Poverty, Welfare and Battered Women: What Does the Research Tell Us?

This paper analyzes the research studies (mostly published in 1996-97) in sections that focus on: the prevalence of domestic violence among poor women and women receiving welfare; the connection between welfare and domestic violence; the effects of domestic violence on women receiving welfare; and, the implications of the research for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare programs.

This paper was written in December 1997 as part of a series of research, policy and practice papers for the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence as part of the Welfare and Domestic Violence Technical Assistance Initiative.