By Nikki Buckstead, Child & Family Center President & CEO
Published by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A time to talk openly about an issue that affects not only individual survivors, but also families, children, workplaces, schools and entire communities.
One of the less understood consequences of domestic violence is its connection to homelessness.
For many survivors, leaving an abusive relationship does not simply mean leaving a person. It can mean leaving a home, a paycheck, a car, child care, shared bank accounts, health insurance, credit history, personal belongings, and sometimes an entire support system.
A survivor may leave with little more than what they can carry. Some stay temporarily with family or friends. Others move between motels, shelters, cars, or short-term housing. If they cannot quickly secure stable housing and income, what began as an attempt to get safe can become housing instability or homelessness.
In California, the connection is significant. Domestic violence is a major contributor to homelessness among women and families, and housing is consistently one of the greatest needs reported by survivors. Nationally, domestic violence programs continue to report thousands of unmet requests for services each year, with shelter and housing among the most common needs.