For Domestic Violence Survivors and their Family, Friends and Co-workers

Safe, Confidential Housing

The most dangerous time for a survivor of domestic violence is when she chooses to end the relationship. At this point, she is more likely to be harmed or even killed than at any other time during the relationship. Many survivors do leave safely, however, and careful planning with a professional domestic violence advocate can greatly increase the chances for a safe exit from a dangerous relationship.

Enriched Housing
Finding a safe and confidential place to live after leaving the relationship can be very challenging. For this reason, the City of Seattle funds service-enriched, confidential housing programs for domestic violence victims within the city. In these programs, women and children receive 24-hour supportive services from professional advocates. During this short-term stay, they develop a safety plan, seek long-term housing and work on legal issues, increasing financial stability, and finding jobs.

Hotel Vouchers
In addition to service-enriched short-term housing, the City supports an emergency hotel voucher program. Each year, roughly 175 Seattle families fleeing abuse will access vouchers through several agencies that provide comprehensive services to those affected by domestic violence. A hotel stay may last as long as two weeks, and will give the family the opportunity to develop safety strategies and identify another safe place to go.

Transitional Housing
Many survivors of domestic violence are not able to return to their home because of ongoing safety concerns. Affordable housing is not easy to find, especially for someone without financial resources. In order to support the women and their children who become homeless because of domestic violence, the City funds longer-term housing options, where residents may stay for as long as two years. This program ensures that 33 families at a given time may have additional support while they search for permanent housing.

Bridges to Housing is a new transitional housing project recently funded by the
U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. A partnership of public and private agencies, the project will move survivors of domestic violence from crisis and homelessness to safe, stable housing. Transitional housing services (rental assistance), along with domestic violence and other supportive services, will be provided to participants for six to 24 months. Participating agencies are: International District Housing Alliance, New Beginnings, the Salvation Army, and the Seattle Housing Authority.

The City of Seattle started funding housing and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence in the 1970s. About 400 women and children are helped each year.

The City of Seattle contracts with nonprofit, community-based organizations to provide services. Contracting is determined through a competitive process that is conducted by the Seattle Human Services Department at least once every four years. Funding depends upon program performance and funding availability. The current four-year cycle ends in 2009. The 2008 allocation for shelter and housing was $958,700 and the 2009 allocation is $946,393.

2009 Funded Agencies and Programs

• International District Housing Alliance provides emergency and transitional housing for domestic violence survivors.
• New Beginnings serves survivors through an emergency shelter and a transitional housing program.
• Salvation Army provides emergency shelter at the Catherine Booth House and transitional housing at Hickman House.
• Seattle Housing Authority is a public corporation that provides affordable housing to more than 25,500 people who earn less than 80 percent of Seattle's median income.
• YWCA Seattle-King-Snohomish County coordinates the hotel vouchers program in Seattle.

Reports

Domestic Violence and Homelessness Strategic Plan 2007-2010 was developed by the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Division Housing Committee for the City of Seattle to end homelessness for domestic violence survivors and their children. Many of the plan recommendations are consistent with those made by the Committee to End Homelessness in King County and its subcommittees. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Division works with task forces, community-based organizations, and Committee to End Homelessness subcommittees as appropriate to implement the plan’s recommendations.

Issue Brief: Domestic Violence and Homelessness in King County

Information

For more information, call the Seattle Human Services Department’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention program at 206-233-2774, or e-mail endviolence@seattle.gov.

For more information about our partners and other programs and services, visit:

• King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• King County Sexual Assault Resource Center

Links

• Current Funding Opportunities
• News