Lack of Philly public housing forces domestic violence victims to remain with abuser (Philadelphia, PA)

According to interviews with domestic violence victims and women's advocates, dozens of PHA tenants who claim to have been abused have waited months and sometimes even years to be transferred to new, safer homes. Advocates say the wait in such situations should not be more than a few weeks.

In recent months, PHA has sped up that process somewhat and started to act on advice from women's advocates.

However, those advocates say that the agency is still not relocating many abused residents quickly enough.

"One of the greatest issues that's facing the city of Philadelphia is violence, and we know that violence in the streets stems from violence at home," said Jeannine Lisitski, executive director of the nonprofit Women Against Abuse. "Until we get a grasp on this ... there's nobody who should not view this as their business."

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/65320-lack-of-philly-public-housing-forces-domestic-violence-victims-to-stay-with-abuser