Fight Hate: Victim Care and Assistance

The network should develop an outreach program that teaches community members and newcomers what to do if they are victimized by housing-related hate. The outreach efforts should inform victim(s) to:

Call 911 and seek immediate medical care if the incident is violent.
Report the incident immediately to the police.
Report the incident to a city council member.
Report the incident to the fair housing center.
Prepare a personal narrative account of the incident. This will help police, the FBI, the fair housing center or an attorney conduct a more thorough and accurate investigation.
Seek the assistance of a counselor, fair housing advocate, clergy member or caring neighbor to research your rights, pursue a complaint, file insurance claims and handle other logistics.
Seek a safe haven during the turmoil (this might be a neighbor's house, a friend or relative, or a local religious facility).
Seek-and accept-the kindness and support of neighbors and friends.

Alert the network, community and advocacy groups, elected officials, clergy and the media about the incident. Let them know what happened and why. The network can help rally their support and assistance in conveying the facts of the situation and asserting what steps will be taken to resolve the situation and prevent future violations. The network can help coordinate vocal community, political, and police support for the victim(s) and coordinate community responses in denouncing the hate activities.

Victims of hate activity, including housing-related incidents, tend to feel isolated, shocked, afraid, vulnerable and angry. Although a victim(s) may have been frightened enough to report the incident, the response team should not be surprised if they encounter a victim(s) who resists speaking with the police, social workers, or others who are there to assist them. It is critical that the entire response network takes the time to educate themselves about victim(s) trauma associated with housing-related hate activity. Only then can the response team provide appropriate care, and help the victim(s) through the difficult aftermath of the hate incident.

Understanding Victim Trauma

Because the basis for the attack is the victim's identity, victims may experience:

Deep personal crisis
Increased vulnerability to repeat attack
Anger/desire for revenge
Acute shock and disbelief
Sense of community/system betrayal
Shame and humiliation
Extreme fear of certain groups
Hopelessness
Difficulty sleeping.

Why Victims May Be Reluctant To Report

Fear of retaliation
Fear of having privacy compromised
Mistrust of law enforcement
Cultural or language barriers
Fear of jeopardizing immigration status
For gays and lesbians, fear of repercussions of being "outed" to family members
Fear of repercussions at work.

If You're on the Response Network:

Victim(s) care is the first priority for the Response Network. The Rapid Response Checklist provides a list of guidelines for the network coordinators to keep in mind as they organize their response team to provide safety and assurance to the victim(s):

Work in partnership with the police to address the victim's immediate safety.
A victim services professional and fair housing specialist should be present at the scene with the police.
The victim(s) should also be accompanied by a caring neighbor, a religious leader of the victim(s)'s faith, or an advocate on site to comfort the victim(s) in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
A mediator or conflict resolution specialist should be present in case of conflict between the neighbors.
Alternative or interim emergency housing should be made available and offered if needed.
A caseworker or counselor should be assigned to follow up with the victim(s) to ensure their safety and help them file a complaint or deal with logistics in the aftermath of the incident. This includes, for example, repairing property damage or filing an insurance claim.
Counseling and follow-up care should be provided for a reasonable amount of time, as requested by the victim(s).

If You're a Police Officer

When the incident rises to the level of vandalism, threat of violence, or violence, the victim(s) usually calls the police. Often the first to arrive at the scene, it is imperative that police officers understand the victim's state of mind and how best to assist them. The Department of Justice offers the following guidance for police officers supporting victim(s) while investigating hate incidents or crimes:

Remain calm, objective and professional
Ask victim(s) how they want you to help them
Request the assistance of translators when needed
Let victim(s) defer answering questions if they are too distraught
Ask them if they have any idea why this happened to them
Reassure victim(s) that they are not to blame for what happened
Voice your support of the actions the victim(s) took to protect themselves and defuse the situation
Encourage victim(s) to tell the story in their own words and vent feelings
Ask them to recall, to the best of their ability, the exact words of the perpetrator(s)
Ask victim(s) if he or she has family members or friends who can provide support and help in ensuring safety
Reassure victim(s) that every effort will be made to protect his or her anonymity during the investigation
Tell victim(s) about the probable sequence of events in the investigation
Provide information about community and department resources available to protect and support victim(s), their families and members of the community.

Avoid:

Being abrupt or rushed
Telling victim(s) you know how they feel unless you've been through it yourself
Asking victim(s) whether they think this was a bias or hate crime
Criticizing the victim(s)' behavior
Making assumptions about the victim(s)' culture, religion, sexual orientation or lifestyle choices
Allowing personal value judgments about the victim's behavior, lifestyle or culture to affect your objectivity
Using stereotyped or biased terms
Minimizing the seriousness of the incident, especially if the perpetrator(s) was a juvenile.