DV & Housing: Intersections & Impact
Domestic violence and homelessness are inextricably linked, and have long term impacts on survivors. Here's how:- DV is a primary cause of homelessness for women and children
- 92% of women who are homeless report having experienced severe physical and/or sexual assault at some point in their lives
- As a result of their partner’s abuse, DV survivors may have poor credit, evictions on their record, and lack landlord references (or have negative ones)
Barriers to Housing for DV Survivors
The following affect the long term safety and stability of survivors in Colorado:- DV survivors are routinely met with discrimination when finding new housing
- A lack of affordable housing and housing assistance further limits their options
- Currently, there simply aren’t enough resources: The 2018 NNEDV Domestic Violence Census reported that 72% of the UNMET requests for survivor services in one day in Colorado were for housing.

Our Housing Team training in action

Resources for Advocates
Housing Toolkit for Advocates in Colorado
Addressing Housing Barriers: A Toolkit for Survivors in Colorado
Domestic Violence Housing First Toolkit
Long-term Housing Approaches for Survivors
Advocates Guide 2017: A Primer on Federal Affordable Housing & Community Development Programs
Domestic Violence and Housing Stability
Making the Road to Housing Accessible to All: Disability Law Colorado
There’s No Place like Home: State Laws the Protect Housing Rights for Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Violence
The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Housing 2017
Creating Safe Housing Options for Survivors
Adapting the Housing First Model for Domestic Violence Survivors
Community Solutions Landlord Toolkit
CSAJ’s Guidebook on Consumer & Economic Civil Legal Advocacy for Survivors. (Housing protections and information starts on page 99)
Violence Free Colorado offers a once-a-month newsletter dedicated to housing and economic justice.
If there are certain topics you would like to see covered or if you would like to share anything in the newsletter, please contact Lindsay Christopher at lchristopher@nullviolencefreeco.org or 303-962-3321.