Our Housing Services
The Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) exists to create efforts that increase access to services and safety for victims of domestic violence and minimize the challenges in accessing those systems. HCDVCC determined that the best way to meet its mission to build formal collaborations that effect systemic change is through understanding and improving how the each of the systems work to enhance safety for victims of domestic violence; this includes streamlining the process for families fleeing from domestic violence to enter into safe, stable, and affordable housing options and increasing our community’s housing inventory. HCDVCC ‘s sole interest is working to create collaborative partnerships and fill service gaps to increase safety and effect positive change. The housing projects create community wide best practices for rapid rehousing for victims of domestic. The coordinated access process decreases the frustrations victims experience when navigating complex systems.
Each year there are over 35,000 domestic violence incidents reported to law enforcement, more than 5500 women and children are provided with emergency shelter, and over 80,000 hotline calls for domestic violence services in Harris County. Approximately 30% of requests for shelter go unmet. Nationally, less than 5% of victims will reach out to domestic violence services for help. Many victims often do not see shelter as a viable alternative and remain with their abusive partner. The rapid rehousing projects and coordinated access system bridge the gap for those fleeing domestic violence to enter into supportive, safe housing alternatives. This project targets domestic violence victims who have no other safe residence, and those who lack the resource and/or support networks, family, friends, faith-based, or other social networks to obtain and maintain other permanent housing. This model operates as a housing first model and the proposed outcomes include families securing safe, affordable housing, increasing family income, increasing family access to resources and mainstream benefits, and building capacity to remain in stable housing and not return to homelessness.
HCDVCC selects from the domestic violence coordinated access system which prioritizes eligibility by danger and vulnerabilities assessments. To get assessed for the coordinated access system, survivors contact community domestic violence service providers (HAWC, FBWC, The Bridge, BATP, MCWC, NAM) or be a survivor working with the Harris County high risk team.
If selected, the programs provide 100% of the rent and a utility allowance for one year. An assessment of progress toward housing stability goals is conducted before the year ends to determine outcomes. A housing specialist will assist in locating affordable housing and a case manager will be assigned during the housing process to address any crisis intervention or immediate needs if there are resources available through the 211 United Way Helpline. However, we believe survivors are their best resource. Our role is to help discover a survivor’s strengths, talents, special gifts, and what they value. We want to nurture those strengths, walk beside the survivor in getting what’s important to them, and help think of options to use those strengths to create income and overcome their challenges/barriers. It’s a tough road because resources are limited and we will not be able to work miracles. We will stand with you even during the hard times. We won’t judge and we will listen compassionately. We will try to uplift the survivor and spark hope.