Partner Profiles are our way of highlighting organizations that we work with both in general and on specific campaigns. The North Carolina Housing Coalition values partnership–we would not be a true coalition without the numerous individuals, community groups, and organizations that contribute to our housing movement and ecosystem, and more importantly strive to make North Carolina a better place to live and thrive with dignity and opportunity in a number of different ways.
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month, October’s NCHC Partner Highlight is the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV). NCCADV leads the state’s movement to end domestic violence and to enhance work with survivors through collaborations, innovative trainings, prevention, technical assistance, state policy development, and legal advocacy.
In 1978, local organizers established the first two shelters in NC for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors: Shelter Home of Caldwell County and Clara’s House in Winston-Salem. For several years, they were the only DV shelters on the East Coast between Baltimore and Atlanta. By 1981, there were 21 known DV programs and 9 independent shelters in NC. Advocates across the state began to organize and connect, eventually forming the state’s first statewide domestic violence advocacy organization, North Carolina Association for Domestic Violence Programs (NCADVP).
In October 1984, membership voted for NCADVP to reorganize as the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV), in order to provide a support network for advocates and programs across the state.
NCCADV strives to bring together people who share a common goal: to create a world where everyone can live – and love – free from the threat of abuse. Their work includes:
- Advocating at the local, state, and national level for policies that improve survivors’ well-being and prevent harm
- Supporting local organizations through trainings, technical assistance, best practice resources, and peer convenings
- Generating creative and culturally-relevant approaches through partnerships with pilot programs
Ensuring that safe and affordable housing is accessible to every survivor is a cornerstone of NCCADV’s work. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children. Marginalized survivors, including those who are LGBTQ, people of color, immigrants, those who are formerly incarcerated, and those with disabilities experience disproportionate harms and more barriers to safety. The lack of affordable housing stock across North Carolina further exacerbates this issue.
NCCADV is wrapping up its first year implementing the Safe at Home program and gearing up to expand its work in 2024. Safe at Home is a rapid rehousing program for survivors who are fleeing domestic violence and receives funding from HUD through the North Carolina Balance of State Continuum of Care. NCCADV has worked with eight local agencies across the Balance of State to get survivors into safe, affordable, permanent housing as quickly and with as few barriers as possible with rental assistance and supportive services. These programs have worked with over 200 survivors so far this year. Next year Safe at Home will expand its reach to more geographic areas in the state through partnership with an additional six agencies and hopes to increase access to homes for survivors and their families.
We at NCHC look forward to building our relationship with NCCADV and supporting the vital work that they do for DV and IPV survivors throughout North Carolina. To learn more about current data for DV services, National Network to End Domestic Violence sponsors a state-specific Domestic Violence Counts Report.
If you or someone you know needs confidential support, please visit Get Help.
For questions about NCCADV feel free to contact (919)956-9124, or visit the website contact page.
For questions about engaging or partnering with the NC Housing Coalition, reach out to our Director of Strategic Partnerships, Adrienne Spinner at aspinner@nchousing.org.
