About Us
In 2016, the Downtown Women’s Center and Rainbow Services founded the cross-sector Domestic Violence & Homeless Services Coalition (DVHSC) with the goal of creating a client-centered system that increased access to safe housing and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence and their families. Since then, the DVHSC has grown to become the largest coalition of its kind in the country, with more than 800+ individual members and 244 member organizations from across the state of California.
Our Mission
Our mission is to end homelessness in Los Angeles for survivors of domestic violence and their families. We leverage survivor-driven insights for greater cross-sector alignment, coordination, and knowledge-sharing, and are committed to foregrounding the voices of individuals with lived experience in all aspects of our work.
Together, we seek to create a client-centered system that increases access to safe housing and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence and their families, in order to drive down the number of survivors entering homelessness and increase pathways to permanent housing.
Our Priorities
Low-barrier, trauma-informed services
Holisitic systems change
Survivor safety and confidentiality
Inclusivity for all survivors
Long-term stability for survivors
Solidarity with survivors of all forms of violence
Survivor-driven and centered processes
Data-informed decision-making
Our Coalition
We are the country's largest cross-sector coalition of our kind, with more than 800+ individual members and 244 member organizations from across the state of California.
Every year, we host monthly work groups for our members to meet, discuss, and coordinate on topics like client-centered services, training and education, and systems funding. Quarterly all-member meetings provide a space for evaluation of the Coalition and reflection on the meaningful engagement of individuals with lived experience, many of whom come through, or are recruited into our DVHSC Advocates Program.
Who We Are
Co-Leads
Downtown Women's Center
Rainbow Services
Core Team
Advisory Team
Kris Billhardt
Elizabeth Eastlund
Jessica Reed
Eve Sheedy
Financial Support
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Blue Shield of California Foundation
Silton Family Foundation
Our Workgroups
Advocates & Allyship: The purpose of the Allyship Program is to bring together strong partnerships to enact positive systems change for survivors of homelessness and domestic violence. The Allyship Program brings us into a relationship with each other so that we can learn and support smart solutions to create trauma-informed systems in Los Angeles and beyond. The word Allyship is used intentionally; we know that both pairs bring unique and valuable insight to the partnership and, in this way, we strive to increase mutuality in systems change work.
Exploratory Workgroup on Housing: The Committee was created in December 2021 to bring together organizations interested in building affordable, trauma-informed, permanent housing for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. The group meets monthly, and topics vary to include different housing models and potential funding streams to highlight successful collaborations between service providers, developers, and community housing programs. The Committee began a series of round tables in October 2022, in collaboration with the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH), to bring together victim service providers, housing developers, and funders to explore considerations on developing permanent housing for survivors. Once the round tables conclude in 2023, the exploratory Committee will merge with the Coalitions’ Systems & Funding Committee.
Systems & Funding: This group looks explicitly at the upcoming funding opportunities and discusses ways to advocate for more equitable funding. Historically, this group could provide insights into what programs, items, or efforts needed to be funded to better serve survivors experiencing homelessness. The Systems and Funding group also advocates for systems change across LA County to include survivors in community plans to address homelessness and promote lived experience expertise. With all of the additional investments in homelessness, the group will ensure that survivors are accounted for.
Training & Education: The Training and Education Workgroup is comprised of regional experts who come together as thought partners to advise and develop training content that homeless and victim service providers need to ensure the alignment process is successful. The group focuses on identifying, developing, and delivering training to increase knowledge and enhance skills to ensure survivors are safely connected to permanent housing. Refer to this FAQ for more information
A note on gender
and identity in our community.
The DVHSC uses the term "survivor" in reference to all people impacted by domestic violence, including cisgender and transgender women, men, non-binary individuals, and other members of the LGBTQIA+ community. At the same time, we acknowledge and uplift the fact that the majority of domestic violence survivors experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity are women.
Together, we can end homelessness for survivors of domestic violence and their families.
We need committed organizations and individuals like you to join our movement.