Many states have laws that expand upon the federal housing protections for victims of domestic violence.  State and local laws generally include one or more of these protections:

• Inclusion of victims of domestic violence in the Fair Housing Act or equivalent legislation
• Prohibit denial of housing due to domestic violence in all housing (public and private)
• Prohibit evictions from housing due to domestic violence in all housing (public and private)
• Early lease termination for survivors who must flee
• Right to call for police/emergency assistance
• Lease bifurcation (permitting landlord to put the lease in just the survivor's name and evict only the abuser)
• Right to change locks
• Liability of the perpetrator for rent or for damages
• Requirement for the abuser to pay for alternate housing

The trend has been that states are increasingly passing laws with at least some of these protections.  For more information on state laws, please see the NLCHP publication, State Laws and Legislation to Ensure Housing Rights for Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Currently, several states have proposed laws pending in the state legislatures.  In other states, groups are working to gather support to get laws sponsored.

 If you are working on a state law, we urge you to post information here or in the forum section of this wiki.

Here is a listing of some of the state laws:

District of Columbia Protection from Discriminatory Eviction for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act of 2006

Illinois Safe Homes Act and Amendment