Tea Time with TA-DVS This Weeks Episode: Homelessness or DV? Coming to you live: First and third Monday of every month 9:00 – 10:00 am Pacific Daylight Time Join Skype Meeting       This Weeks Episode: Homelessness or DV? For training purposes, this call will be recorded.

Tea Time Etiquette Etiquette (noun): The customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group. Assume best intent No Case Specifics or Personally Identifying Information (PII) If PII is shared – Tea Time Hosts will make a toast to politely interrupt and remind of this etiquette For training purposes, this call will be recorded.

District Check-In Hopefully it’ll be your cup of tea!

HOUSING or Domestic Violence? Consider Two Questions Is there a housing issue? Is there domestic violence? If there is both, what is the reason for the housing need? *Stable housing could be part of a safety plan. When determining eligibility: Determine if there is a housing need. Determine if there is a domestic violence concern. Examples: They have been homeless for the last couple months. HOUSING NEED. Not related to domestic violence. They reported that now that they are homeless the abuser has located them. SAFETY CONCERN/DV NEED. Part of their plan to make them more safe is to find new housing. The abuser kicked them out and took all their money and now they are homeless. HOUSING NEED. This was related to the domestic violence, they were kicked out by the abuser. The abuser took their money and because of that they cannot afford housing, this is ongoing financial abuse. If there is both – If there is a housing need, and there is domestic violence, safe housing could be a part of the safety plan. Determine the reason for the housing need. Is the housing need related to domestic violence? A person can be experiencing homelessness and domestic violence at the same time. Is the need for the housing because of domestic violence? If the need for housing is homelessness – but the safety plan is to get stable housing, we can approve housing payments. Know your resources! Additional $3000 for Jobs Support Services. Housing Resources. Advocates. EXAMPLES! Scenario 1: Survivor is getting evicted and they are experiencing DV. The abuser was in control of the funds and did not pay the bills. This is a case where they have housing and domestic violence. The reason they are evicted was due to the domestic violence. Scenario 2: Survivor is homeless and experiencing DV. Take those two things completely apart. First determine the housing need – they are homeless. Then determine the DV – confirmed there is domestic violence. Is being homeless because of DV? For example, they are out on the streets and able to be located – therefore the need for housing is because of the domestic violence. Or, they have been homeless for months. The abuser has been texting them but does not know their location, yet they cannot stabilize. Housing will enhance the safety plan. Just because someone is homeless does not mean it is an automatic approval for DV – but it is not an automatic denial. Have to look at the situation.

Shelter to Shelter Find resources Tackle on thing at a time Talk with the advocates What do they want for housing? Sometimes there is not an answer – just be there. Find resources Get creative with resources. If they need housing and cannot find it – what do they need to get it? A job? A roommate? Mental Health? Do they want to move out of state? We can support with that. Tackle one thing at a time Housing may be the first priority – but what can you work on? Take one thing at a time. Take on mental health before housing maybe. Talk with the advocates They are having the same struggle. Get their opinion, suggestions. Get a release to talk with them about the housing concern What do they want for housing? What are they even looking for? Roommate situation? Their own place? Somewhere out of state? Help to narrow the search and find things that are within their means and wants. Sometimes there is not an answer – just be there. We do not always have the answers. You just being there is enough. We want to support people and help them to get creative, find resources, find stable housing. If we cannot find it – help to support with what we can and just be there for them

If their rent is over what they can pay? We cannot automatically deny. Safety plan and help to come up with creative solutions. Roommates, new locations, housing programs. Finding stability, payment plan with landlord or family Talk about eviction or other consequences. Help to find temporary housing. We cannot automatically deny. Check FSM: TADVS, E. Program Benefits, 5. Shelter and Relocation Costs Unable to pay ongoing costs: If rental/housing costs are above the survivor’s demonstrated ability to pay, this is not an automatic reason for denial. If the monthly housing costs are above future available income levels, a plan to address how the survivor will meet future housing costs should be discussed and documented on the DHS 1543. Safety plan and help to come up with creative solutions. Roommates, new locations, housing programs. Finding stability, payment plan with landlord or family Talk about eviction or other consequences. Help to find temporary housing. Have a conversation and narrate it about what happens if they cannot make payment.

Offer: Support. Resources. Advocates. Time.

Upcoming Episodes: Not your cup of tea? What do you want to see next time? Email us and request it! Tadvs.policy@state.or.us Request something specific for a group!