Safe at Home Program
The Women Against Abuse Safe at Home Program provides community-based case management paired with housing supports, as available, to survivors of domestic violence of all gender identities. The program includes linkages to a limited number of safe, affordable housing units, as well as relocation assistance and rental subsidies, options counseling, advocacy and education to help survivors maintain safe and affordable housing while developing financial literacy and life-skills for long-term self-sufficiency. The Safe at Home Program also aims to strengthen linkages between clients and community-based resources in their new neighborhoods for meaningful long-term impact. Clients are better positioned to sustain safe housing and overcome obstacles that may compromise client safety or force them to return to an abuser. Clients in the Safe at Home program are provided with relocation assistance as available, including security deposits, first and last month’s rent, and/or furniture to help the transition into their new home.
In order to leverage its limited capacity for maximum impact, Women Against Abuse has developed a public-private partnership with Mission First Housing Group, a Philadelphia-based developer, who provides an annual allotment of permanent supportive housing units for Women Against Abuse clients transitioning into independence. Through this partnership, Mission First provides the units and manages facility operations. Women Against Abuse provides the community-based case management for up to 24 months to ensure survivors are able to maintain safe housing and prevent returns to an abuser due to financial need or homelessness.
Through the Safe at Home program, Women Against Abuse is able to sustain a relationship with survivors of domestic violence working to rebuild their lives after trauma in a home they can call their own. Ongoing case management and support helps to transition families into their permanent community, and prevents recidivism into the costly shelter system due to a lack of continued safety planning and support around their abuse.