Supporting domestic violence clients to prevent a return to homelessness
Kimberly Leach, B.S., CFLE-P
By Kimberly Leach, B.S., CFLE-P
Housing Case Manager, YCC Family Crisis Center (Ogden, Utah)
There is so much stigma around domestic violence. Often, we look from the outside and make a judgement about how someone is living their life, but we have no idea how it feels to be in those situations.
In my role as a housing case manager at a domestic violence shelter, I facilitate a Rapid Rehousing program for families, through which we provide rental assistance and intensive case management for one year.
My primary goal is to match a client with resources and support to prevent a return to homelessness when their time with our program ends — addressing topics like self-sufficiency, healthy relationships and communication styles, financial stability, credit repair, and budgeting. We have parenting classes, healthy relationship classes, junior high and high school preventive education classes, and case management that allows us to tailor a curriculum to individual client needs.
It is serendipitous that, after leaving a domestic violence situation myself over 20 years ago, I find myself working with women whose stories are sometimes very similar to mine. No two stories are the same, but fleeing domestic violence, raising a child alone, and learning how to rebuild our lives are shared experiences that are unique to those journeying that path.
Preventive education on the subjects we address with clients can be a great way to help avoid domestic violence situations, family dysfunction, and deadly outcomes. I’m so encouraged to see clients finish or enhance their education, work toward better employment, and pursue stability in their lives and the lives of their children — it’s amazing to watch and be a small part of their journeys.