For most people, home is a place of comfort and safety. But for many survivors of domestic violence, home is where fear lives. What many people don’t realize is how often domestic violence forces individuals into homelessness. It is not an issue confined to one social group; anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or background, can be affected.

Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness in the United States. Nearly one in four homeless women becomes unhoused primarily because of partner abuse. Yet this crisis reaches far beyond women and children. Men, seniors, and LGBTQ+ individuals also experience abuse and housing instability. LGBTQ+ teens are at particular risk when coming out to unsupportive parents and being forced to leave home.

Survivors face heartbreaking choices: remain in an unsafe home or leave with nowhere to go. Many leave an abusive relationship with few resources and limited means to support themselves. A lack of alternative housing often leads them to stay in or return to violent relationships. Many survivors, especially women, have little or no access to money and few friends or relatives to rely on if they flee. For survivors with limited income or poor credit, often the result of financial control by their abusers, finding a safe place to live can feel near impossible. As the weather gets colder, sleeping in cars or unsafe spaces becomes not only dangerous but can also leave survivors vulnerable to human trafficking, where traffickers exploit people’s desperation for shelter and safety.

The Connecticut Fair Housing Center reports that women accounted for 72 percent of their intakes, and that survivors of domestic and sexual violence often face discrimination or higher barriers in rental housing.

The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE) is experiencing higher volumes of calls from individuals seeking housing support while fleeing abusive relationships. Across Connecticut, domestic violence shelters are consistently at or over capacity, leaving many survivors waiting for a safe place to go. This reality highlights the urgent need for stronger community advocacy and for elected officials to prioritize investment in housing resources for victims of abuse.

Despite these challenges and the ongoing shortage of funding, CEE continues to work every day to break the cycle of violence by providing counseling, advocacy, and resources for individuals in crisis. Our prevention education programs reach schools, colleges, and community groups to raise awareness and promote strategies that help prevent violence before it starts.

Homelessness and domestic violence are community issues that require community solutions. Supporting nonprofits that serve domestic violence survivors is essential to keeping individuals and families safe and helping them rebuild their lives.

No one should have to decide between being safe and having a roof over their head. Together, we can ensure that everyone, regardless of their identity or background, has access to support, and the opportunity to rebuild. When the community stands united, we rise together toward a future where every home is a safe home.

If you or someone you know is experiencing interpersonal violence, help is available 24 hours a day. Call CEE’s free and confidential hotline at (203) 731-5206.