Housing for Survivors is a Human Right

You might be surprised to hear that when advocates are asked what the biggest challenge for survivors is, they overwhelmingly respond, “Housing”.

Throughout the years housing has become an integral piece of domestic and sexual violence advocacy both here in Vermont and nationally. Historically, people fleeing violence would stay in an emergency shelter as a short-term solution, but this has been steadily changing. In 2020 the average stay for individuals in a domestic or sexual violence shelter in Vermont was 77 days. This increase in length of stay is due to a variety of barriers that survivors now face with accessing and maintaining safe and affordable housing.

Domestic violence remains the leading cause of homelessness for women and children. Homelessness in and of itself is also a risk factor for violence. Studies have shown that homeless women experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence before and during homelessness. Victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking in Vermont face many of the economic hurdles victims across the country face. However, given the rural nature of our state, frequently Vermont survivors also have to grapple with a lack of transportation and geographic isolation.

Vermont is experiencing an affordable housing crisis that has been ongoing for many years but has been significantly exacerbated by the pandemic. Too often we are seeing survivors who have been granted housing assistance and services to support them in housing remain in temporary shelter placements or emergency motels simply because there is nowhere else for them to go.

Member Spotlight:

Steps to End Domestic Violence supports survivors of domestic violence who are navigating Chittenden County’s expensive housing markets as they try to keep themselves and their families safely housed. Creativity and flexibility characterize the wide range of strategies Steps uses to create more housing options and resources for survivors. Every survivor’s situation is different, and Steps helps survivors assess their needs and seek out a range of resources and supports, from rental assistance, help with moving and move-in costs, short-, medium- and long-term rental subsidies and emergency shelter.

Many survivors experience a devastating gap between what they need to keep their family safe and the resources and support that is available in their communities. Hearing these stories every day motivates Steps’ advocates to keep innovating — building relationships with landlords, opening a new 21-unit shelter that offers families more privacy and autonomy, and partnering with local homelessness and housing service providers to make it easier for survivors to get and keep housing where they and their families can safely get on with their lives.

For Steps’ advocates and leadership, providing housing supports and advocacy is a human rights issue. “I feel very passionate about housing,” explains Ciara Kilburn, Steps’ Director of Housing Resources. “I believe that it’s a right for everyone”

Learn more about the housing services available through Steps by visiting their website at www.stepsvt.org.

Just like there can be many reasons that a survivor may be experiencing homelessness, there are also many solutions. When working with survivors, their safety, personal choice and goals should always be in the forefront.

Investments are needed across the spectrum of housing programs to adequately support survivors seeking safety and stability. Emergency shelter, transitional housing, short term rental assistance, long-term assistance and housing creation are all critical components to a successful housing support system for survivors.

This year, the Vermont State Legislature made historic investments in affordable housing. The Vermont Network worked closely with our partners and allies to advance a budget that included $190 million to increase shelter capacity, build more affordable housing, home ownership and to provide emergency rental assistance. These funds will be especially important as the pandemic brought a significant increase in households experiencing homelessness, with survivors making up about 7% of the total homeless population.

Housing is a human right. We need to ensure that all survivors have safe, and affordable housing so that they can thrive.

In Solidarity,

Kara Casey

Director of Economic Empowerment

Pronouns: She/her/they/them

Find out more about our legislative work and how you can get involved to advocate for safe, affordable housing at www.vtnetwork.org/policy-advocacy
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