Social Policy Trends: Domestic Violence and the Housing Crisis

The need to increase the number of spaces in domestic violence shelters is an unexpected consequence of the housing crisis.

A tight rental market means fewer women can escape violence by moving directly into housing away from their abuser. A recent examination of this issue concludes unaffordable housing is a significant barrier to anyone trying to escape domestic violence. A compounding effect of this is that women and children must increasingly rely on the intermediate step of using a violence against women (VAW) shelter.

In tight rental markets there are two related stressors on operators of VAW shelters. First, more spaces are required to accommodate women unable to immediately find housing away from their abuser and second, more spaces are required because women and their children must stay in a shelter for longer while searching for permanent accommodations. The increased demand for additional spaces in VAW shelters represents one of the unexpected consequences and costs of the housing crisis.