SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORGANIZE FOR CHANGE

(Article published in HWW April 2008)

by Susan Lob, director, Voices of Women Organizing Project

The Voices of Women Organizing Project (VOW) is a grass roots organization of survivors of domestic violence in New York City.

Survivors of domestic violence often feel that the institutions that should protect them from violence and poverty instead fail them. VOW’s mission is to give survivors a voice so that they can influence and improve the many systems that battered women and their children turn to for safety, assistance and justice.

VOW members reflect the diversity of NYC and include African American, Caribbean, Latina, White, Asian, immigrant, lesbian, disabled and formerly incarcerated survivors from all five boroughs. In monthly meetings, leadership trainings, workshops and individual coaching VOW helps survivors develop the skills, and confidence to be effective leaders.

VOW members have documented system failures, developed recommendations, and testified at City Council hearings, NYCHA hearings, and led press conferences and rallies. Their efforts have resulted in major improvements, including:

• enhanced treatment of disabled callers to the City’s domestic violence hotline;

• improved NYC Housing Authority application procedures for battered women;

• changes to the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) handling of cases involving domestic violence.

Before VOW, the voice of survivors was not included in important policy debates and their input was not considered. Now, VOW and its members are often invited to join important meetings and policy discussions concerning domestic violence.

VOW is currently focused on three ambitious campaigns:

1) REFORM FAMILY COURTS – THE BATTERED MOTHERS’ JUSTICE CAMPAIGN

The NYC Family Courts fail to take charges of domestic violence seriously and hold abusers accountable for their actions. VOW’s Battered Mothers’ Justice Campaign aims to develop policies and practices and provide education that will end victim blaming and start holding court officials accountable.

2)  IMPROVE ACS RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

VOW is launching a city-wide campaign to discourage false and malicious child abuse reports to ACS by batterers against their ex-partners – a tactic frequently used by abusers to punish women for leaving them -- that can wreak havoc on the family and lead to removal of children from their moms.

3) INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IMPROVE DV SHELTERS

The lack of affordable housing is a huge obstacle for most women who are trying to flee an abusive partner. One study found that as many as 59% of women who returned to their battering partner did so because they could not find suitable housing. Approximately 21% of homeless families and 25% of single homeless women are homeless due to domestic violence.

VOW is advocating with the City for the following policy improvements:

– create a subsidy program for all low income tenants without a two year cap or a decreasing level of subsidy;

– give battered women fleeing abuse priority for Section 8 and other subsidies;

– make NYCHA’s requirements for documentation for N-1 priority for victims of domestic violence more flexible;

– create more Tier II housing specifically for battered women;

– change the rules that force women in DV shelters to leave after 90-135 days; allow them to stay up to 180 days and transfer to the homeless system without having to re-qualify.

VOW welcomes as members survivors who have been out of the abusive relationships for at least one year. For more information on VOW, the lead initiative of the Battered Women’s Resource Center, go to www.vowbwrc.org or call the office at (212) 696-1481.