Housing

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  Should Shelter Locations Be Made Public?

  Domestic violence shelters often keep their locations confidential. But some are public—and they have positive outcomes to report | When we think about domestic violen... read more

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  Can You Be Turned Away from a Shelter for Drug Use?

  What to do if substance use disorder is keeping you from getting the help you need | The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act expressly prohibits domestic shelt... read more

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  Shelters Work to Keep COVID-19 Out

  Domestic shelters are taking precautions like everyone else, and they’re open and ready to help | With most states still advocating social distancing practices, you ma... read more

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  'I Stayed at a Domestic Violence Shelter'

  One survivor mom talks about the turmoil of deciding to escape with her three young children to an emergency shelter | Tricia was 34 when she found refuge at a domesti... read more

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  Not in My Neighborhood

  Does a shelter make a community less safe, or cause home values to drop? | Most of us would probably agree that homelessness is a bad thing. Domestic violence, too—bot... read more

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  How Domestic Violence Hotlines Triage Callers

  Due to limited space, not everyone in need can get into shelter | Sometimes survivors looking for shelter are surprised or hurt to hear that their local shelter can’t ... read more

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  How Many Homeless People are Fleeing Domestic Violence?

  Organizers of a one-night census hope to discover who is on the streets because it’s safer than home | In a one-night annual count this past January, organized by the ... read more

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  Ready to Relocate?

  8 questions to ask yourself before making a move | Whether you want to distance yourself from an abuser for safety reasons or you just want a fresh start, relocati... read more

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  Ask Amanda: What Happens If Shelter Is Worse Than Home?

  Shelters should always hear out survivors’ concerns—what to do if they don’t | Q: At the shelter I’m currently at, there are bed bugs, they were feeding us expired ... read more

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  Rules vs. Rights

  More and more shelters are taking a fewer-rules-are-better approach to give power back to survivors | Maybe you were told when to speak and what you could say. Or, ... read more

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  Domestic Violence in the Transgender Community

  Rates of intimate partner violence are high and barriers stand in the way of getting help | Domestic violence affects people with any gender identity, and transgender... read more

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  Who Pays for Damages?

  Here’s what to do when you want to keep your housing, but your abuser left behind damages | Your abusive partner is gone—and you’re ready to get on with your life. ... read more

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  Breaking Your Lease Without Breaking the Bank

  Options for survivors to terminate their lease and move on | When home, sweet home has become more like home, terrifying home, how do you get out? If you’re ren... read more

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  Abuse Survivors Not Welcome

  Domestic violence survivors can face discrimination when looking for housing | There are lots of barriers survivors of domestic violence face when searching for housin... read more

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  Finding a Safe Place

  Five questions to ask yourself if your local DV shelter is full | Imagine making this decision—do you spend another day in your home with your abusive partner, or d... read more