VAWA

Violence Against Women Act – Notification of Requirements

On January 5, 2006, President Bush signed into law the “Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005”. The 2005 VAWA act adds several new provisions of law that affect public housing authorities. The Act requires public housing agencies to notify current tenants and applicants of the changes implemented under the Act.

The specific changes that affect occupancy in a Public Housing dwelling are:

• Selection: That an applicant or participant is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking is not an appropriate basis for denial of program assistance or for denial of admission of an otherwise qualified applicant. Nothing in this section supersedes a Federal, State, or local law that provides greater protection for victims.
• Lease Terms Regarding Termination: An incident or incidents of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking will not be construed as a serious or repeated violation of the lease by the victim or threatened victim of that violence and shall not be good cause for terminating the assistance, tenancy, or occupancy rights of the victim of such violence.
• Termination of Assistance/Eviction: Criminal activity directly relating to domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking engaged in by a member of a tenant's household or any guest or other person under the tenant's control shall not be cause for termination of the tenancy or occupancy rights, if the tenant or an immediate member of the tenant's family is the victim or threatened victim of that domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

Please contact your property manager if you have any questions regarding these requirements.