The intersection of interpersonal violence and housing instability: Perspectives from women veterans.

Abstract

Women veterans in the United States face a disproportionate risk of housing instability (HI) and interpersonal violence (IV), largely perpetrated by intimate partners or involving nonpartner sexual violence, compared to both male veterans and nonveteran women. To explore the ways in which IV and HI intersect in the experiences of women veterans, we analyzed transcripts of in-depth qualitative interviews with 20 women veterans who had screened positive for HI at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Three broad themes emerged related to the intersection of IV (specifically intimate partner violence or nonpartner sexual violence) and HI among women veterans: (1) HI can be precipitated by and increase vulnerability to IV, (2) experiences of IV impact women's definitions of housing safety and security, and (3) IV can pose a barrier to accessing housing services and other support systems. Findings indicate areas for improvement to screening processes and service provision to more effectively address the co-occurring and interacting safety and housing needs of women veterans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).