Education for Justice FACT SHEET H-22 Fall 2009
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
RIGHTS FOR
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING
HAVE RIGHTS
There is a federal law that helps you if you or an immediate
family member are a victim of domestic violence and apply for or live in Public Housing, Subsidized Housing
or Section 8 Voucher Programs. It is
called VAWA. VAWA stands for the Violence
Against Women Act. It says that a
housing program cannot turn you down for housing,
terminate you or evict you because of your abuser’s actions against you or a
family member
Domestic violence can be violence against you or a family member, dating violence and stalking. The housing agency or landlord can ask you to prove the domestic violence. They may terminate the lease for the abuser and keep renting just to you. This law does not mean that the housing agency or landlord cannot enforce other housing program rules or other terms of the lease.
HOW DO I KNOW IF VAWA CAN HELP ME?
Look at the boxes below. Pick the one that is about your situation- are you applying or already a tenant? If you answer “Yes" to all 4 questions in the box you picked, then you may be protected by VAWA. Use the notice that comes with this fact sheet to tell the housing authority or landlord that you are protected by VAWA and what you want. Make sure you sign the letter and keep a copy for yourself.
APPLYING Yes No
I applied for public housing, a subsidized apartment,
or Section 8 Voucher
My application was denied
Someone in my household has been a victim of domestic
violence
My application was denied because of what the abuser
did
ALREADY A TENANT Yes No
I live in public housing, subsidized apartment, or
have a Section 8 Voucher
I got a notice of lease violation, a notice of
termination or eviction papers
Someone in my household has been a victim of domestic
violence
I am being terminated or evicted because of what the
abuser did
If you are not safe because of domestic violence call: 1 (800) 289-6177. If you need more information, legal help to claim your rights under VAWA, or have been told that VAWA does not apply to you, call your legal services office.
|
MN Legal Services Coalition |
Don’t
use this fact sheet if it is more than 1 year old. Write us for updates, a fact sheet
list, or alternate formats. Fact Sheets aren’t a complete answer
to a legal problem. See a lawyer for advice. |
VAWA NOTICE
TO: Housing
Authority/Section 8 Program/Landlord
FROM: Name: ________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
DATE: ______________________
I am, or my immediate family member is, a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Pub. L. 109-162 (January 2006), applies to me.
I cannot
have my housing application denied
have my lease terminated
be evicted
be treated differently than others
for reasons that are the result of the domestic violence, dating violence or stalking that has happened to me or my family member.
Please:
apply my VAWA rights when reviewing my application
apply my VAWA rights when reviewing an alleged lease violation
apply my VAWA rights and take my abuser off my lease and make a new lease agreement with me
apply my VAWA rights when considering termination of my lease
apply my VAWA rights when considering evicting me
apply my VAWA rights and give me new Section 8 Voucher papers to move
apply my VAWA rights and give me new Section 8 Voucher papers to port my Voucher out of your program to a new location
apply my VAWA rights to (other) ______________________________________
Please contact me for any information that you need in order to provide me with my VAWA rights.
Please do not give out the information in this Notice
to anyone, especially my abuser, without my written permission.
______________________________________________________________
(Signature)
(KEEP A COPY OF THIS NOTICE FOR YOUR OWN RECORDS)