Barriers Towards Self-Sufficiency
Lack of Safe & Affordable Housing
Many survivors find it difficult to secure a stable living situation, especially in areas with high demand and low availability. Studies have shown that Cincinnati lacks 50,000 affordable housing units per a new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Discrimination and prejudice can play a role in locating safe and affordable housing.
Language
Language barriers can complicate navigating systems of support and securing employment. Although translation services may be available, they are not always offered or reliable.
Systems
Though there can be security in filing a police report or obtaining a protection order against abusers, these processes can be time consuming and often fail survivors due to gaps in communication and resources.
Childcare and Education
While some survivors’ children may attend public schools, limited access to after-school programs means that parents struggle to find jobs that align with school hours. Early childhood education
programs, when available, can be cost-prohibitive or have limited hours, making it difficult for mothers to secure full-time employment.
Transportation
Many of our residents cannot afford a car and thus rely on public transportation, which can be unreliable and complicate their commute to work or their child’s school.
Work
Many of our residents are single parents. Finding work during school hours is very challenging. A recent self-sufficiency report released by the Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati found that a single parent with a school age child and a preschooler would need to have an hourly wage of $35.61 to be self-sufficient. Ohio minimum wage is $10.51. She would have to work 151 hours a week at this wage to be self-sufficient.
Survivors face barriers to leaving abusers, but they still continue to be confronted by obstacles during their journey to self-sufficiency. These barriers create a significant challenge for Latina survivors to regain their independence and build a secure future for themselves and their children.
Transition to Towards Self-Sufficiency
Immediate Needs
Staff collaborate with residents to meet their immediate needs for safety planning, food, clothing, mental health support, primary health care, and school enrollment. Residents create an individualized plan to reach self sufficiency. They set goals and partner with our Family Support Coordinator to make progress in those areas.
Participate in Community
Residents participate in programs to support their goals. Programs include, but are not limited to, yoga, language exchange, ESL, cooking classes, art classes, and group therapy.
Occupation
Residents establish a culture of purposeful activity by developing their job readiness skills, learning new systems that will support them like public transportation, seeking jobs, and participating in
activities that empower them and build confidence.
Heal
Residents meet weekly with their mental health therapist and create a self care plan to heal from the trauma they experienced. They participate in enrichment activities that support their social-emotional wellness. They find strength in the community at Casa de Paz, cooking, cleaning, celebrating, and raising their children together.
Support for Children
Children at Casa de Paz are enrolled in school or early learning programs. Their healing journey is supported through sessions with an Early Childhood Mental Health Therapists, developmentally appropriate programming, enrichment activities, and playing with volunteers.
Transition
Residents secure affordable housing. We continue to support residents through advocacy, connections to community resources, and invitations to Casa de Paz community activities. Further engagement is offered through the Fenix Group, our bi-monthly support group.
