The Relationship Between Foreclosures and Intimate Partner Violence During the U.S. Housing Crisis

Abstract

The recent U.S. housing crisis led to increases in neighborhood foreclosures and stress. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is linked to neighborhood stress, but less is known about whether foreclosures aggravate neighborhood conditions affecting IPV. Using police, foreclosure, and census data for three cities in the Phoenix region coupled with cross-sectional time series modeling, we find a direct effect of foreclosures on IPV, with the largest effects appearing at the end of the housing crisis. Our findings suggest that households living in communities that recover more slowly from housing downturns may be more prone to IPV.