Intimate violence in the lives of homeless and poor housed women: prevalence and patterns in an ethnically diverse sample.

In a study of 436 homeless and poor housed mothers, nearly two-thirds reported severe physical violence by a childhood caretaker, 42% reported childhood sexual molestation, and 61% reported severe violence by a male partner. Comparisons of homeless and housed women are presented, and implications for prevention and intervention are discussed in light of recent welfare reform legislation.