Structural barriers – such as lack of access to affordable and
safe housing, economic security, and legal
protections – make it harder for survivors to find
safety and healing. The Partnership works with our members and
partners to break down those barriers, promote the physical,
emotional, and economic well-being of survivors, address the root
causes of domestic violence, and support healthy relationship
education. We do this by developing survivor-centered legislation
and learning opportunities and convening our statewide network to
strengthen domestic violence services in California.
Housing
Homelessness, housing insecurity, and domestic violence are
fundamentally linked; neither can be solved without addressing
the other. Domestic violence is a leading driver in homelessness
for women, making housing a critical resource to ensure a
survivor’s safety: Nationally,
57% of unhoused women reported domestic violence was an
immediate cause of their homelessness. In California, 22% of unhoused
individuals reported experiencing domestic violence,
according to the state’s Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS)
demographic data. Survivors and all Californians deserve safe,
affordable and accessible housing that is free from violence. The
Partnership envisions housing authorities and institutions that
prioritize survivor needs and fully include domestic violence
service providers and advocates in local housing and homelessness
decision-making.
In the service of this goal, we work in collaboration with a
cohort of domestic violence organizations and a cross-sector
workgroup to improve how our housing and homelessness systems
respond to the needs of survivors. Additionally, the
Partnership is urging California legislators to make up for
declining federal Victims of Crime Act funds in the State Budget.
Our goal is to preserve the domestic violence field’s vital
emergency and long-term housing options for survivors.
Prevention
Domestic violence is a preventable public health crisis in
California that harms millions. We envision a state where people
have the resources they need to build safe, healthy, and
supportive communities and where young people are supported to
learn healthy relationship skills and recognize the signs of teen
dating violence and domestic violence. To prevent violence before
it can occur, the Partnership supports our members who work
in their communities to shift oppressive social norms at the root
of domestic violence—rigid gender roles, racism, homophobia,
biphobia, transphobia, disablism, economic inequities, and more.
We provide training and one-on-one assistance in the development
of effective strategies like healthy relationship education among
youth and adults, as well as supporting community-level changes
that protect against violence and abuse. The Partnership has been
instrumental in establishing funding for this work across the
state.
Economic Justice
One study of women in abusive relationships revealed that
financial abuse affected 99% of participants. This can include
stealing money, credit, property, or identity from a partner.
Access to financial stability and freedom can give those
experiencing domestic violence the resources they need to escape
a violent situation and even prevent violence from occurring in
the first place.
The Partnership recognizes economic insecurity as a root cause of
domestic violence. We are working to strengthen California’s
social safety net programs and increase access to and awareness
of California’s Paid Family Leave Program, so that more families
can be financially stable while caring for a seriously ill family
member or bonding with a new child. This supports families
through life’s most stressful moments, reducing the risk of abuse
and supporting overall family well-being. We call on legislators
to support policies that create financial relief, stability, and
wellness for survivors and all Californians.
Gun Violence
The presence of firearms in dangerous or abusive situations can
increase the likelihood of severe injury or fatality. In fact, a
woman is five
times more likely to be killed if the intimate partner
causing her harm has access to a firearm. Firearms pose a high
risk of lethality for people experiencing domestic violence
and their communities: one study found that nearly
one
third of mass shooters had a history of domestic violence.
California is a leader in keeping families safe from gun violence
in abusive situations. To strengthen our state’s leadership,
courts and law enforcement must act more quickly to remove
firearms when domestic violence occurs.
It is imperative that all Californians, especially those
experiencing domestic violence, have access to both legal and
non-legal measures that can keep them safe. This includes
community-based intervention programs, the range of legal
remedies currently available, and the protections provided under
both civil and criminal laws designed to reduce the likelihood
that someone who has become prohibited from having firearms will
be able to keep or obtain them. Alongside our members and
partners, the Partnership created EndingGV.org, a toolkit designed to
support survivors in their safety and healing, prevent gun
violence and provide vital resources to domestic violence service
providers.
Building Strong Capacity to Meet the Needs of Survivors
The Partnership is committed to strengthening the capacity of
advocates, service providers, and allied groups to effectively
support survivors of domestic violence. Through comprehensive
training and tailored technical assistance, we equip
organizations with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to
deliver trauma-informed, survivor-centered services.
Our Training content covers a wide range of critical topics,
including safety planning, advocacy strategies, shelter and
transitional housing access, confidentiality, economic
empowerment, and peer learning support. Training is delivered via
workshops, on-demand resources, and through collaborative
learning spaces to help us meet the evolving needs of the field.
Our training provides individualized support to programs, helping
them to be able to navigate complex challenges, implement
best-practice, and enhance their organizational capacity.
