Grant: Operating Grant

Domestic violence (DV) is a serious health and social issue. Programs and policies have been developed, including those related to supportive housing, to break the cycle of violence and/or reduce harm. One such policy in Ontario gives victims of abuse priority placement for social housing. Yet,there is little research available to inform such policies to ensure that such program and policies are ideally designed for victims of abuse. The proposed research aims to explore the role of housing in the health and social well being of the victims and their families. We will interview 60 women with a history of abuse about their housing histories and how health and violence have shaped their experiences. This is a study that is being undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and Ontario social housing analysts and providers. Our objective is to describe the patterns of housing stability and housing instability among women who have been victims of domestic violence with a focus on (a) patterns that emerge around experiences of domestic violence, (b) the role of domestic violence as a barrier to achieving housing stability, (c) the role of adverse health conditions as a barrier to achieving housing stablity and (d) resources and supports that would improve housing instability . With the goal of better health and social well being of abused women, the research findings are anticipated to inform policy makers, providers, and researchers for evidence-based program planning and evaluation through cross-sectoral initiatives.