Women invest not just their money but their hearts in their homes. It’s where they create cherished memories, find solace, and raise their families. The conventional approach of expecting survivors to relinquish these hard-earned spaces after harrowing experiences is unreasonable and emotionally draining. WomanACT's Safe at Home research exposes how limited housing options often delay survivors' separation from their abusers, pushing them towards emergency shelters, family, or friends—choices that are available to less than half of those in need.

Case in point: affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce, especially in cities like Toronto. A recent report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives indicates that, to afford the rent of a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto, an adult’s salary must exceed $33 dollars per hour, which is double the current minimum wage. This scarcity disproportionately affects gender-based violence survivors, leaving them with limited viable alternatives. Soaring rent prices, limited availability, and housing instability only compound their already precarious situations. We must shift our focus towards policy changes that expand affordable housing options and ensure survivors have access to secure and affordable housing without unnecessary turmoil.

For survivor mothers, ensuring stability for their children is of paramount importance. They often attempt to secure new rentals in the same neighbourhood to minimize disruption for their kids. Even when housing options are available, factors like program eligibility, wait times, and proximity to work can restrict their choices. The stress and stigma associated with certain housing options also weigh heavily on their decision-making.

Life disruptions are a common consequence of separating from an abusive partner. Relocation often plays a role in these upheavals, compelling survivors to move away from their jobs, friends, and essential services. This upheaval represents a significant burden for survivors, further complicating the challenges they already face.

To shift this narrative, we must confront the systemic inequalities that trap survivors in abusive situations, starting with reforms that should span from the justice system to law enforcement, from local to federal bodies, to ensure women have a wealth of options.

One of these options is Safe at Home, a housing approach for women living with an abusive partner to either remain in the shared home with their partner removed or move directly to independent housing when leaving the relationship. In the regions where they have been implemented, including the UK and Australia, Safe at Home programs have proven to improve the safety, confidence, and well-being of women. They also result in fewer disruptions to women’s lives and lower repeat incidents of intimate partner violence, reduce homelessness caused by intimate partner violence, strengthen integration and communication between participating agencies, and save costs for service agencies, housing providers, and the criminal justice system. According to our recent research, Safe at Home is also the most preferred housing option for survivors (75%) when separating from an abusive partner if desired supports were in place.

It is time we re-imagine housing solutions for women escaping violence. We should depart from the conventional model that forces survivors to leave their homes and shift our focus to expanding affordable housing options. By doing so, we can offer survivors the support and choices they need to rebuild their lives and break free from the cycle of violence. It’s not simply about shelter. It’s about empowering survivors to regain control of their lives and reshape their futures.

Bio: Dicle Su Han is the Research and Policy Manager of WomanACT. WomanACT works collaboratively to eradicate violence against women through community mobilization, coordination, research, policy and education.