Trapped Between Domestic Violence and Homelessness

When a woman leaves an abusive relationship, she often has nowhere to go. This is particularly true of women with few resources. Lack of affordable housing and long waiting lists for assisted housing mean that many women and their children are forced to choose between abuse at home or the streets. 

Significant percentages of homeless women who enter the Providence House report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness. Some survivors and their families become homeless when they flee abuse. Others become homeless upon being denied alternate housing or after being wrongfully or discriminatorily evicted from their current housing as a result of the violence against them. Understanding the connections between homelessness, housing, and violence against women is important in order to identify solutions to homelessness.

If you or someone you know is a victim, click here to redirect to the LIVING IN FEAR section.

How We Help

To escape and break the cycle of family violence for themselves and their children, survivors of domestic violence often need a safe place to live, as well as extra help, such as counseling, job training, and more. The Providence House Safe House Domestic Violence Program offers that help. Our program participants receive safe shelter, as well as the support and skills to choose their own paths in life, improve their job skills or earning capacity, and move to safe, affordable housing.

The Safe House is in a secure, confidential location in Shreveport, Louisiana, with Administration Offices located at 814 Cotton Street in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Providence House offers these services to those coping with or fleeing violent relationships. All services are confidential and given at no charge.

We offer:

• Telephone crisis hotline
• Emergency safe shelter
• Housing for up to 2 years for those families who qualify
• Safety planning
• Protective orders and legal advocacy
• Referrals for other benefits and help in your community
• Counseling and support groups for women and children
• Classes and training for job skills, life skills, and more
• Case management

To find out more information, to donate, to volunteer, or to get help, please contact Providence House at (318) 221-7887 or (888) 411-1333.

Information Links

www.loveisnotabuse.com – Liz Claiborne’s teen dating violence website has great information for both those living with violence and their friends and family.

www.ncadv.org – The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website contains current information for survivors and those dealing with violence.

www.endabuse.org – The Family Violence Prevention Fund website provides materials which can be ordered, including “No Excuse for Abuse” materials and health care provider brochures.

www.nrcdv.org – The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence website features various publications and resources for organizations and individuals working to end domestic violence.

www.ncvc.org – The National Center for Victims of Crime information site includes materials on domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

www.womenslaw.org – Women's Law is a legal information website, including referrals and detailed protective/restraining order information, state by state.