Domestic Violence: The Weak Enforcement of Housing Policies to Protect Battered Women

Introduction

“What the chief failed to realize, or failed to reveal, was that his department’s own rules presented battered women with a devil’s bargain: keep quiet and face abuse or call the police and face eviction.” – Matthew Desmond

In this HCP Project, I will discuss how abused women are more likely to get evicted from their homes due to weak enforcement of housing policies. I will examine the failure of both landlords and police officers to protect women from abuse by not evicting them. To do this, I will analyze the prevalence of sexual or physical violence against women by an intimate partner and also scrutinize the actions of landlords, who often provide for eviction based on any criminal activity, whether it involves violence or nuisance, such as abused women making too many 911 calls. Additionally, I will assess the effects of these policies on residents and their struggles to find housing afterward due to eviction records posing a threat of homelessness. Finally, I will examine proposed legislation regarding exemptions in nuisance ordinances for domestic abuse and present an example of a woman facing a dilemma, having to choose between calling the police or holding on to her home.

Prevalence of Domestic Violence

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) in 2015 reported that “About 1 in 4 women in the U.S. experience contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime” (CDC, 2015). This accounts for 24.4 percent of the population in the United States, and many of these women are renting apartments. The myths surrounding domestic violence often include victim-blaming, whether victims blame themselves for their situation or society blames them for the shame of staying in a toxic relationship. Even if victims manage to escape, they are still not considered safe as the abuser can still stalk or harass them. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “interpersonal violence is the leading cause of female homicides and injury-related deaths during pregnancy” (APA, 2018).

Legislation and Housing Policies

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law that provides services for investigating and prosecuting violent crimes against women. The Department of Health and Human Services has “established…a nationwide domestic violence hotline, so that women throughout the country can call one toll-free number and be connected to a local domestic violence support center” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019). However, this one call to a support center or 911 has brought many women trouble from their landlords because they risk eviction from their homes. In Chapter 15 of "Evicted," titled “A Nuisance,” Matthew Desmond shares the story of Chris and Trisha, where Chris would physically abuse Trisha. Their friend, Crystal, called 911 on Trisha’s behalf, and when the officer came, he advised Sherrena, their landlord, to evict them because the “nuisance property ordinance was born, [it] allow[ed] police departments to penalize landlords for the behavior of their tenants” (Desmond, 2016, p. 190). Instead of responding and helping the victim, police departments and landlords often choose eviction to avoid the nuisance.

Many property owners allow this to happen because they argue “that these new laws would save money and conserve valuable resources by enabling police departments to direct manpower to high-priority crimes” (Desmond, 2016, p. 191). Although laws and policies consider these actions as breaking the law, some still continue to do this because they do not want to deal with the nuisance of domestic violence. The careless actions of both landlords and police departments often discourage women from escaping brutal situations as they feel unprotected by the government.

Impact on Housing Stability

Domestic violence is considered a leading factor in housing instability for women and their children because many women lack the financial means to live independently, thus narrowing the availability of affordable housing. Another aspect that contributes to housing instability is housing discrimination against survivors of domestic violence. Because survivors were often financially dependent on their intimate partners, they may not have a history of credit or financial independence. This financial insecurity, combined with eviction records, makes it difficult for them to secure stable housing, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the weak enforcement of housing policies and the stigma surrounding domestic violence create significant barriers for women seeking safety and stability. The intersection of these issues highlights the urgent need for reform in legislation and the implementation of protective measures that prioritize the safety and well-being of domestic violence survivors. By addressing these challenges, society can better support survivors in rebuilding their lives free from violence and insecurity.