Intimate Partner Violence
Abuse in relationships, also known as intimate partner violence (IPV), is far more common than most people think. If abuse is defined as sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking, then statistics from the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men in the U.S. have been victims of IPV.
However, abuse is more than just physical; it’s psychological. IPV also includes non-physical violence such as threats, manipulation, verbal abuse, or other forms of communication that cause mental or emotional harm to a partner. In the U.S. alone, 43 million women and 38 million men have experienced psychological violence in abusive relationships.
Unfortunately, abusive relationships are closely linked with homelessness. According to best estimates, more than 80% of homeless women with children are fleeing an abusive relationship, and abuse is the direct cause of homelessness for somewhere between 22 and 57% of women.
On top of this, 38% of IPV victims experience homelessness at some point in their lives.
Read more: How To Help Someone Out Of An Abusive Relationship