House to House, Shelter to Shelter: Experiences of Black Women Seeking Housing After Leaving Abusive Relationships

Locating safe and affordable housing is a vital step for women who decide to leave their abuser. Without housing, many women, particularly those who live in poverty, are forced to remain in abusive relationships, accept inadequate or unsafe housing, or become homeless (Menard, 2001; Moses, 2010). Women who choose to leave their abusers are faced withmultiple barriers in establishing their independence such as limited financial resources, mental illness, and the lack of affordable housing (Botein & Hetling, 2010), putting them at risk of revictimization. This pilot study explores the narratives of Black mothers currently residing at an emergency intimate partner violence shelter to discover their experiences in seeking housing after leaving abusive relationships with a focus on housing instability andmental health. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive design, four major themes emerged: (a) unstable/ insecure housing over time, (b) limited support, (c) survival, and (d) mental health. Implications for clinicians are discussed.