Skip to content
English | Espanol
24-HOUR HOTLINE: 407-500-HEAL (4325)
24-HOUR HELPLINE
407-500-HEAL (4325)
  • ESCAPE
  • DONATE NOW
  • Español
  • Home
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Client Forms
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • VSC Board of Directors
    • Meet the VSC Team
      • Letter from Lui Damiani
    • Join the Team
    • Annual Reports & Brochures
  • Ways to Give
    • Ways to Donate
    • Pre-Trial Diversion Donations
    • Cheers to Change
    • Inaugural VSC Golf Tournament 2021
    • VSC Mug Campaign
  • Get Help
    • Sexual Assault Services
    • Forensic Examinations – Rape Kits
    • Crime Victim Services
    • Therapy & Support Services
    • Community Resources
  • Prevention
    • Community Outreach
    • Prevention Education
    • Sexual Assault Awareness Month
    • #BeTheHero
      • Pledge to Be the Hero
    • Prevention Materials
    • Blogs
    • In the News
  • Get Involved
    • Cheers to Change
    • Lunch and Learn
    • Volunteer
    • #DenimDay
  • Contact Us
    • Contact VSC for Assistance
    • Press Room
The Link Between Homelessness and Sexual Violence

The Link Between Homelessness and Sexual Violence

Date Posted : June 16, 2015 Posted By : Lui Comments :

 

Andrae Bailey

By: Evan Smith, Communications Coordinator at the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness

The person standing on the corner, sign in hand, is hoping for a few dollars. They have no home and little hope. Their life has come to a point where pride is discarded and survival takes the lead. One day to the next, the prospect of returning to stability gets more remote. How did they get here? Unfortunately, in many cases, the answer is sexual violence. The harsh reality is that a strong correlation exists between sexual violence and homelessness.

Homelessness, like so many social issues, exists in a world not colored with black and white, but filled with grey. Surely, some of those living on our streets did make decisions that removed them from a previous life of safety and security. But, what lays beneath the surface of any inspection of the reasons for homelessness, is a case study in cause and effect. From mental illness to a past of sexual abuse, a person’s social mobility can be sabotaged outside of their own control.

Follow the road of housing instability and you will find yourself at many dark intersections. The connection between sexual assault and homelessness is a gut-wrenching example. It is a driving force that rips apart a life without consideration for affect. What is so troubling is that sexual violence doesn’t just lead someone to homelessness. Often times it follows them as they go. Many people living on our streets find themselves faced with a horrifying prospect of being indefensible to the crime of sexual assault. By either perceived friend or unknown foe, they can become a victim. Without the support needed to find a safe home, they may continue to be a victim of their past.

Solutions must be found. More access to affordable housing, increased funding for trauma–informed homeless services, and collaborations between service providers, such as the local Certified Rape Crisis Center, are areas of needed improvement. These collaborations are critical to ensure the homeless receive the lifesaving services they need to heal and move forward with their lives. Without them, the cycle of victimization will see no end.

Share this:
  • Share via Facebook
  • Share via Google
  • Share via Twitter
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged homeless, homeless central florida, homeless orlando, homeless sexual violence, homesslessness
← Who’s volunteering?
Law Enforcement Responding to Sexual Assaults →

Featured Post

  • BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month
  • The Effects of Trauma: How Sexual assault and Suicide are Connected
  • How A Volunteer is Made
  • On feeling Empowered as a Trans Person
  • Gender Dysphoria and Euphoria
  • Asexuality and Sexual Violence
  • How to Keep Yourself Safe During & After a Break-up
  • VSC Podcast Ep: 17 Narrative Therapy
  • Reflecting on 5 Years at VSC
  • El valor del voluntariado en el Victim Service Center
  • 2020 Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 16: Stalking
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 15: Body Positivity
  • Project Beloved Gives Back to VSC and Victims Everywhere
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 14: Volunteering
  • VSC Podcast Ep 13: Reflections on Pride 2020
  • Importance of Affirming LGBTQ+ Identities
  • VSC Podcast Ep.12: Impacto en inmigrantes victimas de violencia en los Estados Unidos
  • Healthy or Unhealthy: 5 Riverdale Couples
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 09: Self-Care
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 08: Art and Healing
  • VSC Podcast: Ep.07 Healthy Relationships During COVID
  • How Does Art Relate to Times of Crisis ?
  • Revisiting Consent During COVID
  • The Potential Risks of Dating App Usage in the Face of COVID-19 & Social Distancing
  • Music Therapy and Healing Trauma
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 06: Music Therapy
  • Resources for Young Children about Mental Health, Consent, and Trauma
  • VSC Podcast Ep.04 Victims’ Rights Week
  • 5 Reasons Jake and Amy are the Best TV Couple
  • It’s Never Too Late to Start Again
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 03: Survivor to Thriver
  • VSC Podcast Ep. 02: Coping with COVID
  • VSC Podcast Ep.1: Start by Believing
  • COVID-19 and Quarantine
  • Recognizing Social Workers
  • Patient Autonomy for the Survivor
  • Human Trafficking Awareness Month-What You Need to Know
  • The Best Present: taking care of you this holiday season
  • 5 Things You Can Do to Support A Friend Experiencing IPV
  • Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
  • Reactions to Big T and Little t Trauma
  • Mother of a Victim
  • Mental Health Awareness Month: is it Time for a Check-in?
  • The Value of Volunteering at the Victim Service Center
  • A Letter from Rachel
  • PTSD and Sexual Violence
  • The Silent Victim
  • #MeToo
  • A Young Girl Seeks Justice
  • VSC and SSC Come Together!
  • VSC: Pulse Stories
  • The Backlog and How it Affected Me
  • Lui’s Letter
  • Social Media Safety Tips
  • Thank you!
  • ¿Qué es Trauma?
  • A Message of Gratitude
  • Healing for the Nonprofit Community
  • Kathy’s Story
  • “Inside Out” Healing
  • Amanda’s Story
  • Jenny’s Story
  • Men and Sexual Assault Victimization
  • Continuity of Care
  • Lui’s Letter- October 2015
  • A Former Client Gives Back
  • Serving First Responders
  • My Vulnerability Hangover
  • Prison Rape Elimination Act
  • Law Enforcement Responding to Sexual Assaults
  • The Link Between Homelessness and Sexual Violence
  • Who’s volunteering?
  • June 2015: VSC’s Lead Advocate Discusses Sexual Assault
  • A Survivor Perspective
  • SAAM Highlights!
  • Helping Hand: What you can do for the Survivor in Your Life
  • See Us Around Town!
  • Grieving Sexual Assault
  • 5 Benefits of Mindfulness
  • When a Loved One is a Survivor of Sexual Trauma
  • Vulnerability
  • How to Manage Triggers in World that is Waking Up
  • What Does Healing Look Like?
  • Why do bad things happen to good people?

Archives

Who are we?

Victim Service Center of Central Florida is the Certified Rape Crisis Center in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. We serve all victims of sexual assault, violent crime and traumatic circumstance through free and confidential crisis intervention, therapy, advocacy and outreach. www.HealHere.org

Contact us

Crisis Care & Forensics:

24/7 Helpline (407) 500-HEAL


Forensic Locations Confidential

Business Contact Information:


Victim Service Center
2111 East Michigan Street, Suite 210 Orlando, Florida 32806

Main Office Line (407) 254-9415

Fax (407) 228-1420

General Information: Marketing@VictimServiceCenter.org

Website:
www.HealHere.org

About VSC

  • Meet the Team
  • Annual Report
  • VSC Leadership
  • History
  • In the News
  • Join the Team

Get involved

  • Volunteer
  • Attend an Event
  • Download our Wish List
  • Attend a Lunch and Learn

 

Volunteers

  • Become a Volunteer
  • Login
  • See Upcoming Opportunities
  • Logout
Victim Service Center
Victim Service Center

Copyright Victim Service Center 2014-2022. All rights Reserved

  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law; Victim Service Center is registered with the state under the Solicitation of Contributions Act, 1992 under Florida Registration Number CH18390 and Federal Tax Identification Number 75-2978885. For registration information contact the Division of Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or visit their website at www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com.

This project was supported by Grant Number 16SAS18 awarded by the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/programs/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, the Department of Health, or the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence.