“The day he was arrested and charged is the day me and my children ran. We’ve been running ever since.”
- Angela, Domestic Violence survivor
As Alanna Vagianos reminds us, criminalizing unhoused persons has a major impact on women in abusive relationships. When you question why women do not leave, factor in that affordable housing is harder and harder to come by.
Home Isn’t A Guarantee For Survivors Fleeing Domestic Abusers During COVID-19
Affordable housing is a modern human rights issue that deserves longtime focus and solutions from lawmakers. Then and now, Women's rights activists have highlighted this life-saving need for both Survivors of domestic Violence and sexual violence.
We must continue to see people without homes as people in need of housing, food, security, safety, physical health services, mental health services, and humanity. Frustrated leaders aside, we must continue to see people without homes as people.
- 38% of all victims of domestic violence become homeless at some point in their lives.
National Network to End Domestic Violence
- 16% of homeless persons are victims of domestic violence.
Source: The U.S. Conference of Mayors 2013 Status Report on Hunger & Homelessness, A 25-City Survey (2013).
- Approximately 50% of all women who are homeless report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness.
Source: “Pressing Issues Facing Families Who Are Homeless.”
“Relocation is a huge life event. It’s hard under the best circumstances to pick up and move. But under the worst possible circumstances you can imagine: where you’re scared for your life, the well-being of your kids, you don’t have a lot of choice and resources, and there’s a bureaucratic challenge around every corner? It’s terrifying. Especially during COVID.”
- Julia Devanthéry, attorney and lecturer at Harvard Law School
