The Safe Homes Act and VAWA: How to Protect Victims of Violence in Private Rental Market, Public, and Subsidized Housing

On December 11, 2008, the Shriver Center hosted a webinar for service providers on how to protect the housing rights of victims of violence under the Safe Homes Act and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The presenters were Kate Walz, Senior Housing Attorney, and Michaella Furman, Special Projects Coordinator, of the Shriver Center. Below are resources related to that presentation.

Download the webinar recording (Windows Media Player format)

Download the presentation slides (PDF format)

Supplementary materials

Legislation

• Public Act 094-1038 The Safe Homes Act (Jan. 2007)
  
• Public Act 095-0378 Amendment to the Safe Homes Act (Aug. 2007)
• Public Act 095-0999 Amendment to the Safe Homes Act (Oct. 2008)
• 2005 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (housing provisions)

Legal Tools for Clients

• Sample Notice for Lock Change: For Written Leases When the Perpetrator Is NOT a Leaseholder
• Sample Notice for Lock Change: For ALL Oral Leases OR Written Leases When the Perpetrator IS a Leaseholder
  
• Sample Notice to End the Lease Early Due to Credible Imminent Threat of Domestic or Sexual Violence
  
• Sample Notice to End the Lease Early: Sexual Violence Occurred on the Premises--No Credible Imminent Threat of Future Violence
  

Other

• Frequently Asked Questions
  This document was prepared by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty regarding the impact of VAWA and the housing rights and options for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.
  

• HUD Certification Form 50066
  HUD-approved Certification Form
• HUD Notice PIH 2006-42 (issued Dec. 27, 2006)
  Provides guidance on the HUD-approved certification form for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
• HUD PIH 2007-5 (HA) (issued Feb. 16, 2007)
  Transmits the revised Housing Assistance Payments contract (Form HUD-5261A). The notice also addresses portabiliity and lease bifurcation.
  

• HUD PIH 2008-41 (HA) (issued Nov. 13, 2008)
  This notice reminds PHAs that Title VI of the 2005 Violence Against Women Act requires that the Five-Year and Annual PHA plans contain information regarding a PHA's goals, objectives, policies, or programs that will enable the PHA to serve the needs of child and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
• HUD PIH 2008-43 (HA) (issued Dec. 3, 2008)
  This notice provides guidance on public housing authority responsibilities related to portability moves and expressly recognizes families may still receive a voucher and move to another housing authority jurisdiction even if the family has already moved out of the unit. The housing authority should still permit the move if the family has complied with all other obligations of the voucher program and has moved out of the assisted dwelling unit in order to protect the health or safety of an individual who is or has been the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking and who reasonably believed he or she was imminently threatened by harm from further violence if he or she remained in the assisted dwelling unit.
• 72 Fed. Reg. 12,696 (Mar. 16, 2007)
  Provides general guidance on VAWA.

• Notice H 08-07 (issued Sept. 30, 2008)
  This notice from HUD's office of Multifamily Housing provides instruction and guidance to owners and managers of project-based Section 8 housing on the implementation of VAWA. The notice includes a VAWA certification form and required lease addendum.
  

For more information about resources for victims of domestic and sexual violence, please visit the Women's Law and Policy Project.