Domestic violence and housing - Key policy and program challenges

This article identifies key policy and program recommendations that have emerged from recent analysis and national discussions on housing and domestic violence, and urges continued attention by policy makers, community leaders, and housing and domestic violence advocates to battered women's short- and long-term safety and housing needs. Three primary courses of action are highlighted: reviewing, and modifying as necessary, existing housing policy and programs to increase their responsiveness to women with abusive partners or ex-partners; promoting policies and programs that increase all women's access to safe, affordable, and stable housing as well as housing assistance and support services, when necessary; and widely publicizing information on available subsidized and nonsubsidized housing and housing assistance programs as well as services and protections available to domestic violence victims.