Domestic Violence and Homelessness Among Women: Some of the Causes and Remedies Joel Nwoke
Capella University
School of Social Work

Netto, Pawson and Sharp (2009). Preventing Homelessness due to Domestic Violence: Providing a Safe Space or Closing the Door to New Possibilities? This study looks into the impact of prevention-centered homelessness policy responses to domestic violence, with reference to the 'Sanctuary' model. This model supports women facing homelessness due to domestic violence to remain in their current residence, protected against attack from outside the home. The model provides greater autonomy to some women in these circumstances, it is not appropriate for all the women because increase emphasis on Sanctuary schemes could make it difficult for women who might prefer to move. Despite the considerable benefit, Sanctuary schemes appear to operate on the assumption that women will take responsibility for ensuring their continuing safety, by calling the police when they feel threatened with violence despite the enhanced security at houses. In the interim, the scale of homelessness related to domestic violence and the need to tackle the root causes of domestic violence calls for alternative policy responses in supporting victims of domestic violence through more effective action in dealing with perpetrators. Roschelle, A.R (2008). Welfare Indignities: Homeless Women, Domestic Violence, and Welfare Reform in San Francisco. This research study examines how the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act has impacted homeless women in San Francisco who are also victims of domestic violence. The study also looks at how the behavior of abusive men prevent homeless women from successfully navigating the new welfare to-work requirements and maintaining stable employment. This study found that women felt stymied by the new welfare legislation which they felt necessitated their staying in the violent home so they could survive. Battered homeless women understood that the intent of welfare reform was to punish them, not to make them self-sufficient. Lewin, Abdrbo and Burant (2010). Domestic Violence in Women with Serious Mental Illness Involved with Child Protective Services. This article show that of one hundred twenty- two files from the Department of Child and Family Services revealed, the majority of the mothers and children had been exposed to domestic violence and also had cases with the child protective services. Mothers with the diagnosis of major depression-single episode and major depression-recurrent were most likely to have disclosed domestic violence exposure, compared to mothers with other serious mental illnesses. The study supports the practice of domestic violence in women with serious mental illness, domestic violence and homelessness for women and children. The researchers recommend that early intervention is the key to detect domestic violence. Mothers should be empowered and encouraged to utilize their parenting skills. This ecological approach is designed to have a small to moderate effect on the children in reducing the children's acting out aggressive behaviors and improving attitudes/beliefs that violence is unacceptable in families. Finally, nurses, social workers and other professionals should be alert when assessing mental illness in women for signs of domestic violence, The need for cultural competence among the professionals is essential to enhance women's parenting skills and self-sufficiency(P. 1144). Poole, Greaves, Jategaonkar, McCullough and Chabot (2008). Substance Use by Women Using Domestic Violence Shelters. This multi method research project examined the changes in the use of alcohols and other drugs among substance using women who experienced violence and received help from domestic violence shelters. The study found that the women generally decreased their use of alcohol and stimulants in the period following their stay, the support offered during the time of their stay in shelter promote improvement in their health, income, housing and related issues can have a pivoted impact in helping women restructure their lives and reduce their use of substances. Violence and use of alcohol and other substances are not linked in a linear causal way rather are influenced by a range of social and structural factors. It is important for domestic violence shelters to acknowledge this impact of current work, as well as to consider how to continue to build on this work so that women accessing their service are able to freely discuss their addiction and make connections with other stressors in their lives and find support to heal and make pragmatic changes. The study reveals potential cultural competence and collaborative approach between substance use treatment service providers. The study did not reflect the minority group as its limitation. Swick, K.J. (2008). The Dynamics of Violence and Homelessness Among Young Families. This research shows that violence is one of the most prevalent elements in the lives of homeless families with their young children. Violence disrupts the normal bonding between parent and child. It isolates and degrades families. Early childhood professionals can support parents and children who are victims of violence through support, education and nurturance caring. Loving family relations can provide a foundation where parents and children develop the bonds that enable them to be more responsive in dealing with stress. As many parents and children acquire skills for supporting each other, they increase their mental status. It is also important for families to develop a strong connection with the community according to (Bronfenbrenner 2005). We need to enhance the educational and work skills of parents in high-risk situations like homelessness if we need to reduce domestic violence and homelessness. Tischler, Edwards and Vostanis (2009). Working therapeutically with mothers who experience the trauma of homelessness: An opportunity for growth. This study defines homelessness as a psychological trauma characterized by issues such as loss of home, possessions and connections to ones familiar environment. It also represents a type of social exclusion, as individuals who are homeless often experience poverty and disconnection from social networks. Research has indicated that homelessness can function to enact growth and resilience in women with dependent children. This study identifies key psychological and health priorities in this population and how findings related to resilience and growth can be harnessed in the therapeutic work. This population most of whom experience multiple traumas before and during homelessness has clearly identified mental health, social and housing needs. This presents a challenge for the development of therapeutic and counseling services. Such service requires flexibility, integration the other key service providers and acknowledgement that intervention may be pragmatic, involving brief goal-oriented work as a foundation for long term psychotherapeutic involvement.

Kahil, Tolman, Rosen, and Gruban (2003). Domestic Violence and Children's Behavior in Low-income Families. This study shows that children of abused women/mothers are at risk for a variety of adjustment differences. This is mostly measured in forms of outing out behavior such as aggression, overt disobedience, destructiveness and over controlled symptomatology like depression and somatic complaints. The children's behavior may be disrupted due to the psychological trauma of witnessing violence perpetuated against their mother. The abuser themselves may victimize children and children adjustment may be associated with the traumatic aftereffects of maternal abuse which may include moving to shelters or having contact with the police (P. 76). While the results indicate that mothers wellbeing and parenting mediate the effect of domestic violence on children's behavior problems, they do indicate that mother's wellbeing impacts their children. Therefore, efforts to help mothers became safe from abuse and recover from its traumatic efforts would be important for increasing their wellbeing and reduce their homelessness. Pyles, Kim (2006). A Multiple Approach to Cultural Competence: A Study of Community Response to Underserved Domestic Violence Victims. The authors of this study used multilevel approach to studying cultural competence known as knowledge, attitudes, and skills of the individual, agencies and wider systems to address the need of underserved and minority populations. The survey of victims of domestic violence to asses cultural competence revealed that there were positive relationships between individual cultural competence and both agency and system cultural competence, indicating that individual, agency, systems cultural competence are connected and that a multi level approach to addressing the needs of underserved individuals could prove useful in promising the end of social justice. The study concludes that to address the need of the underserved client during an assessment using cultural competence approach for domestic violence, law enforcement, and other service providers should embark on cultural competence training. There should also be a diversity training and systems advocacy in particular venues especially law enforcement. Cultural competence approach will help the service providers to assess the needs of homeless women and their children who are victims of domestic violence without being bias and judgmental.

References Kalil, A., Tolman, R., Rosen, D., & Gruber, G. (2003). Domestic violence and children's behavior in low-income families. 75-97. doi: 10.1300J135v03n01_04 Lewin, L. C., Abdrbo, A., & Burant, C. J. (2010). Domestic violence in women with serious mental illness involved with child protective services. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, (31), 128-136. doi: 10.3109/01612840903383984

Netto, G., Pawson, H., & Sharp, C. (2009). Preventing homelessness due to domestic violence: Providing a safe space or closing the door to new possibilities?. Social Policy & Administration , 43(7), 719-735. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2009.00691.x

Poole, N., Greaves, L., Jategaonkar, N., McCullough, L., & Chabot, C. (2008). Substance use by women using domestic violence shelters. Substance Use & Misuse, 43, 1129-1150. doi: 10.1080/10826080801914360

Pyles, L., & Kim, K. M. (2006). A multilevel approach to cultural competence: A study of the community response to underserved domestic violence victims. Families in Society, 221-229. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.library.capella.edu/docview/230170017

Roschelle, A. (2008). Welfare indignities: Homeless women, domestic violence, and welfare reform in San Francisco. (25), 193-209. doi: 10.1007/s1247-008-9061-9

Swick, K. (2007). The dynamics of violence and homelessness among young families . (36), 81-85. doi: 10.1007/s10643-007-0220-5

Tischler, V., Edwards, V., & Vostanis, P. (2009). Working therapeutically with mothers who experience the trauma of homelessness: An opportunity for growth. Counseling and Psychotherapy Research , 9(1), 42-46. doi: 10.1080/14733140802656198