Understanding quality in domestic violence shelters through the experiences of abused women

Shelter is a crucial intervention for women and children exposed to intimate partner violence. Despite this, we know little about abused women’s perceptions of good quality in shelters. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of quality in shelters by investigating abused women’s experiences of living in domestic violence shelters. The study is based on 19 semi-structured interviews with women who have lived in shelters in Sweden, analysed using thematic analysis. Our findings show a complex and contradictory picture of shelter, with quality varying widely between shelters. The analysis of the women’s experiences shows that (1) the living environment is crucial for the experience of living in a shelter, (2) the rules and design of the shelter can be perceived as a continuum of control, (3) the support offered should consist of a palette of interventions such as supportive counselling, practical help, relief and activities, (4) that living in shelters can lead to extensive loneliness and (5) shelter ought to be understood as more than a safe place; it is also a place of recovery, safety, and meaning-making for the future. Thus, these women’s experiences provide essential insights into understanding shelter quality.