One in four homeless women are homeless directly due to domestic violence, and many more survivors live doubled-up in overcrowded and unsafe housing.  Housing can be one of the most significant barriers to permanently separating from a batterer.  Many survivors face discrimination when they try to obtain new housing or they are evicted from housing simply for being a victim.

 Violence Against Women Act and Housing

In 2005, Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act ("VAWA") and included important new housing provisions.  These provisions included funding for housing services, confidentiality provisions, planning requirements for VAWA implementation for Public Housing Authorities, and protections against discriminatory denials and evictions in Public and Section 8 housing for victims of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.  In addition, new provisions authorized funding for housing and service programs for survivors and changes were made the way data is collected about survivors.

In spite of these provisions, many Housing Authorities and Section 8 owners are not following the law--often because they are not sure how to implement it. Housing providers are an essential partner in this work, and many housing providers have developed useful tools for implementing these laws. Advocates also have a role in educating housing providers and in participating in the policy-setting agenda for the providers. 

Please post resource that you feel would be useful on these issues or send them to dv@nlchp.org.

Funding for Survivors

The Violence Against Women Act, the Victims of Crime Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act provide critical funding for services for survivors.  Funded services range from police and judicial training to legal services to shelter and counseling.  While these programs have always been funded under the levels that Congress originally authorized, there are significant proposed cuts in 2009.  The Campaign for Funding to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, an alliance of national advocacy groups have come together to advocate for increased funding in 2009 and beyond.  Groups working on these issues are encouraged to post links to their materials or to share stories of how cuts will affect their programs.  Survivors are also encouraged to share stories about how these programs have helped them.

Please post resource that you feel would be useful on these issues or send them to dv@nlchp.org.

 State and Local Legislation

Many states and localities have passed or are considering legislation to protect the housing rights of survivors of domestic violence.  This page can be an important resource to discover what other states are doing, to share resources or to ask for support for your state's proposed legislation.

 Other resources

Our goal is to collect and share important resources.  We encourage you to suggest new areas for the site and to post or email resources to dv@nlchp.org.

The forum section is available for anyone to post to with questions, comments or other information.  Only approved members of the forum will be permitted to post there.  The forum will store these discussions for future reference.