Violence Victims Are a Step Closer to Having Safer Homes

Advocates are looking at the recent passage of the Safe Homes Act, House Bill 4715, as a victory in the first of many steps to make homes a safe place for violence victims. The Safe Homes Act that the Illinois General Assembly passed last month provides that a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence has certain rights concerning the victim’s rental property. Depending upon the circumstances, the victim may obtain such relief as requiring that a lock be changed and a lease terminated. The bill now goes to Gov. Rod Blagojevich for his signature.

The Safe Homes Act is necessary to allow victims of domestic and sexual violence to secure safe housing and leave dangerous housing. “Too often, victims of domestic and sexual violence suffer not only physical and emotional violence but also the devastation of being displaced from their homes because of violence,” says Kate Walz of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. “And sexual assault victims are frequently prohibited from terminating their leases, even in cases where the sexual assault occurred on the premises,” she continued.

Victims of domestic and sexual violence now have assurances of being able to seek safety:

• Victims who fear the imminent threat of violence may leave their apartment and tenancy by giving written notice to the landlord three days before or after they leave the property.
  
• Victims of sexual violence may end their rental agreement if they supply third-party evidence that violence occurred at the property.
• Victims may request a lock change from the owner under certain circumstances.
  

“While this legislation does not contain comprehensive protections for victims of violence in unsafe home environments, it will pave the way for better policy that recognizes the special housing needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence,” said Wendy Pollack, director of the Women’s Law and Policy Project of the Shriver Center. The Illinois Association of Realtors and the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-38) and Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13), will continue to discuss improvements on the law, particularly as it relates to protecting victims of violence when the perpetrator is a leaseholder. The realtors, the lawmakers, and the advocates plan to talk shortly about proposals to the General Assembly in the fall veto session.