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

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? SCENARIO 1 2

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 Tips: Safety Concerns 3

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? SCENARIO 2 4

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? Tips: Talk to them–separately 5

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 SCENARIO 3 6

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? Tips: 7

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

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 Tips: 9

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 SCENARIO 5 10

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 Tips: 11

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 SCENARIO 6 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