Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and their children in the United States. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, between 22 and 57 percent of women and children are homeless due to domestic violence, and 38 percent of all victims have been left homeless at some point in their lives due to domestic violence. Victims who abandon their abusive partner multiple times due to domestic violence often experience multiple situations of homelessness. Withholding money, controlling household expenses, or refusing to include it in financial decisions can all contribute to this.
In another national study, more than half (51.5 percent) of victims who identified a need for housing services did not receive them. Fortunately, there are organizations that provide housing assistance to victims of gender-based violence in Indianapolis. Coburn Place is one such organization that offers compassionate support and safe housing options to survivors of domestic violence and their children in the greater Indianapolis area. Funded by the U.
S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program helps residential domestic violence programs provide emergency shelter to domestic violence survivors and their dependents. The goal of the SSBG program is to help offset the cost of certain operating expenses, such as housing, food, and other basic items, in order to give shelters for victims of domestic violence more flexibility and the possibility of expanding services in other areas, depending on their needs. Coburn Place also works with The Julian Center, which was founded in 1975 and is the largest organization that supports victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other life crises in Indiana.
The Transitional Housing Program supports projects that provide transitional housing for 6 to 24 months with support services for victims who are homeless or who need transitional housing due to domestic violence. At Coburn Place, we understand that survivors of gender-based violence need more than just a safe place to stay; they need support and resources to help them move forward with their lives. We do not require that any survivor seeking housing participate in any program to obtain or maintain housing. Coburn Place works hard to illuminate the way forward for survivors of domestic violence and promote healing.
With the help of organizations like Coburn Place and The Julian Center, victims of gender-based violence can find the assistance they need to get back on their feet.
