WASHINGTON, DC- The Senate today passed an amendment by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) that would pave the way for full funding of a program to provide long term and stable housing assistance to victims of domestic violence. The amendment would help women who leave abusive relationships to avoid two very negative potential outcomes – returning to their abusers or becoming homeless.
“Supporting this program will help substantially to improve the lives of women and children in America who become both victims of domestic violence and then become victims because they are homeless as a result of that violence,” said Senator Casey. “By finally funding programs like the Long Term Stability/Housing Program for Victims we can provide invaluable assistance for domestic violence survivors and their children.”
The Casey amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution would create a deficit neutral reserve fund to fully fund the Long-Term Stability/Housing for Victims Program under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This is an existing program that has never received funding.
The Long-Term Stability/Housing for Victims Program under VAWA builds collaborations between domestic violence service providers and housing providers and developers to leverage existing resources and create housing solutions that meet victims’ need for long-term housing.
Helping victims remain safe and stable over time is critical; victims of domestic violence often return to their abusers because they cannot find long-term housing.
This program was authorized at $10 million in 2005 and has never been funded. This amendment would fully fund this program for FY 2010.
Earlier this month Senator Casey, as Chair of the Advisory Board, participated in the release of a report by the National Center on Family Homelessness that focused on the increasing number of children that are homeless in our country.
The report highlights how frequently domestic violence is a direct avenue to homelessness for women and children. This finding is supported by data from the National Network to End Domestic Violence and other policy groups and researchers. Several national and state reports show that between 22 percent and 57 percent of homeless women report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness.
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