Earlier this month CCC published an Insight on the link between homelessness and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence in New York City. In continued honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are adding to this story by highlighting lived experiences and policy recommendations to help advocates and allies better understand the effect of housing insecurity that stems from domestic violence.

More than 1 in 5 families with children in the NYC shelter system identified domestic violence (DV) as the reason for their homelessness. Within the shelters designated for survivors (HRA shelters), 58% of occupants were younger than 18, with children under 5 representing 28% of the total population (the largest age group). Domestic violence is undeniably a child well-being issue and these facts only add to the urgency of the need for policies and investments that address it.

As a co-convener of the Family Homelessness Coalition, CCC’s work is influenced by our connection to the Family Homelessness Coalition Fellows. We spoke with one of the fellows, Kadisha Davis, who hosts the podcast Hear Our Voices (HOV). This podcast focuses on a variety of stories around family homelessness and often touches on lived experiences with domestic violence (DV) and housing, whether interviewing service providers or parents themselves who have survived DV. In connecting these stories and hearing from Kadisha on her work as an advocate, critical throughlines emerge that shed light on how advocates can truly help survivors.

Economic & Health Impact of DV

By the time a family with children enters shelter to escape a domestic violence situation, the trauma and stress is often at its height. Listening to the HOV podcast, there are two-episode series with mothers who escaped DV—they are both named Stephanie (S4 E33&36 & S4 E25-28 of HOV). Both mothers speak about their time navigating homelessness, rental vouchers, trauma, and making choices to help themselves and their children.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, on average in the U.S. it takes a person seven attempts before they successfully leave their abuser. On the podcast, both women explain in their own stories that financial stress and instability played large roles in their difficulty leaving, which data shows is a major issue for survivors. Rising rents in NYC makes it increasingly difficult for single mothers (or single parents in general) to find affordable housing and according to the latest from New Destiny Housing, more than 94% of DV survivors report economic abuse by their perpetrators. This complicates the ability to secure stable housing and employment after leaving as well as hinders some benefits access (citizenship status and number of hours worked can often be obstacles). This is often why shelter is the only option to escape to, but emergency domestic violence shelters come with a stay limit, adding additional stressors.

As Stephanie from Season 4 Episodes 33 & 36 of HOV explains, legal issues and trauma can also prevent economic stability and exacerbate difficulty maintaining employment. Not only do many women lose income when fleeing their abuser, but custody disputes can further disconnect them from employment. Stephanie discusses being called into the police station and back to court over her child many times after leaving because of her abuser. On top of this, her child support payments barely covered the cost to bus her daughter to school. In these two episodes, Stephanie also explains how her mental health led to physical problems which impacted her employment. As Kadisha said to us when discussing this topic, as an advocate herself who is connected to many DV organizations and stories through her work, most survivors enter shelter with varying levels of PTSD and anxiety resulting from ongoing abuse. This means that in addition to services to support their independence financially, families, including children, need access to mental health and health care treatment options for long term success. But, like Stephanie, without having experience or previous knowledge, it may take time to understand that these services are available to survivors and self-advocacy can likewise be difficult after such trauma. In these cases, health issues can also impact steady employment.

On top of this, we know that economic instability and homelessness can reverberate in cycles across family generations. In the same report from New Destiny Housing referenced above, data shows that children who experience homelessness face increased chances of housing instability as adults. As of September 2022, 1 in 6 heads of households in the DHS shelter system (families with children) reported being in shelter as kids. Stephanie from Season 4 Episodes 25-28 of HOV explained that she herself was once a child in shelter due to domestic violence prior to her own experiences as an adult. Likewise, in terms of health, the same can be said for long-term impact. Children who experience or witness domestic violence are more likely to experience mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse disorders as adults. These issues can have life-long impacts on education outcomes and economic security in adulthood. Providing opportunities for families to avoid shelter, maintain stable housing, and access supports to keep households healthy are critical for breaking generational cycles and creating community and long-term child well-being.

How We Can Impact Housing Security for Survivors

As mentioned in the previous Insight, CCC and partner organizations within the Family Homelessness Coalition (FHC) promote solutions to housing insecurity that directly benefit and help survivors of DV. Thanks to advocacy work, lived-expert testimonies, and advocates like Kadisha, we know that survivor economic security is the key ingredient to ending the troubling connection between DV and homelessness. With this understanding, CCC submitted oral and written testimony to a special City Council oversight hearing on domestic violence survivors and NYC shelter needs on October 9. In the testimony, CCC urges the City Administration to invest in programs and strategies that will accelerate DV survivor families’ housing stability and prevent shelter entry. CCC calls for the Administration to do the following:

• Work closely with HPD and other city agencies to fully enforce the recent inclusion of domestic survivor families in HPD homeless set-aside units.
• Expand CityFHEPS eligibility to include survivors fleeing abuse, regardless of immigration status. As CCC’s Keeping Track of NYC’s Children data book revealed, in FY23 over 16% of families with children that exited DHS shelter without a housing subsidy returned to shelter within 12 months, compared to less than 1% with a housing subsidy.
• Invest $6 million in ENDGender and Domestic Violence microgrant program. Advocates call for an increase of $4.8 million to the next FY Budget to fully fund this much needed program.
• Prioritize access to Homebase services, which are the first source of assistance for DV survivors when they exit shelter and need aftercare services. The CBOs who administer Homebase are facing increasing demand for care, and the City must ensure they have adequate resources to serve DV survivors and other individuals and families seeking housing stability and financial assistance.

In addition, CCC supports current legislation that would impact reporting on DV survivors to better understand shelter exits and housing needs. You can view the full testimony here.

CCC was also vocal about including survivors as an eligible population for City-funded supportive housing called NYC 15/15. Previously, survivors were not eligible unless they had experienced a lengthy shelter stay and had a diagnosed disability, like a serious mental illness or substance use disorder—requirements which data shows hindered eligibility because parents did not want to risk losing custody. In April, the City initially announced a set of policy changes that included changing eligibility for NYC 15/15 for survivors and we are pleased to report that after the October 9 hearing it was announced that the City officially removed these eligibility criteria for survivors, opening eligibility to more families.

As we continue to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month, please listen to the Hear Our Voices (HOV) podcast to learn more about DV and housing experiences from lived experts and advocates and organizations working to make an impact.

Listen to the HOV podcast on: YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast’s by clicking here or searching Hear Our Voices.