Domestic Violence Survivors' Experiences Transitioning out of Shelter

Background and Purpose: Domestic violence (DV) shelter programs are one of the longest provided services to survivors.  Shelter programming typically focuses on immediate physical safety and supportive services, and then on transitioning survivors to longer-term housing solutions.  Research has demonstrated that DV shelter programs lead to a range of positive outcomes for survivors, including helping them cope with abuse and end the violence in their lives. Transitioning out of a DV shelter is a major life transition requiring tremendous inner strength.  This transition often involves moving into a new community, rebuilding support networks, managing physical and emotional safety, living and parenting independently, finding a new school and childcare, and overseeing new household responsibilities. While research has focused on the outcomes of utilizing shelter programs, few studies have focused on the transition process.  Research shows that survivors utilize shelter services to heal and rebuild, but information is lacking on howsurvivors do so. Therefore, this study utilized a strengths-based, feminist lens to understand (a) the strengths, tools, and resources used by survivors transitioning from emergency shelter to independence and (b) how DV shelter providers can best support this transition.

Methods: Data for this study come from an evaluation assessing the needs of DV shelter residents in an urban setting. Twenty-seven survivors who were interviewed after transitioning out of the shelter were included for this analysis.  The sample consists of women of color (51.9% African American/Black, 22.2% Hispanic/Latina, 18.5% Multiracial, and 7.4% Other) with a mean age of 28. After leaving shelter, most participants (88.9%) had not returned to the abusive partner, a third (37.0%) were renting their own place, 22.2% were living with family or friends, and 40.7% were living in a new shelter (DV transitional or non-DV homeless shelter).  This study analyzes participant responses to open-ended survey questions exploring their experiences during the transition process.  Responses were recorded and transcribed verbatim.  Content analysis and coding of individual responses were conducted using NVivo qualitative software. 

Findings: Data analysis revealed that participants experienced a range of successes and challenges in the process of making the transition from the emergency shelter environment to a new living situation.  Participants described key characteristics of what helped them navigate the shelter living experience and the transition process.  They discussed the importance of building relationships with support staff and how this aided them in accessing invaluable resources.  They also highlighted how emotional resilience, a focus on their own progress, and tangible skills acquired in the shelter setting aided them during their shelter stay, the transition out of shelter, and beyond.  Challenges in the search for quality housing and in obtaining financial and overall stability were also discussed.

Conclusion and Implications: Findings highlight the importance of providing seamless support systems for survivors as they transition out of the DV shelter.  By preparing survivors for the realities of the transition process and by providing an intentional bridge between shelter support systems and community resources, advocates can best support survivors as they move forward beyond the shelter experience.