A Better Tomorrow: Perspectives of Emergency Shelter Residents on the Most Useful Domestic Violence Services

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

Although the domestic violence (DV) shelter movement began in the 1970s, and residents have reported that shelters provide critical support, research has been limited regarding which aspects of shelters and other DV services are most helpful. This paper reports findings from a survey of DV shelter residents (N=219) that concluded with the open-ended question: What’s the most useful service you’ve received while seeking help related to DV? Responses from survivors can inform service delivery for this vulnerable, high need population whose risks for poor physical and mental health outcomes are well-documented.

METHODS:

Respondents were recruited in six DV shelters in urban and rural areas of a large southwestern state to complete a paper survey (in English or Spanish) regarding their threat appraisal and help-seeking, which was formulated using a public health perspective. The sample of 215 women and four men was 42% Hispanic, 28% White, 14% Black/African American, 6% Multiracial, with a mean age of 37 years (SD=11.4), 39% from a rural community, and 65% staying in a shelter for the first time. The survey obtained data in several areas including DV victimization, help-seeking, and health. Trained graduate research assistants administered surveys and entered data. Qualitative, open-ended data for the “most useful service” question were coded for categorical and thematic content by one researcher working independently with a second researcher serving in an auditor role.

 RESULTS:

The shelter itself and counseling/therapy for self and/or children were named as the most useful DV services more often and descriptively than other services. Shelter was named generally and specific components were also cited; components included the basic needs and physical safety provided, the climate of mutual aid and support (“loving, caring staff,” “peaceful,” “other females here in my situation”), the array of services/information available (“more resources than I would have found… by living with family or friends”). Responses citing counseling/therapy included services both within and outside shelters. The third prominent service named involved DV education/classes/groups, including some focused on parenting/DV. Rather than citing specific services as most useful, some respondents described new knowledge or insights (“Looking at it from a different point of view”). Other services were cited by a few women, including police and help with: employment, legal, relocation/housing, medical, obtaining identification, support with CPS, non-shelter victim advocacy, and information about protective orders and victim’s compensation. Informal help networks (work, family) were named, as well as spiritual supports. A small number expressed that no services were useful.

IMPLICATIONS:

These findings align with Sullivan’s (2018) conceptual model highlighting social-emotional aspects of DV services that promote well-being. Along with basic needs and safety provided by shelter, respondents valued mental health, relational, and knowledge/skill-building services. Emergency shelters represent an early step in recovery from DV, and respondents’ valuing of counseling/therapy suggests it is not too soon to begin this type of healing support. Future research should examine which services are most useful as recovery continues, especially because of the subgroup of survivors who return to abusive relationships.