Site Content

USME is unique in the home inspection industry in that we've got charitable purpose, part of our proceeds go to help victims of Domestic Violence and Families that are homeless due to domestic violence. The connection between domestic violence and homelessness happens everyday in our country and it's an absolutely heartbreaking scenario.

 Fearing for their lives, those experiencing domestic violence flee their homes – often with children in tow and no place to go – finding themselves homeless.  Homelessness in America is a problem with numerous causes, and domestic violence is a major one.  Those who experience homelessness because of domestic violence often don’t have a job, and being homeless only serves to undermine any attempt they make to get one, as employers won’t hire someone who doesn’t have a permanent address. It’s a truly terrible situation: yes, they may be away from their abuser, but they’re unable to provide for themselves and their families. 

A Hand Up
Survivors of domestic violence are part of the vast majority of America’s homeless population who are underserved by our local, state and federal governments, which tend to focus their resources on the chronically homeless. Those who are chronically homeless spend a great deal of their lives on the street because of issues such as severe mental illness and untreated substance abuse problems. However, according to recent data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, only 14 percent of the homeless population in 2016 was chronically homeless.

The situationally homeless are experiencing homelessness because of a fairly recent crisis such as job loss, medical or health emergency, divorce, the loss of a primary income earner – or domestic abuse. These are typically hardworking people who take great pride in being self-sufficient and providing for their families but who have seen their lives upended because of forces beyond their control. 

The guiding governmental philosophy has been that once the chronically homeless have been addressed, then attention can be turned to the situationally homeless. Unfortunately, this often paves the way for more situationally homeless to become chronically homeless.

Fortunately, America’s private and non-profit sectors have begun to extend a hand up to the situationally homeless. One example is the multifamily industry, where apartment management companies have partnered with the nonprofit Shelters to Shutters (S2S).

More Help Is Needed
All the across the country, people are experiencing homelessness through absolutely no fault of their own. They are homeless for reasons beyond their control, including domestic violence.

To help these people get back on the road to self-sufficiency, it’s time for the thriving and expanding home inspection industry to extend them the helping hand they so desperately need.

This is why USME is committed to giving part of our proceeds to help this cause, and USME  will also offer our services free of charge to nonprofit organizations that serve to house these victims of domestic violence and homelessness. In addition, all of our home inspections services are offered in affordable rates so that everyone can afford to have their own healthy home regardless of income.

We  frequently partner up with other organizations including Humanity, low-income housing, youth out-reach and others working to help The Treasure Coast and South Florida low income populations.