Chicago House Expands Support to Individuals Impacted by Intimate Partner Violence

Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is where the majority of Chicago House’s scattered-site housing clients live. The same neighborhoods heavily facing high COVID-19 positivity rates also see high rates of new HIV infections. During the pandemic, Chicago House staff recognized an increased occurrence of intimate partner violence within the agency’s Scattered-Site Housing program. Chicago House was selected to receive a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services in order to meet the needs that arose within its communities, and so that the agency may support those impacted by IPV.

A 2019 study by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority found that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to be victims of certain types of crimes than their cisgender or heterosexual-identifying counterparts. This includes intimate partner violence, although the majority of domestic violence awareness focuses on heterosexual relationships. The National Violence Against Women (NVAW) survey found that 21.5% of men and 34.5% of women with a history of cohabitating with a same-sex partner experienced physical abuse in their lifetime. Transgender women and those who identify as nonbinary may be further impacted by IPV.

Chicago House’s programming will expand to serve 30 households experiencing IPV in order to meet short-term housing needs and prevent homelessness. The program aims to reach LGTBQ+ individuals of color. The agency will provide IPV training to program managers and case managers to provide enhanced services to the 250 tenants currently in permanent supportive housing programs. All participants within the housing program are also referred to other social service agencies for food assistance, medical care, substance use, and mental health services.

Through the grant provided by IDHS, Chicago House will be able to provide those who experience IPV direct services and correct the myth that IPV does not impact the LGBTQ+ community. The agency seeks to remove barriers for those living in fear due to discrimination on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, or HIV status. By supporting this intersection of need, Chicago House continues to support communities in times of crisis and uphold its commitment to the social determinants of health.