Housing Discrimination Leaves People Out in the Cold

Kitsap County resident Carissa Daniels advocates for a proposed state law that would make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants based on the source of their income. Photo courtesy Carissa Daniels.

A domestic violence survivor who lives with a disability, Carissa Daniels uses a housing choice (aka Section 8) voucher to help pay the rent. She writes that when she and her daughter look for housing, they run into landlords who refuse to accept her voucher. Advocates are working to outlaw this kind of discrimination; find out how you can help!

A Return to the Fires

This is a still frame from a documentary film that Firesteel intern Carissa Daniels is producing. The film puts viewers in the shoes of someone who is experiencing domestic violence. Image courtesy Carissa Daniels.

Domestic violence survivor Carissa Daniels decided to bring some positive into her experience by sharing her story and educating others. In this powerful post, she writes about what it's like to revisit some of her most painful memories in the hope of helping other people who are living with abuse.

Homelessness: A State of Emergency

Doris O'Neal manages a domestic violence program at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. Image credit: KUOW.

Doris O'Neal, who manages a domestic violence program at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, told KUOW about her clients' experiences with homelessness. KUOW interviewed Doris after a press conference Monday at YWCA headquarters during which Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine declared that homelessness is in a state of emergency in Seattle and King County. Listen to the story on KUOW's website.

A Community Poem About Domestic Violence

For the YWCA Week Without Violence, we set up poster boards in the lobby of our downtown Seattle building and asked staff, clients, residents, and visitors to reflect on domestic violence. Read the poem that resulted from their thoughtful responses.

Helping Survivors of Domestic Violence: A “Cyber-Advocate’s” Story

Watch on YouTube.com

"Domestic violence is a global pandemic. One person cannot stop it alone, but each of us can do something to make a difference. Everyone can be an advocate, learning the facts, the realities that victims deal with, and talking with family or friends, breaking the silence," writes Firesteel intern Carissa Daniels. In this inspiring post, Carissa writes about her volunteer work as a "cyber-advocate" for survivors of domestic violence.

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