Domestic Violence and Family Housing Instability

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence (DV) is more than a single act of aggression; it is a pattern of behavior used by a family member or partner to gain or maintain power and control over another.

DV can include physical violence (hitting, kicking, choking), threats or intimidation, stalking, controlling or coercive behavior, sexual abuse and violence, economic abuse (withholding resources or sabotaging employment/credit), emotional/psychological abuse, isolation, and technological abuse (monitoring, harassment via devices) among others.

Understanding this broad definition is important because some of the most damaging effects on families - particularly housing instability - come not only from the visible physical violence, but from the more hidden patterns of control and coercion.

How Domestic Violence Impacts Children

When we think about DV, we often focus on the adult partner-victim. But children are deeply affected. Whether they are direct victims, witnesses to violence, or living in environments marked by abuse and instability, these impacts compound when homelessness or housing instability enters the picture.

• Children who witness domestic violence can experience many of the same symptoms as children who are themselves direct victims of physical abuse. Symptoms might include physical (headaches, stomach problems), emotional (terror, guilt), or psychological (anxiety, depression) conditions.

• Exposure to domestic violence is considered an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) and can contribute to lifetime health disparities

• The instability caused by fleeing domestic violence, coupled with housing loss, disrupts children’s schooling, social connections, and sense of safety.

• The combination of trauma from violence and trauma from homelessness (or unstable housing) can lead to greater developmental, psychological, behavioral, and educational challenges.

• Children who grow up in homes where domestic violence and housing instability coincide may experience intergenerational patterns of instability, as their sense of security and normalcy is undermined early on.

How Domestic Violence Creates and Exacerbates Family Homelessness

For many survivors, leaving an abusive relationship means leaving home, often with little time to plan or resources to secure new housing. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence:

“Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and their children. Many victims face homelessness when they flee abusive homes.”

Beyond the immediate crisis of fleeing, survivors face a range of housing and trauma recovery barriers:

• Economic abuse by a partner may leave survivors with damaged credit, unpaid bills, impoverishment or debt—making it harder to qualify for rental housing or mortgages.

• Some landlords may evict survivors because of property damage associated with the violence or police involvement at the home; the association between DV and eviction increases the risk of homelessness.

• Survivors may lack stable supportive services or access to safe, affordable housing options that consider their need for safety planning, protection, and trauma-informed services.

• Families fleeing an abusive family member may not have access to expanded social networks (family and friends), due to isolation during the relationship or fear of being found after leaving.

• Limited availability of affordable housing means survivors often compete with many others for scarce units; their need for safety (e.g., new location, protective measures, screening out of abuser) may further limit options.

• Trauma, mental health issues, child-behavioral issues, and other repercussions of violence may complicate tenancy applications or meeting lease requirements.

In short: domestic violence doesn’t just precipitate homelessness, it also magnifies the difficulty of recovering and achieving stable, permanent housing.

What Can We Do to Help?

• Provide and support trauma-informed, family-centered shelter and housing programs.

• Advocate for (and protect) policies such as those included in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that prohibit discrimination based on being a victim of domestic violence in housing programs.

• Continue to build and strengthen community partnerships between housing programs, domestic violence support programs, and more to ensure that families and children are receiving the support and resources they need to stay safe, recover, and heal.

• Use October – Domestic Violence Awareness Month – to shine a spotlight not only on DV itself, but on its role in family homelessness and child-welfare risk.

• Work to reduce housing eligibility barriers (credit, rental history, income) that uniquely disadvantage survivors.

• Encourage policies and funding that link domestic violence services with homeless/housing systems.

• Promote landlord and property-manager training on domestic violence: understanding the need for protections for survivors, avoiding discriminatory practices.

• Advocate for affordable housing supply, especially units large enough for families with children, and safe, accessible locations.

The intersection of domestic violence and family homelessness is a profound public health, housing, and child welfare issue. When families flee violence - children, survivors, and households may face both immediate crisis and long-term instability.

During this Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let us commit to elevating not just awareness of abuse, but to championing safe, stable housing as a fundamental pillar of trauma recovery, family resilience, and child well-being.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or housing instability, please reach out to the resources listed below. You are not alone - help is available, and stable housing and safety are attainable goals.

Resources for Immediate Assistance

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

• Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC) Help Line: 919-403-6562

• Entry Point Durham: (984) 287-8313