Domestic Violence Housing First

Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children.

The Domestic Violence Housing First (DVHF) approach focuses on getting survivors of domestic violence into stable housing as quickly as possible, and then providing the necessary support as they rebuild their lives.

Key components of Domestic Violence Housing First include survivor-driven, trauma-informed, mobile advocacy; community engagement; and flexible financial assistance.

In 2010 the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence launched a five year pilot project testing the Domestic Violence Housing First (DVHF) approach. Learn more about the DVHF research at the links on the right, and about the DVHF approach at the links below.

---

Recent Resources

• Housing First: What Does It Take for Domestic Violence Survivors?
• Impact of the Domestic Violence Housing First Model on Survivors’ Safety and Housing Stability: Six Month Findings
• The Impact of COVID-19 on the Safety, Housing, Stability and Mental Health of Unstably Housed Domestic Violence Survivors
• Reconociendo la Multitud de Obstáculos Enfrentados por Sobrevivientes de Violencia de Pareja Sin Hogar o con Vivienda Inestable
• Brief Note: Exploratory Examination of How Race and Criminal Record Relate to Housing Instability Among Domestic Violence Survivors
• All Project Resources…

Project News

• The Path to Safety & Stability: Findings From First of Its Kind Longitudinal Study
  January 31, 2023
• Request for Qualifications: Flexible Financial Assistance
  March 1, 2022
• Evaluating Community Interventions: Domestic Violence Housing First
  January 20, 2021
• Join Our Team! We are Hiring for Two Positions
  February 24, 2020