Housing as a Violence Prevention Strategy

For survivors of sexual violence, safety can hinge on something as basic as whether there is a door that locks, a bed to sleep in, and a place to breathe without fear.  

Using a Network of Practice grant from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, with support from Bloomberg Professor of American Health Michele Decker, implemented and evaluated a unique statewide program: Ohio’s Meaningful Access Housing Program (MAHP). This program is designed specifically for sexual violence survivors, to provide immediate, short-term hotel accommodations, offering a critical bridge when home is no longer safe. 

Survivors who report to a local rape crisis center are assigned an advocate who can connect them with several programs, including the MAHP. These programs include services such as safety planning, crisis counseling, accompaniment to medical exams or court proceedings, help navigating protection orders, and referrals for longer-term housing, financial assistance, and legal support. Between October 2023 and September 2024, the Program provided 4,042 nights of shelter to 106 survivors, their children, and dependents. 

The program and evaluation drew directly from survivor experiences. Anonymous surveys were collected from individuals who used the program, alongside needs assessments from the Ohio Rape Crisis Centers, with a focus on centers serving rural communities. The findings revealed housing as one of the most pressing and overlooked barriers survivors face after an assault. 

Survey respondents consistently reported that access to temporary hotel housing improved their sense of safety, dignity, and stability. Having a secure place to stay reduced immediate physical risk and eased emotional distress. For many, the hotel stay was the first moment of calm after crisis.

The need was especially acute in rural areas of Ohio. Survivors in these communities often face long distances to access services, limited transportation, and a lack of confidential housing options. In small towns, where anonymity is scarce, leaving an unsafe environment can carry added risks. The evaluation underscored how survivor-specific housing pathways are not a luxury but a necessity, particularly outside urban centers. 

While many existing services either do not address housing at all or rely on systems that are not trauma-informed or survivor-specific, the MAHP illustrates the importance of centering survivor voices when developing violence reduction policies and programs.