October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
One cause of homelessness is individuals and families fleeing domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence).
When people leave domestic violence, it often involves leaving their home. And some become homeless. Additionally, it sometimes involves leaving the household’s main source of income. And because they have experienced trauma, counseling and other mental health services are essential. Finally, many intimate partner violence victims need low-cost or free legal assistance.
Help Available Locally
Support for those fleeing domestic violence often includes emergency shelter and supportive housing. Our partner, YWCA Greater Cincinnati, operates an emergency shelter, housing, and other supportive programs for households leaving intimate partner violence. They are an integral part of our local homeless services system.
It can be a scary time for heads of household and for young children. That’s why it’s important to have an organization that is solely dedicated to assisting households fleeing domestic violence. The staff are trained on trauma-informed care. And they know how to keep people safe.
Additionally, having a safe place to call home can also prevent future violence. From our friends at National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Having an affordable place to call home is crucial for this population, to both reduce their risk of homelessness as well as the possibility of future violence.”
Also, the YWCA also provides Safety Planning training for staff members at partner organizations. Trainees learn how to respond to survivors from a supportive, survivor-centered framework. As well as learn how to work with their program participants who are experiencing intimate partner violence to develop a safety plan.
Domestic Violence Awareness in October
The YWCA Greater Cincinnati planned several events this October to raise awareness. Try to join one.
Who is Homeless in Cincinnati?
Learn more about who is experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati. All the individuals represented in the statistics on that page are literally homeless. Which means that they are either sleeping on the streets, in an emergency shelter, or fleeing domestic violence.
