In 2006, the District of Columbia passed the most comprehensive housing protections for survivors of domestic violence in the country, the DC Protection from Discriminatory Eviction for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act of 2006.

 The legislation provides for:

• Early lease termination
• Lock changes
• Right to call police or for other emergency assistance
• Protection from denial of housing (public or private) due to domestic violence
• Protection from eviction from housing (public or private) due to domestic violence
• Protection in the DC Human Rights Act for victims of intrafamily violence (and access to the DC Human Rights Commission for complaints)

For the amendments tot he Rental Housing provisions of the law (early lease termintation, lock changes evictions and denial of housing) click here.

For the amendments to the Human Rights Act, which protect against discrimination in housing based upon being a victim of an intrafamily offense and provide the right to take a complaint to the DC Human Rights Commission, click here.

For the DC Law defining domestic violence counselor and creating a privilege for them, click here.

For the definition if Intrafamily Offense in DC, click here.

The Conference Report on the legislation reflects the broad coalition of groups that came together around the law. 

 DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PASSAGE OF THE LAW:

Fact Sheet on Why Housing Stability is Necessary for DV Survivors  Fact sheet for advocacy purposes outlines why legislation is necessary to protect housing stability for survivors of domestic violence.

DC Hearing Agenda (including witness list)
Testimony of Naomi Stern, NLCHP Domestic Violence Staff Attorney, Before the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Council of the District of Columbia, September 20, 2006Testimony
Testimony of Keith Anderson, Acting Rent Administrator Before the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Council of the District of Columbia, September 20, 2006Testimony
Report of the Council of the District of Columbia, October 20, 2006
Report of the Council of the District of Columbia, November 21, 2006\
Homeless Enumeration for the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area 2006, Prepared by The Homeless Services Planning and Coordinating CommitteeReport   (This report is the HUD-required count of the homeless for 2006)

As part of an effort to ensure systemic implementation of the law, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, the District Alliance for Safe Housing and the Equal Rights Center collaborated to train and monitor implementation of the law.

In 2008, the Equal Rights Center released the report "No Vacancy: Housing Discrimination Against Survivors of Domestic Violence in the District of Columbia".  This report found that in 65% of the cases they looked at in private housing, there was some form of housing discrimination against the victim of domestic violence, including refusal to show listings, denial of incentives or outright denial of availability.

Since April of 2008, DCCADV, NLCHP and DASH have conducted trainings for the stakeholders throughout DC, including housing and homeless advocates, housing attorneys, domestic violence advocates and attorneys, housing providers (private and non-profit) and tenant advocates.  Each training had its own curriculum:

• Housing Advocate Training
• Domestic Violence Advocate Training
• Housing Attorney Training
• Domestic Violence Attorney Training
• Housing Provider Trainings (2 versions)
• Tenant Advocate Training 

 In addition to the basic training materials, all participants received the following documents:

•  DC Protection from Discriminatory Eviction for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act of 2006
• Questions and Answers on the DC Protection from Discriminatory Eviction for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act of 2006
  Q&A
• Housing issue screening tool for Domestic Violence service providers and attorneys: This document, developed with the assistance of Legal Aid Society of D.C., provides advocates with basic screening questions to identify when a survivor might have a claim of eviction or denial based on the domestic violence.  This tool is intended to identify when advocates should refer clients to a housing attorney.
• ABA Commission on Domestic Violence Screening Tool for Domestic Violence: This ABA tool can be used by all advocates to screen for domestic violence.  The intent of this tool is to know when to refer the client for additional assistance and to identify safety issues that may arise as a result of domestic violence.  It may also be used by housing attorneys to help identify where housing issues are the result of domestic violence.
• Information on Domestic Violence in DC (DCCADV): This document by DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, describes the problem of domestic violence in DC utilizing recent reports from the police and other sources.