For years, St. Elizabeth has been serving homeless women and children in their emergency shelter program. St. Elizabeth has adapted their programs to better meet changing needs in the community. A key increase identified over the past few years was a dramatic rise in domestic violence reported among shelter residents. In 2020, 43% of program intakes reported domestic violence as a key factor contributing to their current homelessness.

In 2021 the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) awarded St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities with Domestic Violence Transitional Housing and Rapid Rehousing funds. Thanks to those funds, St. Elizabeth has created partnerships with the Center for Women and Families as well as the Homeless Coalition of Southern Indiana to provide the next steps for victims of domestic violence. This is not a crisis shelter. Agency support begins once the immediate crisis of domestic violence has stabilized for those women in need of transitional housing or rapid rehousing options.

Funding is specifically used to assist this underserved population; through a trauma-informed care approach to begin the healing process, we offer intensive case management, and provide transitional housing and rapid rehousing options with the goal of achieving stability and self-sufficiency for these households. The program began in January of 2022.

All activities and services offered are provided without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, ancestry, or status as a veteran.