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NNEDV’s Housing Project addresses the intersection of homelessness and domestic violence, and works to improve victim’s housing options through collaboration, technical assistance, legislative advocacy and systems change.

Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children in the United States.  Many victims leave their housing to escape violence and do not have the resources to support housing alone.  Others are evicted from housing due to their batterer’s disruptive and often criminal behavior, or have terrible credit and rental histories due to tactics of financial abuse.  Victims are often also barred from housing due to the risk their batterers pose.

NNEDV is committed to addressing these injustices and increasing both the quantity and quality of housing options for victims through the following initiatives:

Collaboration and Systems Change

NNEDV works with national and federal agency partners to increase awareness about the dynamics of domestic violence and victim’s housing needs, to improve access for victims and systems response.  NNEDV presents at conferences and participates in expert panels at the national, state and local level, and provide training and technical assistance to government entities, non-profit organizations, Public Housing Authorities, children’s advocacy groups and anti-poverty organizations.  Upcoming initiatives include a national research project, aimed at documenting best practices when providing housing for victims.

Legislative Advocacy

NNEDV closely monitors and affects legislative initiatives and federal housing policies that impact homeless victims.  NNEDV provides information and resources to congressional staff; works with federal agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on legislative language and interpretation; and provides training and technical assistance on the Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) housing provisions.

Transitional Housing Technical Assistance

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, NNEDV provides comprehensive, specialized technical assistance and training to state and territorial domestic violence coalitions, local domestic violence programs, other nonprofit organizations and local and state agencies.  The Housing Project helps organizations create best practices in housing, transitional housing and related services for victims, and strengthens programs' response to victims with an emphasis on survivor-driven, empowerment-based services.

Transitional housing programs provide a critical bridge between emergency or crisis shelter services, and permanent housing. These programs bridge the gap for victims from leaving a violent home by providing short-term (6-24 months) housing and utilities assistance, permanent housing advocacy, and support services such as transportation, child care, employment counseling, financial literacy resources, and therapeutic support.

NNEDV is the national Technical Assistance provider for the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) Transitional Housing Program Grantees and the Recovery Act Transitional Housing Program Grantees.  Through comprehensive technical assistance, NNEDV provides grantees with a range of educational opportunities and access to resources through national trainings and individualized assistance.  Project activities include:

• Annual new grantee orientations
• Trainings on specific topics related to providing longer term housing to survivors
• Teleconferences and webinars
• Shared resources and information on best practices
• Policy and protocol development
• Iindividualized site visits

For more information, contact Alisha Donovan.