A new report from the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) contains case descriptions of each attack that includes sexual assault. The report notes that because crimes committed against homeless persons often go unreported, the actual numbers of non-lethal attacks is likely much higher. Rapes and sexual assaults also tend to go unreported. The report recommends that state legislatures add homeless persons as a “protected class” to hate crime legislation, and encourages police trainings so law enforcement officers will better understand homelessness and how to prevent hate crimes.
Homeless Youth and Sexual Exploitation: Research Findings and Practice Implications
"This issue brief reviews research regarding the involvement of unaccompanied, homeless youth in various types of sexual exploitation including survival sex and recruitment into the commercial sex industry and recommends a series of programmatic responses to meet their needs."
Housing & Sexual Violence (pdf)
This research brief explores the relationship between housing issues, homelessness, and sexual violence. The research reviewed indicates that residents of subsidized housing and people who are homeless experience disproportionate rates of sexual violence.
Housing and Sexual Violence Fact Sheet (pdf)
"Safe, affordable, and stable housing can be a protective factor against both sexual violence perpetration and victimization. This two page fact sheet offers information on the impact of housing costs, housing and various forms of oppression, and how advocates can help."
Housing and Sexual Violence Technical Assistance Bulletin (pdf)
"Sexual violence and housing are intricately linked by several factors including access to affordable housing, various forms of oppression and sex offender management. This four page document offers information on each of these topics as well as a section on how advocates can help survivors."
Housing and Sexual Violence: Overview of National Survey (pdf)
"This report provides a summary of key findings and policy recommendations from a national survey on housing and sexual violence. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center partnered with the Victims Rights Law Center, National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project, Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, University of New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania Community Legal Services to develop and conduct this survey in 2008."
Insecurity and Indignity: Women's experiences in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya (pdf)
"A report documenting women’s experiences living in Kenyan slums. It states that women and girls in Nairobi's slums live under the constant threat of sexual violence. Violence against women is rarely prosecuted, creating a hostile living environment for women and girls. Amnesty urges the Kenyan government to address gendered violence and guarantee safe access to water and sanitation."
National survey of advocates on sexual violence, housing & Violence Against Women Act (pdf)
This report provides a summary of key findings from a national survey of advocates on housing and sexual violence. Findings are based on the responses of 178 sexual violence advocates from 23 states.
No Safe Place: Sexual Assault in the Lives of Homeless Women
Homelessness is an enormous social problem in the United States. Homeless women — including the “hidden homeless” — are particularly vulnerable to multiple forms of victimization including forced, coerced, or manipulated sexual activity. Levels of victimization that women endure before, during, and after episodes of homelessness remain enormously high, often occurring in multiple settings at the hands of multiple perpetrators.
Opening the Door: An Advocate's Guide to Housing and Sexual Violence (pdf)
This guide is intended to equip advocates with information and resources to support their housing advocacy efforts in helping victims and survivors of sexual violence.
Shattered Hearts: The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of American Indian Women and Girls in Minnesota (pdf)
A groundbreaking report released by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) highlights the alarming and pervasive sex trafficking of American Indian women and girls in Minnesota. The first comprehensive report of its kind, it highlights risk factors for victims that include poverty, a disproportionate number of American Indian homeless, high incidences of overall sexual assault, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and pervasive multi-generational trauma.
The Unclaimed Children Revisited, California Case Study (pdf)
"The purpose of the California Case Study is to identify, document, and analyze effective fiscal, infrastructural, and related policies that support research-informed practices for mental health services to children and adolescents in California."
Trauma-Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers
Trauma Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness is designed to be used by community-based service agencies that work with homeless female veterans and was created to address the psychological and mental health needs of women veterans. Research suggests that 81-93% of female veterans have been exposed to some type of trauma, significantly higher rates than the civilian population (Zinzow et al., 2007). Traumatic experiences include childhood abuse and neglect, domestic violence, military sexual trauma, and combat-related stress. These experiences have a significant impact on mental and physical health, family relationships, and housing and job stability.
Violence in the Lives of Homeless Women
"Overview of a 6-year research project on family homelessness and poverty in MA. Focuses on findings on prevalence and impact of violence among homeless women, including the impact of both childhood and adult victimization on this population."