1. By Ivelisse Rivera De Jesus Community Psychology
Community Analysis: African American Mothers who become homeless due to Domestic Violence
By Ivelisse Rivera De Jesus
Community Psychology

2. Introduction This presentation is based on real situations
Defines Home, Homelessness and domestic violence
Factors that contribute to homelessness
DV Cycle
Myths about domestic violence
Real facts about domestic violence among AAW

3. Continuation Main reasons not to leave an abusive relationship
Existent services available to this community
Includes a list of all the special needs of this particular community
Large demand for DV services and budget cuts

4. What is homelessness?

5. What is a home? A space that belongs to an individual (own space)
A space that brings : security, is safe, brings refuge from rain and cold, has a place to store and prepare food, a place to sleep and have appropriate sanitary facilities

6. Definition Homeless
Is defined as an inadequate experience of connectedness with family and or community (from
Anyone who lives in places not meant for human habitation (parks, cars, sidewalks, abandoned buildings or streets)
Anyone who receives a emergency shelter service
Anyone who has been discharged from: jail, mental health institution, a substance abuse treatment facility or anyone fleeing a domestic violence situation and has no subsequent residence identified

7. Federal definition Lack of fixed and adequate nighttime housing
Place publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations
Public or private facility not designed for regular sleeping accommodations ( provided by The Department of Housing and Urban Development)

8. Factors contributing homelessness
Domestic Violence
Low wages
Mental illness
Poverty
Tragedy
PTSD
Job loss
Lack of affordable housing

9. Continuation Physical disabilities Natural disaster
Lack of child support
Severe depression
Divorce
Decline on public assistance
Drugs and alcohol among others

10. What is Domestic Violence?

11. Definition
Pattern of behaviors used by an abuser to control the behavior and life of the victim
Most common form of violence
It occurs in any family regardless of their race, religion, social status and education
It can be either physical or sexual assault, mental/ emotional and or verbal abuse
Abuser are extremely jealous and go to extremes to maintain control (retrieved from

12. Domestic Violence is a cycle?

13. Domestic Violence Cycle

14. Myths about not leaving an abusive relationship
Low self-esteem
There is little support for the theory that low self-esteem cause’s victims to become involved in abusive relationships
Some victims may experience a decrease in self-esteem as a result of being abused, since perpetrators frequently degrade, humiliate, and criticize victims 
 

15. Myths about not leaving an abusive relationship
DV victims never leave an abusive relationship or they get involved in another abusive relationship
Victims will leave the relationship multiple times.
It may take several attempts to permanently separate because abusers use violence, financial control, or threats about the children, to compel victims to return.
Lack of support from friends, family members, or professionals, such as court personnel, law enforcement officers, counselors, or clergy members, may cause victims to return.
Since the risk of further violence often increases after victims separate from their abusers, it can be even harder for victims to leave if they cannot obtain effective legal relief.

16. Myths about not leaving an abusive relationship
Batterers abuse their partners or spouses because of alcohol or drug abuse
It Commonly used as an excuse
It does not cause DV
Might increase the frequency and severity of violence episodes
Requiring batterers to attend only substance abuse treatment programs will not effectively end the violence (might lead to other programs)

17. Real facts about Domestic Violence among African American Women
Suffer from deadly violence from family members at rates much higher than any other racial group in United States
Bad housing, poor education, unemployment, underemployment, inadequate vocational skills
The density of liquor stores in the inner cities, influence and use of alcohol and family breakdowns contribute to DV

18. Main reasons not to leave an abusive relationship
African American women have fewer options in the search of marital partners
Tend to have lower incomes
This women are reluctant to call the police, because of the racial injustice within the criminal justice system (retrieved from

19. Continuation
There might be fewer support centers such as women's center available as a place of refuge for African American women

20. Services available for domestic violence victims
24 Hour Crisis Hotline
Emergency Shelter
Individual Counseling
Support Groups
Legal Advocacy
Information and Referrals
Community Education
Children's Programs

21. Assistance to victims
Victim/witness program- helps to answer questions about court procedures (arrangements to attend to court and meet the prosecutor)
Domestic violence program-provides support, information and/ or shelter assistance for you and your child
Legal aid society- offers legal assistance and information on custodies, divorce and child support

22. Continuation
Crime Victim Assistance INFO-LINE- Provide information and referral services to victims, Inform victims of their rights under Virginia’s Crime Victim and Witness Rights Act and provide crisis intervention as needed
Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline – helps you to get in touch with your local victim/witness program, domestic violence program and/or court service unit
Retrieved from:

23. Primary needs of this community
Legal assistance (not offered by hotlines, only referrals)
Emergency shelter Services and transitional housing
Financial resources ( example: food stamps) Most of the time they do refunds to victims, not immediate services
Battering intervention programs
Counseling programs
Provided by an anonymous interview on a crisis hotline

24. HELP

25. Large demand for domestic violence services
Over 53,000 adults and children receive DV assistance in a single day in USA
More than 7,700 request were unmet due to the lack of funding and staff of DV agencies
(Info provided by National Census for Domestic Violence Services NCDVS)
61% of unmet request were for emergency shelter and transitional housing

26. Continuation
Domestic violence programs are struggling to meet huge demands for shelters and advocacy services (due to cuts in 2008 federal budget)
Due to cuts victims will have fewer resources available
When programs don’t have an adequate funding to operate, victims have no choice but to return to their abusers

27. Fiscal Year 2008 federal budget
Continuation
Fiscal Year 2008 federal budget
Slashes $35 million from VOCA (Victims of crime act) Who serves over 3 million victims a year
Cuts $2.2 million from the Legal Assistance and applies a 1.74% rescission to labor and human services funding, creating a devastating $2.2 million cut to Family Violence Prevention and Service Act

28. Continuation
The NCDVS collected a national count of adults and children who received life saving services
During the 24hr survey, 53,000 adults and children received DV services including:
16,000 for emergency shelter
Over 8,600 who lived in transitional housing
28,000 who received non-residential services such as counseling, legal advocacy and children support groups
More than 20,000 calls were answered (14 calls per minute)

29. Other important facts found
Shelters are FULL of people (some are closed momentary)
The is no immediate financial support
Lack of legal representation
Over a 8 week waiting list for counseling
Lack of staff to work on hotlines
Huge amount of federal cuts for HELP!

30. Conclusion Domestic violence is a continuous cycle in growth
Most of the myths about DV are misinterpreted by society
Services are available but need more support from government
The primary need of the community is legal assistance and shelter
If non of the above are provided victims become homeless

31. Bibliography www.ndvh.org www.samaritanhouseva.org