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Mental Health Resources

Webinars

DCADV, in collaboration with the Domestic Violence Task Force Housing Subcommittee, Delaware State Housing Authority, and Community Legal Aid Society, Inc., have compiled short videos to discuss different issues related to housing.  Click on the photo or title of each video to watch.

Housing Information

  • 25 minutes; Bridget Walters from CHILD, Inc. provides an overview of protections available, and considerations for survivors to make in deciding to stay in their home or leave.

Housing Resources

  • 18 minutes; Chris Whaley of the Delaware State Housing Authority provides an overview of the subsidized housing programs in Delaware, as well as the various housing authority agencies located across the state.

  • 13 minutes; Tricia Conley of the Delaware State Housing Authority, provides an overview of the subsidized housing types that are available across the state.

  • 22 minutes; Devon Manning of the Delaware State Housing Authority, provides an overview of the tax-credit target housing units available in Delaware and the search/referral process for those seeking housing.

  • 22 minutes; In this video, Devon Manning of the Delaware State Housing Authority provides a live demonstration of how to search for housing on DelawareHousingSearch.org.

Housing Protections

  • 9 minutes; Tony Sierzega of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. provides an overview of the housing protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

  • 9 minutes; Tony Sierzega of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. provides an overview of housing protections for domestic/sexual violence survivors under the Fair Housing Act.

  • 9 minutes; Tony Sierzega of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. provides an overview of protections for survivors under Delaware's landlord-tenant laws.

  • 5 minutes; Tony Sierzega of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. describes other protections for survivors related to their privacy/confidentiality and housing.

Assessing Housing Needs

Safe housing is foundational to survivors’ movement toward self-determination and healing. Regardless of a survivor’s point of contact with a DV advocate (shelter, CPS, courthouse, Family Justice Center, culturally specific program, or other setting), assessing their housing needs is a best practice. Conversation-based approaches such as the “Decision Tree” are survivor-driven, trauma-informed, and honoring of survivors’ multiple and intersecting identities. In this webinar (recorded in August 2021), presenters explore the development of such approaches and how advocates can use them to guide their conversations with survivors and help direct them to the best housing resources. 

Our Member Organizations

  • Alert! Computer use can be monitored.

    Computer Safety

    WARNING!

    If you are being stalked or abused, take steps to keep your abuser from knowing you are looking for help. Please use a safer computer, or call 911, one of Delaware's local hotlines at 302-762-6110 for New Castle County or 302-422-8058 for Kent & Sussex Counties , or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224.

    EMERGENCY "QUICK ESCAPE" BUTTON

    There is a red Quick Escape button in the lower right-hand corner of every page on this website.
    Click this button if your abuser enters the room while you are viewing this website. It will close this website and redirect your browser to a neutral page.

    Clean up Your Online Path

    Internet Safety

    Everything you do online is recorded. It is IMPOSSIBLE to clear your tracks completely. Your computer stores hundreds of bits of information about everything you do with your computer, including information about which websites you've visited, your passwords, and what your emails say. An abuser can easily track the websites you visit or read your email messages.

    If you suspect your activities are being monitored, they probably are. Abusers are often controlling and want to know your every move. You don’t need to be a computer programmer or have special skills to monitor someone’s computer activities – anyone can do it and there are many ways to monitor your activities - even without having direct access to your computer. Using a separate computer is best, but you can protect yourself at home by familiarizing yourself with processes like private browsing, deleting your browser history, clearing your cache and deleting cookies.

    You can be tracked

    Your abuser can track your online actions – there is nothing you can do to remove your tracks completely. If you try to erase your tracks, your abuser might become suspicious.
    If you think you might be in danger, use a computer at a public library, internet cafe or a trusted friend’s house. If your abuser sends you email, do not open it on those computers.

    If you need help now, call 911 or the
    New Castle County Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-762-6110
    Kent & Sussex County Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-422-8058
    Kent & Sussex County Bi-lingual Domestic Violence Hotline: 302-745-9874
    US National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
    US National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
    US National Teen Dating Violence Helpline 1-866-331-9474

    Email Safety

    Email is not a safe or confidential way to communicate.

    Sending email is like sending a postcard through the mail. Anyone along the path can read what it says. If you need to talk to someone about the danger or abuse in your life, if possible, please call a hotline instead.

    If you must use email to discuss your situation we suggest you use an account that your abuser doesn't know about. Set up a new account with a free email service like hotmail, yahoo, or gmail.

    Password Safety

    Be smart about passwords to keep your abuser out of your accounts.

    DO NOT use a name or password that contains any identifying information (no names, nicknames, initials, birthdates, zipcodes, etc.) Instead use a name and password that contains a random mix of letters, CAPITAL letters and numbers (for example, HJ3v67Tn) -

    Make sure you can remember the user name and password. If you must write it down somewhere, put it in a place your abuser is unlikely to find it.

    If the computer asks if you would like it to save your password or login information tell it NO.

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