4.6 Rural Roundtable: Unique Challenges and Innovative Solutions Speaker: Linda Olsen Serving families and youth experiencing homelessness in rural communities includes a distinct set of obstacles that are not always covered in larger discussions about homelessness. In this interactive workshop, audience members and presenters will discuss the problems their communities have faced and how they have attempted to overcome them, with additional discussion on opportunities and challenges associated with HEARTH Act implementation.

1. RURAL
ROUNDTABLE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOUSING FIRST
IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
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2. WHAT IS • DV Housing First seeks to
eliminate housing as a
DV reason for survivors to stay
HOUSING in an abusive relationship.
FIRST? • It does this through
advocacy and a flexible
approach to services and
financial assistance.
• This gives survivors the
freedom to choose how best
to rebuild their lives.
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3. KEY • Safety
TO DV • Survivor-centered/driven
HOUSING advocacy
FIRST • Flexible, temporary
financial assistance
• Assistance with housing
search
• Strong partnerships with
PHAs and private
landlords
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4. WHOSE • 13 domestic violence
programs in WA State: 4
DOING urban & 9 rural
IT? • Technical Assistance
provided by WSCADV
• Project funding is from
the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation and the
Empire Health
Foundation.
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5. HOW DID • In 2009, 4 agencies
IT were funded to try an
START? experimental ,
completely flexible
approach to housing
for DV survivors.
• 1 agency was rural;
another had a large
rural population
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6. HOW • Due to promising
DID IT results, especially
GO? with the rural
programs, an
additional 9
programs were
funded in 2011
• 7 programs are rural
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7. WHAT • Three tribes
• Three agencies with
DOES reservations in their service
THE area and that provide
NEW services to tribal members
• One agency with a large
RURAL population of migrant
COHORT farmworkers
LOOK • High poverty; limited
resources in all
LIKE?
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8. CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
• One agency in town • Each community is
does it ALL: How do different: population
you prioritize limited & stakeholders.
resources? • Service integration,
not siloed
• Separate office space
for DV, SA, VOC
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9. CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
• EVERYBODY • Staff that is
KNOWS consistently
EVERYBODY’S respectful,
BUSINESS trustworthy,
understands
confidentiality, and
values privacy.
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10. CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
• Limited • Create your own
employment • Get acquainted
opportunities with local
• Unstable employers
employment • Invest in
transportation
options
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11. CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
• Limited/no • Mobile
transportation for advocacy—go to
appointments where they are or
can be
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12. CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
• Lack of affordable, • Create your own!
adequate housing • Relationships with
housing/homeless
organizations and
providers in
neighboring
counties
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13. CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
• Landlords • Befriend and educate!
– Screenings • Be reliable and
– Unscrupulous responsive
– Discriminate • Advocate with client
• Offer to cover repair
costs
• Address abuses directly
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14. CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
• No Public Housing • Develop/strength
Authority in en relationships
County with PHAs in
• Long waiting lists closest counties
• Slow processes • Advocate for HUD
funding!
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15. LINDA OLSEN, M.A., M.S.W.
HOUSING PROGRAM COORDINATOR
WASHINGTON STATE COALITION AGAINST
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
LINDA@WSCADV.ORG
206-389-2515, X205
WWW.WSCADV.ORG
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