Introduction
The relationship between sexual violence and
housing is multi-layered and complex. Safe and affordable housing is a
protective factor against sexual violence (both victimization and
perpetration) and a basic need in recovering from a sexual assault. The
majority of sexual assaults take place in or near victims’ homes or the homes
of friends, relatives, or neighbors. Because of this, many victims wish to
relocate after their sexual assaults, but often find they cannot do so because
of limited resources. The effects of sexual violence can create an economic
downward spiral for many victims, jeopardizing their access to safe and
affordable housing. Homelessness increases the risks for both sexual violence
perpetration and victimization.
This collection was developed by the National Sexual Violence Resource
Center to assist communities in developing more effective strategies to
address this complex issue. Additional resources, including book titles,
articles, reports, and journals can be found by browsing the library
at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center or sending information
requests to resources@nsvrc.org.
* See the parallel Special Collection: Housing and Domestic Violence.
Overview of Sexual Violence and Homelessness
- Housing and Sexual
Violence Fact Sheet PDF (2 p.) by National Sexual Violence Resource
Center (July 2010)
This two page fact sheet offers information on
the impact of housing costs, housing and various forms of oppression,
and how advocates can help. [More
Info]
- Housing and Sexual
Violence: Overview of National Survey
PDF (12 p.) by National Sexual Violence Resource
Center (July 2010)
This report provides a summary of key survey
findings from a national survey on housing and sexual violence. [More
Info]
- Sexual Violence and
Homelessness PDF (2 p.) by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
(March 2006)
This bulletin discusses the links between
homelessness and sexual violence, barriers to receiving services and
information on what rape crisis centers can do to meet the needs of
people who are homeless. [More
Info]
- No Safe Place: Sexual
Assault in the Lives of Homeless Women
PDF (13 p.) HTML by Lisa A. Goodman, Ph.D., Katya Fels, &
Catherine Glenn, M.A., VAWnet: The National Online Resource Center on
Violence Against Women (September 2006)
This paper consolidates knowledge about the damaging
interplay between homelessness and sexual violence. It clarifies steps
researchers, policy-makers, and service providers can take to intervene
with victims and prevent future sexual assaults. [More
Info]
- Homelessness and
Family Trauma: The Case for Early Intervention
PDF (6 p.) by National Healthcare for the Homeless Council
(2003)
This edition of Healing Hands presents an
overview of the effects of domestic violence, abuse and neglect on young
children and discusses strategies for treatment and prevention for
people who are homeless. [More
Info]
- Homeless, Runaway
& Throwaway Youth: Sexual Victimization and the Consequences of Life
on the Streets PDF
(16 p.) by Janet Anderson, Editor, Washington Coalition of Sexual
Assault Programs (October 2004)
Volume 7, Issue 1 of the Research and Advocacy
Digest focuses on the intersection between sexual victimization and
homeless youth, and provides an overview of research on this topic area.
[More
Info]
- Homeless Youth and
Sexual Exploitation: Research Findings and Practice Implications
PDF (14 p.) by National Alliance to End Homelessness
(2009)
This issue brief reviews research regarding the
involvement of unaccompanied, homeless youth in various types of sexual
exploitation. The article recommends a series of programmatic responses
to meet their needs. [More
Info]
- Preventing
Homelessness and Ensuring Housing Rights for Victims of Landlord Sexual
Assault PDF (59 p.) by Terri Keeley, National Law Center on
Homelessness and Poverty (2006)
This report discusses the results of a survey of
landlord sexual assault and/or rape of tenants. It explores the ways
that sexual violence may contribute to homelessness and restricted
access to housing for individuals with low incomes. [More
Info]
- Overview of
Homelessness in Minnesota 2006: Key facts from the statewide survey
PDF (61 p.) by Wilder Research Center (April 2007)
Drawn from interviews with more than 3,000
homeless adults and youth throughout Minnesota, this research describes
some of the causes, effects and circumstances surrounding homelessness.
[More
Info]
- Pathways to and from
Homelessness: Women And Children In Chicago Shelters
PDF (16 p.) by R. Levin, L. McKean, & J.
Raphael, Center For Impact Research (2004)
This report provides information from structured
interviews with 45 homeless women living in emergency shelters (not
domestic violence shelters) in Chicago during May, June, and July 2003.
[More
Info]
Housing Needs of Sexual Assault Survivors
- Housing In America:
Recent Research On Housing Trends
by Campaign For Housing And Community Development Funding (December
2003)
This fact sheet (available from the NRCDV)
provides current information, charts and statistics on the lack of
affordability of housing. It provides current information on rural
housing, people with disabilities and immigrant families. [More
Info]
- Why Are People
Homeless? PDF
(7 p.) by National Coalition For The Homeless (2009)
This fact sheet provides an overview of current
poverty and housing statistics, as well as additional factors contributing
to homelessness. A list of resources for further study is also provided.
[More
Info]
- Unlocking the Door, A
Call to Action by The Women And
Housing Task Force, McAuley Institute (1996)
This report (available from the NRCDV) informs
advocates of the needs of women trying to secure safe, affordable
housing. Divided into 13 issues, it includes an overview, statistics and
recommendations for action, a resource list, and a success story. [More
Info]
- Women Need Safe,
Stable, Affordable Housing: A Study of Social Housing, Private Rental
Housing and Co-Op Housing in Winnipeg
HTML
(50 p.) PDF (50 p.) by M. McCracken & G. Watson, Prairie
Women's Health Centre Of Excellence (2004)
This report describes the differences between
private, public, and cooperative housing in Winnipeg, Canada and
supports the notion that co-op housing, because it is designed to give
residents a voice in governance, better suits the needs of women. [More
Info]
Resources for Victim Service Professionals and Other
Providers
- Housing and Sexual
Violence Technical Assistance Bulletin
PDF (4 p.) by National Sexual Violence Resource
Center (July 2010)
Sexual violence and housing are intricately
linked by several factors including access to affordable housing,
various forms of oppression and sex offender management. This
bulletin covers these topics including how advocates can help survivors.
[More
Info]
- 2010 Advocates' Guide
to Housing and Community Development Policy
PDF (284 p.) by National Low Income Housing
Coalition (2010)
This guide, issued/updated annually, is an
extremely practical and useful document for its breadth of review of
federal housing-related programs such as CDBG, Fair Housing, HOPE VI,
Housing Choice Vouchers, McKinney-Vento, and Public Housing. [More
Info]
- The Violence Against
Women Act: A Housing Toolkit for Advocates
PDF (104 p.) by National Housing Law Project (2008)
This toolkit is designed to provide advocates
with an overview of VAWA’s housing provisions and includes
administrative guidance, recent legal developments, and sample advocacy
materials. [More
Info]
- Fight Hate: A Prevention
and Response Guide for America's Neighborhoods. Community Guide
PDF (32 p.) by National Fair Housing Alliance and
Leadership Conference Education Fund (2000)
This manual provides legal information and steps
to build prevention and response strategies to housing related hate
activities. [More
Info]
- Federal Housing
Resource Guide PDF
(15 p.) Technical Assistance Collaborative (2001)
This manual lays out federal housing programs
including programs for the elderly and section 8 housing. [More
Info]
- Homeless Assistance
Programs: A Guide To Counting Unsheltered Homeless People
PDF (123 p.) by US Department Of Housing And Urban
Development (Updated January 2008)
This guide is offered in chapters and covers the
basics of counting unsheltered homeless people, counting unsheltered
people in public places, counts based on use of non-shelter services and
sample data collection instruments. [More
Info]
- Women’s Homeless
Shelters: Information Resources for the Homeless
HTML
(4 p.) by Housing and Urban Development (2008)
This website provides resources and contact
information for shelters specifically for women. [More
Info]
Public Policy Approaches
Federal: Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA) 2005 Housing Provisions
VAWA 2005 (Public Law 109-162) is the second
reauthorization of the historic Violence Against Women Act originally passed
by the U.S. Congress in 1994. In VAWA 2005, there was, for the first time, a
concentrated focus on housing issues explicitly related to domestic and
sexual violence. These new provisions appear in Title VI.
- The Impact of the
Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA) on the Housing Rights and
Options of Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence
PDF (10 p.) by National Law Center on Homelessness
& Poverty (March 2006)
This Q&A document explains the key housing
provisions of VAWA 2005, including housing-related grant programs,
amendments to public housing and section 8 regarding eviction defense,
eligibility, and portability, HMIS changes, and new planning
requirements. [More
Info]
- VAWA Confidentiality
HTML (1 p.) by National Network to End Domestic
Violence (2009)
This is a Q&A about VAWA, how it works and
what information it protects. [More
Info]
- VAWA 2005 and Public
and Section 8 Housing HTML (4 p.) by National Law Center on Homelessness
& Poverty (2009)
This wiki provides information on the requirements
for Public Housing Authorities and Section 8 landlords under VAWA,
including HUD Guidance and model Public Housing Authority plans. [More
Info]
Federal: Affordable Housing
Affordable housing, under federal guidelines, is
housing that costs an owner or renter no more than 30% of household income.
Households are "rent burdened" if they pay between 30 and 50
percent of income towards housing costs. Those households paying more than
50% of their income towards housing costs are considered "severely rent
burdened."
- America's Neighbors:
The Affordable Housing Crisis And The People It Affects
PDF (21 p.) by National Low Income Housing Coalition
(February 2004)
This short report is an excellent source for
statistics on housing issues from a national perspective. The report
analyzes housing problems in comparison to food insecurity and lack of
health insurance. It is an excellent resource for talking points. [More
Info]
- Out Of Reach 2010:
Renters in the Great Recession, the Crisis Continues
PDF
(226 p.) by National Low Income Housing Coalition (June 2010)
This report analyzes the national housing wage
for a two bedroom unit, lack of affordable housing for extremely low
income renters, inadequacy of minimum wage earnings and SSI benefits to
pay for housing, and the insufficiency of the average renter wage. [More
Info]
- Priced Out In 2008:
The Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities
PDF (54 p.) by Emily Cooper, Henry Korman, Ann
O’Hara, and Andrew Zovistoski, Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc.
& Consortium For Citizens w/Disabilities Housing Task Force (2009)
This biannual report helps measure the gap
between HUD's Fair Market Rents and the incomes of individuals and
families who rely on monthly SSI benefits, to shed light on the housing
crisis being faced by people with disabilities. [More
Info]
- Federal Housing
Resource Guide PDF
(15 p.) Technical Assistance Collaborative (2001)
This manual lays out federal housing programs
including programs for the elderly and section 8 housing. [More
Info]
- Decade Of HOPE VI:
Research Findings And Policy Challenges
HTML
(72 p.) PDF (72 p.) by B. Katz, M. Cunningham, K. Brown, J.
Gustafson, & M. A. Turner, Urban Institute (2004)
This research and policy report offers an
extensive overview of the HOPE VI program. The introduction provides
historical background, evaluation challenges and suggested reforms. It
includes a description of the policy debates surrounding HOPE VI. [More
Info]
- The Violence Against
Women Act: A Housing Toolkit for Advocates
PDF (104 p.) by National Housing Law Project (2008)
This toolkit is designed to provide advocates with
an overview of VAWA’s housing provisions and includes administrative
guidance, recent legal developments, and sample advocacy materials. [More
Info]
Federal: Discrimination
& Fair Housing
Discrimination & fair housing refers to laws,
policies and practices addressing unequal and biased treatment of people
based upon prohibited classifications, e.g. race or color, national origin,
religion, sex, familial status (having one or more children under the age of
18) or disability.
- The Future of Fair
Housing: Report of the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal
Opportunity PDF (99 p.) by National Fair Housing Alliance
(December 2008)
This report presents a summary of
recommendations from the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal
Opportunity. [More
Info]
- A Step in the Right
Direction: 2010 Fair Housing Trends Report
PDF (57 p.) by National Fair Housing Alliance (May
2010)
This report makes recommends to improve the
state of fair housing in the U.S. Additionally, the 2005 report
specifically addresses the nature and extent of racial segregation in
the U.S. [More
Info]
- Discrimination in
Metropolitan Housing Markets: National Results from Phase 1, Phase 2,
and Phase 3 of the Housing Discrimination Study (HDS)
HTML (5 p.) by M. Turner & S. Ross (2005)
These reports focuses on housing discrimination
experienced by African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders,
and Native Americans when they search for housing in metropolitan areas.
[More
Info]
- Housing Discrimination
Against Abused Women PDF (2 p.) by National Law Center On Homelessness
& Poverty (2006)
This Q&A discusses discrimination in housing
and the legal avenues that DV survivors can use. This includes
information regarding the Fair Housing Act and when to contact an
attorney. [More
Info]
State and Local
- State Law Guide:
Housing Protections for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence and
Stalking HTML by Legal Momentum (Updated Regularly)
This guide lists state laws and recent
legislative proposals addressing DV and SA housing-related issues, including
prohibitions on housing discrimination, defenses to eviction,
termination of leases, and penalties for seeking police assistance. [More
Info]
Housing Rights Information
- Housing Rights of
Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
HTML (3 p.) by Sargent Shriver National Center on
Poverty Law
Brochures, flyers and tools are available for
download and distribution in a variety of languages regarding the
housing rights of victims of domestic and sexual violence. [More
Info]
- Housing Rights of
Survivors with Disabilities PDF (29 p.) by National Housing Law Project (2008)
This slideshow covers common housing issues that
survivors with disabilities face; housing rights and protections
available for survivors with disabilities; and using reasonable
accommodation laws to advocate for survivors' housing needs. [More
Info]
- The Safe Homes Act and
VAWA: How to Protect Victims of Violence in Private Rental Market,
Public, and Subsidized Housing Webinar
PDF (41 p.) by Sargent Shriver National Center on
Poverty Law (December 2008)
This slideshow is from a webinar for victim
service providers to discuss how to protect the housing rights of
victims of violence under the Safe Homes Act and the Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA). [More
Info]
- Public Housing
Occupancy Guidebook PDF (235 p.) by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (2003)
The HUD Public Housing Occupancy Guidebook is a
reference tool for public housing staff. There is not a specific chapter
about sexual violence, but it does include information about
nondiscrimination and civil rights. [More
Info]
Additional Resources: Organizations
Council for Affordable and Rural Housing
"The Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH) is a national
non-profit trade organization. For 30 years, CARH has served as the nation's
premier association for participants in the affordable rural housing
profession, including: Builders, Owners, Developers, Managers, Non-profits,
Housing Authorities, Syndicators, Accountants, Architects, Attorneys,
Bankers, and Companies that supply goods and services to the industry. There
is no other association that solely represents the needs of the entire rural
housing industry."
National Alliance to End Homelessness
"The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a leading voice on the
issue of homelessness. The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic,
cost-effective policy solutions. The Alliance works collaboratively with the
public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity,
leading to stronger programs and policies that help communities achieve their
goal of ending homelessness."
National
Housing Law Project
"NHLP works to achieve its mission through public policy advocacy and by
providing legal and technical assistance, training, publications, and
resources to a broad audience of housing attorneys and affordable housing
advocacy organizations. Our initiatives focus on issues that will have the
greatest impact on the housing rights of the poor."
National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
"People fleeing domestic violence experience a state of uncertainty;
gathering clothes, children, and medicine as they leave. What are their
housing options? A shelter, a friend's couch, public housing, the street?
NLCHP's Domestic Violence Program works to improve access to housing for
domestic violence survivors and their families. We work to develop and
implement policy changes, build networks, and broaden education efforts in
the housing, legal, and domestic violence communities. Our efforts expand
access to housing for those fleeing abuse. We also prevent victims of
domestic violence from losing their housing due to the violence committed
against them."
National
Low Income Housing Coalition
"The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to
achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest
incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes. We hope you
will use our website to learn more about housing affordability in your
community and nationally, and to help you take action for better and more
affordable housing choices."
National
Network to End Domestic Violence: Transitional Housing
"NNEDV provides technical assistance to state domestic violence
coalitions, local domestic violence programs, other nonprofit organizations,
and local and state agencies in creating best practices for transitional
housing and related services for women fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault
or stalking. Transitional housing and related services bridge the gap from
leaving a violent home to self-sufficiency by providing short-term housing
assistance, including rental or utilities payment assistance; support
services to locate and secure permanent housing; and services such as
transportation, child care and employment counseling."
Office
on Violence Against Women: Transitional Housing Assistance Program
"The OVW Transitional Housing Assistance Program Grant for Victims of
Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault Program
(Transitional Housing Assistance Program) focuses on a holistic,
victim-centered approach to provide transitional housing services that move
individuals into permanent housing. Grants made under this grant program
support programs that provide assistance to victims of domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are in need of transitional
housing, short-term housing assistance, and related support services. It is
critical that successful transitional housing programs provide a wide range
of flexible and optional services that reflect the differences and individual
needs of victims and that allows victims to choose the course of action that
is best for them. Transitional housing programs may offer individualized
services such as counseling, support groups, safety planning, and advocacy
services as well as practical services such as licensed child care,
employment services, transportation vouchers, telephones, and referrals to
other agencies. Trained staff and case managers may also be available to work
with clients to help them determine and reach their goals."
SAMHSA Homelessness Resource Center
The Homelessness Resource Center is an "interactive community of
providers, consumers, policymakers, researchers, and public agencies at
federal, state, and local levels. We share state-of-the art knowledge and
promising practices to prevent and end homelessness through: training and
technical assistance; publications and materials; on-line learning
opportunities; and networking and collaboration."
US
Department of Housing and Urban Development
"HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities
and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the
housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need
for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for
improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free
from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business."
USDA: Rural Information Center
"The Rural Information Center (RIC) provides services for rural
communities, local officials, organizations, businesses and rural citizens working
to maintain the vitality of America's rural areas."
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