Housing instability and food insecurity affect millions of people and their families in the United States, leaving them vulnerable to violence:
- Nearly 4,500 Bostonians experience homelessness on any given night.
- In 2022, one in three Massachusetts residents experienced food insecurity.
This Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Month, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is highlighting our incredible case management team who provides crucial support to survivors struggling to find sustainable housing and food. The Development Team spoke with Clare Namugga, BARCC’s Director of Case Management, to learn more about how the housing crisis affects survivors and how her team supports survivors in meeting their basic needs.
Housing Instability
Housing instability is about more than a lack of shelter. People experiencing homelessness often face greater challenges in establishing personal safety and accessing resources, making them more likely to be targets of sexual violence and abuse.
Survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence may be reliant on their abusive partner for financial security and housing. While updated research is long overdue, studies have found that 50 to 60 percent of women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing a violent relationship.
Clare told us the story of one survivor who lost her affordable housing accommodation after leaving her abusive partner. While she could not afford private housing on her own, her income exceeded the requirement for public affordable housing.
BARCC case managers worked with the survivor to navigate the emergency affordable housing system, yet when an option finally surfaced, safety became a barrier. The survivor had to decline her hard-won emergency transfer unit because parking was a 30-minute walk from the apartment. That meant that she would have to walk for half an hour alone in the dark each time she came home from work.
That is why case management is important for survivors with housing needs. Case managers can work directly with survivors to achieve their goals for housing and general well-being, taking into account all of the unique barriers that they face.
“We try to think creatively,” said Clare. “Like, what is on the menu?” For example, there are domestic violence shelters, family shelters, and rapid rehousing. Our case management team looks at each client’s situation, explains their “menu” options based on what they qualify for, and then collaborates with the survivor to help them access those resources.
Food Insecurity
Finding housing is often just one piece of the puzzle for survivors. In 2022, food-insecure Massachusetts residents have had to choose between food and paying for housing (64%) and utilities (70%) in the past 12 months. That is why case managers view survivors’ material realities holistically and can help them fulfill their nutritional needs.
Clare says that “housing is never enough” when it comes to meeting the fiscal and material needs of survivors. Case managers can help survivors apply for needed public benefits such as SNAP and access food pantries and other resources. They look at a survivor’s current living situation, income, current public benefits, social support, and many other factors to determine what options are available. Through these supports, survivors can gain more fiscal and mental freedom along their healing journeys.
BARCC also supports food-insecure survivors, regardless of their native language or cultural background. “Many of our clients, especially those who are low-income, English is not their first language,” says Clare. “Most of the resources out there are in English, so they are not really accessible.” In fact, 17 percent of Massachusetts food pantry clients reported that food pantry staff did not speak their language. This is why BARCC’s services are all available in English and Spanish, with other languages, including ASL, available as needed.
We Can’t Do It Alone
BARCC’s case managers can’t do this work alone. Stopping housing and food insecurity requires collaboration. Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder that we all need to advocate for systemic changes and comprehensive solutions to the issues of housing instability, food insecurity, and sexual violence. Together, we can work towards a future where everyone has access to safe and affordable housing, free from the fear of sexual violence.
If you or a loved one are a survivor experiencing homelessness or needing a safe place to live, call BARCC’s 24/7 hotline at 800-841-8371 or send us a chat between 9 a.m.–11 p.m. to receive support and be connected with resources.