The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) recently awarded St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities with Domestic Violence Transitional Housing and Rapid Rehousing funds.

For years, St. Elizabeth has been serving homeless women and children in their emergency shelter program. The agency has created partnerships with the Center for Women and Families and Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana to provide the next steps of support once the immediate crisis of domestic violence is stabilized for women in need of transitional housing or rapid rehousing options. This is not a crisis shelter. It provides the next step of support needed once crisis is stabilized. The program began in January of 2022.

Over the years St. Elizabeth has adapted their programs to better meet changing needs in the community. A key increase identified over the past few years was a dramatic rise in domestic violence reported among shelter residents. In 2020, 43% of program intakes reported domestic violence as a key factor contributing to their current homelessness. Funding will be specifically used to assist this underserved population through a trauma-informed care approach to begin the healing process, offer intensive case management, and provide transitional housing and rapid rehousing options with the goal of achieving stability and self-sufficiency for these households. All activities and services offered will be provided without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, or status as a veteran.