Overview of Sexual Violence and Homelessness

This two page fact sheet offers information on the impact of housing costs, housing and various forms of oppression, and how advocates can help.

In 2008, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center partnered with the Victims Rights Law Center, National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project, Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, University of New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania Community Legal Services to develop and conduct a national survey on housing and sexual violence. This report provides a summary of key survey findings.

This fact sheet provides information on the link between homelessness and sexual violence, the barriers homeless face in receiving services, and what rape crisis centers can do to meet the needs of the homeless. It provides general information on the topic as well as information and statistics specific to Pennsylvania.

This paper consolidates knowledge about the damaging interplay between homelessness and sexual violence. It clarifies steps researchers, policy-makers, and service providers can take to intervene with victims and prevent future sexual assaults.

This resource focuses on the impact that homelessness has on children, especially for those who have experienced sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse or are in environments where this abuse is occurring. The issue addresses the need for early intervention and provides clinicians with tips on identifying signs of trauma in homeless children as well as when and how to intervene.

This issue focuses on the intersection between sexual victimization and homeless youth, and provides an overview of research on this topic area.

This issue brief reviews research regarding the involvement of unaccompanied, homeless youth in various types of sexual exploitation including survival sex and recruitment into the commercial sex industry and will recommend a series of programmatic responses to meet their needs.

Drawn from interviews with more than 3,000 homeless adults and youth throughout Minnesota, this research describes some of the causes, effects and circumstances surrounding homelessness.

Shelter supervisors and staff were also interviewed as to their perception of the needs of the shelter residents. Information about the women such as age, residence, education, health, criminal records, public benefits, children and repeated homelessness are detailed in the report. Additionally, factors contributing to the women's homelessness, and recommendations are also provided.