
8%
4%
Other Home Free
Programs 49%
Culturally Specific
Service Providers 19%
8%
Domestic Violence
Shelters 12%
49%
12%
Legal Resources 8%
Word-of-Mouth 8%
Public School
Counselors 4%
19%
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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 selfadvocate.
MILESTONE 6
Focus: Embedding
pattern of financial self
sufficiency. Increased
sense of personal power
and resourcefulness.
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
MILESTONE 2
Eligibility:
•Surviving DV/SA
•Immediate crisis
stabilized.
•Housing
stabilization a
primary need.
•Financial
resourcefulness
compromised by DV/
other barriers
Intake. Focus:
taking steps on
short term plan,
housing search.
MILESTONE 3
Housing
obtained. Focus:
Addressing
issues/needs that
better ensure
retention.
MILESTONE 5
MILESTONE 4
Transition to
permanency. Focus:
Discontinue reliance on
subsidy.
Active work on long-term
goals. Focus: taking
increasing responsibility for
finances and systems
navigation.
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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)
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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Who We Are Serving II
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
U.S. Not
Country of
Origin 23%
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Disability
16%
Arrest
History
26%
Alcohol and Mental Health Households Involvement
Drug History
History
w ith Children w ith Child
30%
46%
80%
Welfare
System
63%
Volunteers of America, Oregon -
Home Free
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Early Results
80
89%
Obtained
Housing
70
60
92% remain
in housing
50
40
Avg. time in
housing TD:
13 mo.
(range 1 – 30
mo.)
30
20
10
0
Enrolled
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Obtained
Housing
Remains in Left Program
Housing
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
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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 IPV and their children.
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
21
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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
22
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)
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
23
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
NAEH Annual
Conference 7/17/06
Volunteers of America, Oregon Home Free
24