Women’s Center and Shelter
Emergency Shelter

Description:  This investment will provide emergency shelter, case management, and housing relocation assistance to 500 women and children who are victims of domestic violence.  

The Program Serves a Population with Great Needs:  98% of the victims who seek shelter are at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Of the population served within the past year, 31% were African American and 63% had children. The agency has experienced a 300% increase in demand for their services over the past two years. So far in 2009/2010 662 women and children have had to be turned away from services. 

The Program Achieves Measurable Results:  Women’s Center and Shelter served 5,294 women and children in 2008/2009, helped 327 women secure safe and affordable housing, and provided financial relocation assistance to 90.  

The Program Applies a Sound Approach:  The agency provides a comprehensive range of domestic violence services in addition to the provision of emergency shelter.  Program components related directly to building longer term self sufficiency include, but are not limited to, creation of safe housing plans, connection to housing resources, preparation for transitional housing, and relocation funding.  The Housing Advocate works with outside agencies, including City and County Housing Authorities, to foster understanding of urgent need for victims to obtain housing quickly; the housing agencies then expedite processing of the housing request.  Staff also work with the women to overcome other abuser-induced obstacles such as financial and credit abuse and restrictions to access to employment and/or education.   

Alignment with Preferred Outcomes and Likelihood of Community Change:

• 100% of clients screened will receive safe emergency shelter
• 90% will receive assistance with obtaining permanent housing through case management and referrals
• 68% will obtain safe and affordable alternative housing

Community Outcomes:
The agency has a long history of involvement with community-wide advocacy.  The agency is currently working with the Mayor and City Council to develop similar policies to cover all 3,000 City employees who are perpetrators or victims of domestic violence.  The work of the agency’s Housing Advocate, which will be funded through this investment, will work with community partners such as the City of Pittsburgh Housing Authority, Allegheny County Housing Authority, the Allegheny County Homeless Providers Network and many others to identify more ways to move domestic violence more quickly and efficiently into safe, affordable and sustainable housing opportunities.