This summary document highlights the results of the Domestic Violence Housing First longitudinal demonstration evaluation, which aimed to reveal the program outcomes after six and 12 months of service provision to domestic violence survivors.
The objective of the Domestic Violence Housing First (DVHF) demonstration evaluation is to add to the knowledge base about housing and advocacy interventions for survivors of domestic violence and their children. The demonstration evaluation was designed to rigorously examine the DVHF model, which provides mobile housing-related advocacy and flexible funding to help DV survivors achieve safe and stable housing. This summary highlights the demonstration evaluation methods and outcomes. Key findings of the evaluation study show that the DVHF demonstration has met its main goal of increasing housing stability at six and 12 months after unstably housed, DV survivors sought services; the researchers also reported improvements in post-traumatic stress disorder and safety-related empowerment. The study found that after six months, DV survivors who received DVHF reported improvements in financial strain, ability to make ends meet, depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, and quality of life, however these findings were not sustained at 12 months. However, 12 months after seeking services, survivors who received DVHF did report reductions in physical, emotional, and economic abuse, as well as a reduction in the use of children as an abuse tactic; these results were not present six months after seeking DVHF services. Additionally, parents who received DVHF reported an increase in their children’s pro-social behaviors at both six and 12 months, and improved school performance six months after seeking services.