Spirit Mountain Community Fund Supports Home Free's Housing First Services
Volunteers of America Oregon would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the Spirit Mountain Community Fund for its recent grant of $50,000 to support Home Free's innovative Housing First services, which help survivors of domestic violence.
Domestic violence affects one in seven women in Multnomah County each year. In Oregon, nearly half of domestic violence survivors report that they stay in abusive situations because they lack a safe and affordable place to live.
Home Free's Housing First program provides rapid re-housing for 80-100 families fleeing domestic violence every year. The program was developed in 2003, when Home Free closed its domestic violence shelter and moved to a community-based model that helps survivors to access their own permanent housing. Approximately 97 percent of families in the program obtain housing, and 86 percent of those families remain in stable housing one year after ending services.
Each year, Home Free provides face-to-face services to more than 5,000 survivors of domestic violence . Home Free's highly individualized services empower survivors to affirm their strength and transition to a life not defined by domestic violence. Volunteers of America Oregon is grateful to the Spirit Mountain Community Fund for helping us respond to this critical issue in our community.
