Tags : domestic violence furniture bank homeless homelessness Pavilion of Hope
Pavilion of Hope works hard to ensure that families in need have a comfortable place to call home. Victims of homelessness and domestic violence are on the rise in this country.
A domestic violence experience is common among youth, single adults and families who become homeless and for many it is the immediate cause of their homelessness. Survivors of domestic violence may turn to homeless service programs seeking a safe temporary place to stay after fleeing an abusive relationship. Others may turn to homeless service programs primarily because they lack the economic resources to secure or maintain housing after leaving an abusive relationship.
Data is limited, but recent statistics suggest that on a single night in January 2016, 12 percent of the overall homeless population, 70,000 people, reported having experienced domestic violence at some point. Research from a study in New York City indicates that one in five families experienced domestic violence in the five years before entering shelter. Among families that reported domestic violence in the prior five years, 88 percent reported that it contributed to their homelessness “a lot.”
Our goal at Pavilion of Hope is to help resettle these families in a safe and comfortable environment. Ms. Head, a domestic violence survivor, has worked hard to secure a safe home for her children. In her struggle, she was also diagnosed with cancer. She has lived in shelters and finally was able to find a job and an apartment. However, she did not have enough money for any home furnishings, and she and her children had to live in an empty apartment for months. It was our pleasure to provide her with help. Her children were so excited, we literally could not stop them from helping to unload the truck.
