Campus Safety Starts at Home: Fostering a Culture of Prevention
Someplace Safe was recently awarded funding from the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs for the Domestic Violence Housing First Pilot Project. This vital support is meant to enhance Someplace Safe’s existing domestic violence advocacy services, helping survivors recover from the trauma and challenges associated with domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness among women and children. Survivors often face severe financial and housing challenges as a result of coercive control, financial manipulation, or physical injuries. These challenges can lead to job loss, poor credit, and eviction, making the search for stable housing even more daunting. Even after escaping an abusive situation, survivors are frequently left with the task of finding housing amidst limited financial resources, potential legal issues, and damaged credit.
This Domestic Violence Housing First Pilot Project allows Someplace Safe to expand its financial assistance to survivors of domestic violence, addressing barriers that prevent them from securing long-term, safe housing. This means Someplace Safe can now offer more comprehensive aid, including assistance with application fees, security deposits, and rent, along with other critical needs.
Leigh Nelson, a long-time Crime Victim Advocate in Douglas County, has transitioned into the Housing Specialist role. Leigh plays a crucial role in implementing this project, providing education and information to landlords and property managers, as well as assisting survivors in navigating the housing process, working closely with Crime Victim Advocates in each county, accessing necessary resources, with the goal of achieving long-term safety.
In addition to laying groundwork for this new program, several survivors have already been successful in obtaining housing, as well as accessing resources for deposits and first month’s rent.
The initial step for victim/survivors seeking assistance is to contact their local Someplace Safe Advocacy Office to explore available services. We also encourage property owners and landlords to consider domestic violence survivors for any available openings at your properties. For more information, please reach out to Leigh Nelson at leigh.n@someplacesafe.info or call 800-974-3359.