The Cost of Leaving: An Interview with Housing Up President & CEO, Mercedes Lemp
As National Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close, we sat down with Housing Up’s new President & CEO, Mercedes Lemp, to reflect on how housing insecurity and domestic violence are closely connected. With seven years of experience as the former executive director of My Sister’s Place, a DC nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence, Mercedes brings a unique understanding of how housing insecurity and domestic violence intersect. Read the interview and watch this short video to learn more about the vital role affordable housing plays in disrupting the cycle of abuse and empowering survivors of domestic violence.
Q: What do you think are some of the most significant barriers to survivors receiving the services they need?
Mercedes: “The number one reason survivors stay in their situation is because they can’t financially afford to leave, and a huge part of that is housing. Especially in the DC area, we know that rent is super expensive, and housing is super expensive. And so as I worked at My Sister’s Place for seven years, I realized that it always came back to housing, housing, housing, and that’s actually why I’m here at Housing Up because housing is such the focus of this organization and I really see that as the foundation to so many issues that people in need are facing, especially in the DC area.”
Q: How do the issues of housing insecurity and domestic violence relate to one another?
Mercedes: “Survivors of domestic violence don’t see a way out when housing is so expensive, and they’re forced to stay with their abuser, because they literally just can’t afford to leave. Especially if they have kids, that’s even more of an incentive to stay housed, knowing that housing is so expensive … People want to stay in DC because there are a lot of benefits and they’ve probably been here for generations, but it is so expensive so there’s kind of a catch-22: you want people to be able to afford where they live and sometimes that might not be in DC, but then you give up other benefits. And you should be able to stay in DC.”
Q: What does trauma-informed care mean to you, and why is it crucial to our work?
Mercedes: “I think trauma-informed care to me means realizing that trauma is prevalent in all the clients we serve and how that affects a person … So having a lot of patience, but also talking about the trauma, and having programs that address the trauma. And also make the folks that we’re working with realize that. Because sometimes they might think, “Why can’t I move forward?”, and not realize that it is the trauma, and having those conversations, not just for us as providers to realize that, but to also work with our clients and make them realize it’s not anything you’re doing wrong. This is the natural process of what you’ve been through.”
Q: What do you wish more people knew about domestic violence and homelessness?
Mercedes: “It’s so intertwined, and it’s so prevalent, and that domestic violence is not just physical; it can take many forms. Almost always, financial abuse is related to that, and that can be the reason why people stay in these situations … People are moving through the world the best they can. They come with histories, and that affects people in different ways.”
Domestic violence is a widespread issue that is deeply intertwined with housing insecurity. As Mercedes discussed in our interview, financial dependence remains one of the most significant barriers preventing survivors from leaving abusive relationships. At Housing Up, addressing domestic violence is central to our mission to end family homelessness. After families are housed, they are assigned a case manager, who continues to support them with resources and help them achieve their goals. Understanding how domestic violence and trauma affect the families we serve is essential to providing successful, client-centered care. Our team knows that healing is rarely a straight path and that progress is often reflected in the small, meaningful steps survivors take toward safety, independence, and stability. By ensuring access to safe, affordable housing, we are not just providing shelter—we are giving survivors the foundation to transform their lives and futures.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the DC Victim Hotline at 1-844-443-5732 or chat with someone at dcvictim.org.
Local Domestic Violence Organizations: