Hello and thank you for joining us for this Navigate Tuesday Tip. I’m
Pam and today we’re going to be looking at domestic violence and how you
can assist those impacted by it.

Increasingly advocates and others are using the term survivor rather
than the term victim. Although legislation and some other things still
use victim, it is felt that the term survivor better acknowledges the
strength and determination of those who have endured domestic violence
and the efforts that it takes them to rebuild their lives. There’s also
felt to be a negative connotation with the term victim. Doesn’t mean
that the term victim is illegal or that it can’t be used. This is just
kind of the direction that things are going.

When you look at the numbers around domestic violence, there’s some very
critical things that pop up. Up to 60% of survivors of intimate partner
domestic violence experience job loss at some point and up to 50% of
them are harassed at work by their abusers. So you can see here that
there could be a significant impact on employment among the population
of survivors. 38% of domestic violence survivors become homeless at some
point and 90% of homeless women have experienced sexual or physical
violence. It’s also worth noting that lower income levels correlate with
increased domestic violence. Although the mechanics of that connection
are not really clear, when you look at gender impact, it’s really
starting to kind of change from what the traditional view has been.

Traditionally, it’s really been seen as male perpetrators versus female
targets of domestic violence. But 22% of individuals of any gender are
assaulted by a partner. Currently, there are higher rates among dating
students and among transgender versus cisgender. And there’s higher
victimization right now for males than females in high schools. The
lifetime rates are higher among women than men, but the past year rates
are somewhat higher among men, and the rate of perpetrators is now
higher among women versus men. Sexual orientation doesn’t appear to have
any significant impact on domestic violence. And it’s worth noting that
there is very limited data for non-binary persons or gender fluid
persons and nontraditional relationships.

VAWA protects all survivors of domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, and stalking. They do not have to be living in the same
home. They do not have to be romantic partners. And it’s not just women.
It protects everybody. The change in transgender guidance does not
impact VAWA. It protects all survivors of domestic violence regardless
of gender.

Remember VAWA has given us a great tool with survivors of domestic
violence. It allows them to transfer. That’s typically going to be done
within the same community. But if you allow transfers to other
communities, you need to put that in your tenant selection plan. Pilot
programs exist that are making that easier. You can also give a
preference for survivors of domestic violence if it is approved and
included in your tenant selection plan.

Law enforcement is always an excellent resource when you’re talking
about domestic violence. Property managers should call law enforcement
if there’s an active issue where someone is at risk or being abused.
Remember that survivors do not have to have police records in order to
have protection, but it can make eviction more difficult without them.

If you suspect that someone is being abused and you have an RSC, refer
the matter for follow-up. Make residents and applicants aware of VAWA
and domestic violence resources. Respect privacy and protect all
VAWA-related documents in accordance with HUD guidance.

Another great resource is address confidentiality programs. Most states
have them. They help ensure that a survivor’s current address is not
easy to locate.

It’s important to acknowledge that there is no shame in surviving
domestic violence. Foster an environment where people feel safe asking
for help.

Let your community know how to ask for help and who to contact.
Encourage residents to disclose safety concerns, support community
safety efforts, and make sure everyone knows about VAWA and other
applicable state laws.

Always prioritize safety. Never release information about who lives at
your property. Consider using unit numbers instead of names on mailboxes
or buzzers. Encourage residents to keep doors locked and report
suspicious activity. Never put yourself in danger by confronting someone
who is armed or threatening. Get to a safe place and contact law
enforcement.

Remember that you cannot force someone to accept help. Sometimes the
best you can do is provide resources and let them know help is
available. Know your limits and practice self-care.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available in more than 200
languages and offers phone, text, and online support. Consider posting
hotline information throughout your community so residents know where to
turn for help.