Should Transitional Housing Programs Do More to Help Domestic Violence Survivors? (H.R. 6701)

What is H.R. 6701?

(Updated July 15, 2019)

This bill — the Helping End Abusive Living Situations (HEALS) Act — would aid domestic violence survivors in their search for homes and provide the recovery resources they need. It’d prioritize funding for domestic violence victims’ transitional housing, increase flexibility in transitional housing programs so that survivors can get back on their feet, and direct the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to research more housing options to support victims of domestic violence in order to outline a holistic response to survivors’ housing needs.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Level the playing field in the HUD scoring process for transitional housing that services domestic violence victims;

• Alter HUD’s selection criteria for community transitional housing providers to include evaluating an organization’s success in addressing the effects of domestic violence by creating safety-focused outcome measures;

• Guarantee an avenue for defunded transitional housing programs to re-apply for federal funding and allow programs to receive the assistance and technical support they need;

• Initiate research on the best housing approaches for survivors of domestic abuse and assault, taking the impact on trauma into consideration; and

• Authorize rapid rehousing programs to provide survivors with at least six months, and no more than 24 months, of assistance.

HUD would provide Congress with a report on the trends in allocating resources to address survivors’ housing needs, as well as increased allocations’ impact on DV housing projects.

Finally, this bill would require communities to consider housing models, including domestic violence transitional housing, equally.

Argument in favor

Access to safe housing that meets their specific needs is essential for domestic violence survivors, as a lack of safe housing is often a barrier to them leaving abusive partners. Increasing HUD’s support for domestic violence survivor housing programs is an important way in which the government can support those leaving dangerous situations.

Argument opposed

There’s already a range of housing options available to domestic violence survivors. Rather than increasing HUD’s role in reviewing and selecting among these options, it’d be better to simply increase federal government support for existing domestic violence transitional housing programs.

Impact

Domestic violence survivors; transitional housing; and Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Cost of H.R. 6701

A CBO cost estimate for this bill is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced this bill to aid domestic violence survivors in their search for a home and ensure that they receive the recovery resources they need:

“As a former criminal court judge and prosecutor, I saw firsthand how difficult it was for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault to find the resources necessary to recover and rebuild their lives. One of the most critical resources needed by all victims is a safe place to live. The journey to survivorship begins in a secure and stable home environment. In order to help provide this, I am introducing [this bill to] ensure that survivors have the safe home they need and the services necessary to ensure their recovery.”

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), who introduced the Senate version of this bill in December 2017, added:

“When I talk with the folks who provide critical intervention services to victims of domestic violence, the most important issue is often victims’ need for immediate, safe refuge and supportive services that recognize the trauma they have experienced. By diverting funding away from transitional housing, the federal government has been inadvertently forcing communities to shutter transitional housing facilities, sometimes leaving victims of domestic violence without a safe alternative. Our bipartisan bill would fix this problem by helping to level the field for transitional housing and encouraging housing options that best support survivors — so that women and children have the residential stability to permanently escape their abusers. We must continue working to stop the spread of family violence to keep our communities strong and safe, and this bill is a step forward  in making sure victims receive the housing, safety, and trauma support they need to begin the process of healing and recovery.”

The National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and other organizations support this bill. In a joint letter, these organizations wrote:

“Domestic abuse is a leading cause of homelessness among women – as many as 57% of all homeless women report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness. Abusers often sabotage a victim’s economic stability, making it difficult for victims to find rental properties because of damaged credit, rental, and employment histories as a result of abuse. Consequently, domestic violence victims at are an increased risk of homelessness. Many victims are forced to choose between homelessness and remaining in a home where they are abused, beaten, intimidated and controlled… Survivors’ access to safe, affordable housing is a critical component in their ability to escape violence and rebuild their lives. Nationally, in a single day in 2016 domestic violence programs were unable to meet 7,914 requests for service, 66% of which were for safe housing. Unfortunately, changes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Continuum of Care (CoC) funding and interpretation at the community level have resulted in reduced funding for domestic violence specific housing programs. Domestic violence survivors have unique safety, confidentiality, and trauma-related needs that must be addressed in DV survivor-centered housing… We are grateful that the HEALS Act centers the needs of survivors, and would help ensure that survivors and their children have access to safe housing to help them heal from trauma and rebuild their lives.”

This bill has the support of one cosponsor, a Democrat.

Of Note: According to North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services (CAWS North Dakota) Executive Director Janelle Moos, federal funds urgently needed for transitional housing that serves domestic violence survivors have been shifted to other HUD housing programs in recent years. That’s had the effect of limiting the scope of survivor-focused transitional housing and endangering the safety of victims who face economic barriers to finding alternative housing. In one survey, 51.5% of U.S. domestic violence survivors who sought housing services didn’t receive them, meaning they could’ve been forced to stay in, or return to, abusive environments for lack of alternatives.

Abusers in domestic violence situations often sabotage their victims’ economic stability, making it difficult for victims to find rental properties due to damaged credit, rental, and employment histories stemming from their abuse. This puts domestic violence survivors at an increased risk of violence, and forces them to choose between homelessness and remaining in homes where they are abused, beaten, intimidated, and controlled.

According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s (NNEDV) 11th annual Domestic Violence Counts: National Census of Domestic Violence Services, on September 14, 2016, nearly 8,000 victims were turned away from transitional housing because there wasn’t enough housing to meet the need.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) Press Release
  
• National Alliance to End Sexual Violence and Others - Letter (In Support)