Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness in women — and it’s also potentially the most overlooked.
Nearly four in 10 domestic violence victims experience homelessness, and nine in 10 homeless women have endured severe physical or sexual violence at some point. Yet domestic violence, whether intimate partner violence or childhood sexual abuse, is largely neglected in mainstream conversations about the unhoused.
According to NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) Director of Health and Housing Cassandra Rowe, if someone doesn’t work in domestic violence prevention, they’re likely unaware of its strong link to housing insecurity.