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Victims of domestic violence face homelessness, leaving hundreds of women at risk for fear of becoming homeless. A new study released last month by the Benioff Initiative on Housing and Homelessness at the University of California, San Francisco, finds that at least 17 percent of homeless people left their homes because of intimate partner violence.
Victims endure years of violence for fear of not having a place to sleep every night. Due to a lack of financial resources, many people end up living on the streets, putting their lives at risk and turning to drug use as an easy way out.
Dr. Anita Hargrave, associate professor at UCSF and principal investigator of the report “Toward Safety: Understanding Intimate Partner Violence and Homelessness"He explained that 40 percent of the participants in the report have suffered domestic violence in the last 6 months, he commented during a briefing conducted by Ethnic Media Services.
95 percent say they do not leave their homes due to high rent costs, so they prefer to stay and endure the abuse. Given these figures, it is clear that housing support is a key element for more women to decide to leave this life that puts them at constant risk.
Jennifer White-Reid, Senior Vice President of Domestic Violence Residential and Legal Programs at URI (Urban Resource Institute), explained that each night, they provide base housing to 3,000 people and annually to more than 40,000 people who are facing eviction or domestic violence, in addition to providing them with support for their economic problems.
"Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness, with 40 percent of children and women in the homeless system being there because of domestic violence.”, he commented Jennifer White-Reid.
She said the rise in domestic violence continues to disproportionately impact women of color.
He also noted that by reducing domestic violence, the number of homeless people will decrease.
White-Reid said the impact of domestic violence trauma must be analyzed in order to provide the necessary help, while highlighting that another important point to consider is economic abuse, which 98 percent of victims are involved in, and is a key reason why they stay or return to abusive relationships.
She also commented that sometimes the abuser forces the victim to withdraw money or buy things on credit, as a way of taking advantage of the situation, leaving the victim without the possibility of using credit.
Finally, she said that efforts are being made to invest in education, in appropriate programs that encourage people to save lives in the face of the alarming increase in homicides by victims of domestic violence, and to build a more united society that defends people who suffer violence.
Desiree Martinez, Executive Director of WE ARE NOT INVISIBLE, was homeless for five years and lived in her car for a long time, she also lived in shelters, garages and other temporary facilities, where she was exposed to risky situations that made her meet more people like her, showing her the value of raising her voice at all times.
"Today different doors have opened to speak and be heard, I have been able to have a permanent home, with a voucher for affordable housing, but, anyway, it makes me nervous that the rent keeps increasing but the voucher does not, soon I will not be able to use it, but I am hopeful that there will be different changes that will be carried out.”, Desiree added.
Experts agreed that homelessness leaves victims of domestic violence vulnerable and at risk of life, as a single blow or lack of respect is not enough; authorities act until the victim is at total risk.
Therefore, continuing to seek ways to guarantee access to housing and new opportunities to generate income will be key to reducing cases of domestic violence.
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