​Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in the United States, and more than 90 percent of homeless women experience severe physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

​With a statewide rental vacancy rate at less than 1% across NH, the lack of safe and affordable housing is regularly reported as one of the primary barriers survivors face when trying to leave an abusive partner. 
 
Safe and secure housing does more than protect survivors from interpersonal violence. It also serves to support survivors to obtain economic independence and security for their families, as well as contribute to ending the cycle of poverty. Due to financial abuse they’ve experienced, survivors often lack financial resources, may have poor landlord references or credit scores, and are under or not employed. All of these present barriers to accessing housing units, especially in such a competitive rental market.
 
Escaping interpersonal violence often leaves survivors housing and financially insecure, a vulnerability that is exasperated for survivors with other marginalized identities, including race/ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, and citizenship status, to name a few. Historically, policies and practices of the government, in coordination with the private market, have helped to create and sustain highly segregated residential patterns across the country. These policies and ongoing discrimination greatly impact marginalized survivors’ ability to obtain housing as well as access financial capital or employment to gain economic security. Further, with the over-incarceration of black, indigenous, and people of color, as well as the opioid epidemic, many survivors have felony or criminal histories that greatly impact their access to housing and employment. Undocumented survivors are ineligible for any HUD funded housing programs, which precludes them from most housing supports. 

Housing Programs

Housing First
In 2017, the Coalition was awarded funding to implement a statewide Housing First Program, which created specialized housing advocacy positions at 11 of the Coalition’s member programs. These housing advocates provide critical services for survivors of violence to obtain and maintain safe housing. The Coalition supports this program by providing training and technical assistance to housing advocates as well as fostering statewide partnerships to improve housing systems survivors interface with.
 
The Housing First approach focuses on getting survivors into stable housing as quickly as possible, and then providing the necessary support as they rebuild their lives. Key components of Housing First program, based off the model developed at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, include:

• Survivor-driven, trauma-informed, mobile advocacy;
• Community engagement, including partnering with landlords, Public Housing Authorities, and other service and housing organizations; 
• Flexible financial assistance to assist survivors with expenses related to their housing needs

​Rapid Re-Housing:
In 2018, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released bonus funding specifically to establish projects that serve households fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. The Coalition received this DV bonus funding to start a Rapid Re-Housing Project, through the NH Balance of State Continuum of Care. The RRH program provides rental assistance for up to 2 years along with supportive, trauma-informed services for eligible participants. This program is managed at the Coalition and carried out by housing advocates at 8 member programs. Eligible participants can access this program though NH Coordinated Entry and by referral from their local crisis center. 
 
Housing services provided at Coalition Member Programs include:

• Providing trauma-informed services to support survivors in accessing or maintaining long-term safe housing, including:
  • Assisting survivors in applying for subsidized housing programs (such as Public Housing, section 8 vouchers, Rapid Re-Housing, and other local housing programs)
  • Assisting survivors in finding rental units, including viewing available apartments, understanding lease agreements, and communicating with landlords
  • Enrolling eligible survivors in the Rapid Re-Housing Program or Housing First Program
  • Providing ongoing economic empowerment services to support survivors to obtain financial independence and stability
  • Offering support around being good tenants, including fostering positive landlord relationships, paying rent on time, and caring for a rented unit
• Building relationships with landlords, public housing authorities, local welfare officials, and community programs
• Educating community members on the need for community supports to ensure victims’ success in maintaining housing and obtaining independence

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​Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids:
The Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program is the only Federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the HOPWA Program, HUD makes grants to local communities, States, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Contact your local crisis center