Beyond Co-Occurring: What Personal Narratives Reveal About the Triple Burden of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use, and Homelessness
Document Type
Event
Faculty Mentor
Rachel Casey
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) constitutes a pervasive public health issue, impacting nearly half of all women in the United States, about 61.7 million, over the course of their lifetime (Leemis et al., 2022). IPV is the leading cause of homelessness amongst women (National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, 2013; National Network to End Domestic Violence, 2012), and IPV often precedes and prolongs homelessness for women (Hargrave et al., 205). Once homeless, women are more likely to develop substance use disorder and face additional intimate partner violence, prolonging homelessness (Hargrave et al., 2025; Zhao, 2022). Experiencing all three issues–intimate partner violence, substance use disorder (SUD), and homelessness–exacerbates physical and mental health consequences (Leemis et al., 2022; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2023), Richards & Kuhn, 2023). The purpose of the current study is to explore the experiences of those at the intersection of intimate partner violence, substance use, and homelessness. The researcher implemented a systematic search process using online platforms, such as agency websites, blogs, and other narrative archives in the United States to gather stories written or narrated by women or trans people who have experienced some combination of IPV, substance use, and housing insecurity. The researcher conducted open coding using descriptive codes followed by constant comparison to group similar codes and identify themes. Preliminary results suggest that home is often the site of confinement for women experiencing IPV, with survivors describing the ways their abuser controlled their ability to leave and restricted access to the home during incidents of escalating violence. Women who were able to obtain independent housing reported facing stalking that threatened the safety of their home. Survivors describe how substances were introduced to them by their abuser, and how substances were used as a means to psychologically escape abuse. Women feared leaving abusive relationships due to the threat of housing insecurity. The stigma that women faced due to IPV, SUD, and homelessness impacted their ability to access services and help. The current study attempts to begin to close the knowledge gap around the lived experiences of survivors living at this intersection, so social workers can better serve and advocate for this vulnerable population.
Beyond Co-Occurring: What Personal Narratives Reveal About the Triple Burden of Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use, and Homelessness
Intimate partner violence (IPV) constitutes a pervasive public health issue, impacting nearly half of all women in the United States, about 61.7 million, over the course of their lifetime (Leemis et al., 2022). IPV is the leading cause of homelessness amongst women (National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, 2013; National Network to End Domestic Violence, 2012), and IPV often precedes and prolongs homelessness for women (Hargrave et al., 205). Once homeless, women are more likely to develop substance use disorder and face additional intimate partner violence, prolonging homelessness (Hargrave et al., 2025; Zhao, 2022). Experiencing all three issues–intimate partner violence, substance use disorder (SUD), and homelessness–exacerbates physical and mental health consequences (Leemis et al., 2022; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2023), Richards & Kuhn, 2023). The purpose of the current study is to explore the experiences of those at the intersection of intimate partner violence, substance use, and homelessness. The researcher implemented a systematic search process using online platforms, such as agency websites, blogs, and other narrative archives in the United States to gather stories written or narrated by women or trans people who have experienced some combination of IPV, substance use, and housing insecurity. The researcher conducted open coding using descriptive codes followed by constant comparison to group similar codes and identify themes. Preliminary results suggest that home is often the site of confinement for women experiencing IPV, with survivors describing the ways their abuser controlled their ability to leave and restricted access to the home during incidents of escalating violence. Women who were able to obtain independent housing reported facing stalking that threatened the safety of their home. Survivors describe how substances were introduced to them by their abuser, and how substances were used as a means to psychologically escape abuse. Women feared leaving abusive relationships due to the threat of housing insecurity. The stigma that women faced due to IPV, SUD, and homelessness impacted their ability to access services and help. The current study attempts to begin to close the knowledge gap around the lived experiences of survivors living at this intersection, so social workers can better serve and advocate for this vulnerable population.
