DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND HOUSING What Housing and

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND HOUSING What Housing and Homeless Organizations Need to Know Section 5: Now What Do I Do? – Scenarios for Discussion 1

SCENARIO 1 • There’s current DV! • We don’t have the resources—our location isn’t confidential! • She needs to go to a domestic violence agency, but she wants a housing program. – What are your fears? – What can you do? 2

Tips: Safety Concerns Safety Planning • Safety planning is a process, not a one-time event or check list • Safety planning is tailored to the survivor’s life and daily activities—each day may even be a little different • Ask the survivor what the abuser’s power and control tactics are • Listen to the survivors and ask what s/he needs • Survivor activities and abuser’s tactics will guide the safety planning process 3

SCENARIO 2 • We know there’s DV in that unit, but they’re both violent! – What do we do? How do we know who the victim is? 4

Tips: Talk to them–separately • You can’t rely on gender or a list of behaviors • Consider CONTEXT, INTENT, EFFECT to see who is establishing a system of power & control • Assess needs versus screening out & evicting both. • Is there actual or imminent danger to other tenants or to program/facility employees? 5

SCENARIO 3 • He assaulted her right in the parking lot! • There were lots of witnesses, but she doesn’t want to do anything about it and denies that there’s DV 6

Tips: • Remember the reasons a survivor stays in or returns to an abusive relationship: – Fear – Love – Economic Security – Cultural/community pressure – Kids need both parents – Doesn’t feel like she can make it on her own Is there actual or imminent danger to other tenants or program/facility employees? 7

SCENARIO 4 • We bifurcated the lease and evicted him, but he’s still there all the time! 8

Tips: • She may need help filing for or enforcing a Protection Order • She may have to comply with a court order for visitation with the children • He’s homeless and has no other options—she can’t say no • She misses him 9

SCENARIO 5 • She has told us that she doesn’t feel safe in her unit and wants to move • What can we do? We have no place to move her 10

Tips: • What does your model emergency transfer plan say? • If you need to develop one, consider – Your partnership with the DV program and emergency shelter while transfer in process – Hotel voucher and rental unit for belongings – Prioritize these cases for the next available unit – Seek agreements with other PHAs or housing programs 11

SCENARIO 6 • We’re trying to help her find another apartment, but she doesn’t show up for appointments or follow through with the things she needs to do 12

Tips: Trauma Impacts • • • Hyper-arousal, flashbacks, nightmares, startle reaction Memory and concentration problems Short attention span; easily distracted Problem-solving deficits Intrusive thoughts, confusion Slow reaction time Loss of sense of time and space Decreased awareness of self and others Trouble understanding abstract concepts Compromised information- processing Trouble following complex directions 13

What it May Be Mistaken For • • Apathy Poor self-worth Lack of follow-through, unreliability Disinterest in getting help Uncooperative or oppositional manner “Spaciness” Poor judgment, inability to make good choices Deeper mental health issues 14