[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 14 (Thursday, February 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2002

  Mr. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Domestic 
Violence and Sexual Assault Housing Assistance Act of 2002. This bill 
has broad bipartisan support with over 100 cosponsors. It authorizes 
$50 million for transitional housing assistance for those escaping the 
terror of violence in their homes and in their lives. At this time when 
we are devoting extensive resources to ending terror around the world, 
let us not forget to address the terror of domestic violence, sexual 
assault, and stalking that plagues women's lives.
  In October 2000, Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and 
Violence Protection Act and re-authorized the Violence Against Women's 
Act (VAWA). As part of VAWA, Congress agreed to support $25 million for 
transitional housing assistance. Though this amount would have served 
too few, the money was never even appropriated to this program.
  The rates of violence against women are astounding. According to the 
Department of Justice, 960,000 women annually report having been abused 
by their husband or boyfriend. The actual number is significantly 
higher due to difficulties in reporting. According to estimates by the 
McAuley Institute, $50 million in funding for transitional housing 
would provide assistance to at least 5,400 families. Though this is not 
enough, we must start somewhere.
  Violence against women is an epidemic that affects not only women, 
but their children and families as well. Every year, thousands of women 
flee abusive situations with few financial resources and often nowhere 
to go. Lack of affordable housing and long waiting lists for assisted 
housing mean that many women and their children are forced to choose 
between abuse at home or life on the streets. Furthermore, shelters are 
frequently filled to capacity and must turn away battered women and 
their children. The connection between continued abuse and lack of 
available housing is overwhelming. A Ford Foundation study found that 
50% of homeless women and children were fleeing abuse.
  Furthermore, almost 50 percent of the women who receive Temporary 
Assistance to Needy Families funds cite domestic violence as a factor 
in the need for assistance. The problem of high need is compounded by 
the lack of adequate emergency shelter options. The overall number of 
emergency shelter beds for homeless people is estimated to have 
decreased by an average of 3 percent in 1997 while requests for shelter 
increased on the average by 3 percent. Emergency shelters struggle to 
meet the increased need for services with about 32 percent of the 
requests for shelter by homeless families going unmet. In fact 88 
percent of cities reported having to turn away homeless families from 
emergency shelters due to inadequate resources for services.
  Transitional housing assistance will not only provide immediate 
safety to women and children but it will also help women gain control 
over their lives and get back on their feet. There are critical 
services available at transitional housing shelters such as counseling, 
job training, and child care that these women need to help them along 
the road to economic self-sufficiency.
  It is now essential that we not only pass this legislation but also 
appropriate $50 million for transitional housing assistance and provide 
this critically needed safety net for women seeking to escape abuse. We 
must be supportive of individuals who are escaping violence and seeking 
to better their lives. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting 
this legislation and work for its passage.

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