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Education for Justice |
FACT SHEET H-22 |
Fall 2011 |
SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING RIGHTS FOR
VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING HAVE RIGHTS
There is a federal law that helps you if you or an immediate
family member are a victim of domestic violence and apply for or live in Public Housing, Subsidized Housing
or Section 8 Voucher Programs. It is
called VAWA. VAWA stands for the Violence
Against Women Act.
It says that a housing program cannot turn you
down for housing, terminate you or evict you because of your abuser’s actions
against you or a family member
Domestic violence can be violence against
you or a family member, dating violence and stalking. The housing agency or landlord can ask
you to prove the domestic violence. They
may terminate the lease for the abuser and keep renting just to you. This law does not mean that the housing
agency or landlord cannot enforce other housing program rules or other terms of
the lease.
HOW DO I KNOW IF VAWA CAN HELP ME?
Look at the boxes below.
Pick the one that is about your situation- are you applying or already a
tenant? If you answer “Yes" to all
4 questions in the box you picked, then you may be protected by VAWA. Use the notice that comes with this fact
sheet to tell the housing authority or landlord that you are protected by VAWA
and what you want. Make sure you sign
the letter and keep a copy for yourself.
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APPLYING |
Yes |
No |
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I applied for public housing, a subsidized apartment, or
Section 8 Voucher |
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My application was denied |
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Someone in my household has been a victim of domestic
violence |
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My application was denied because of what the abuser did |
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ALREADY A
TENANT |
Yes |
No |
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I live in public housing, subsidized apartment, or have a
Section 8 Voucher |
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I got a notice of lease violation, a notice of termination
or eviction papers |
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Someone in my household has been a victim of domestic
violence |
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I am being terminated or evicted because of what the
abuser did |
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If you are not safe
because of domestic violence call: 1 (800) 289-6177.
If you need more information, legal help to claim your
rights under VAWA, or have been told that VAWA does not apply to you, call your
legal services office.
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MN Legal Services Coalition |
Don’t
use this fact sheet if it is more than 1 year old. Write us for updates, a fact sheet
list, or alternate formats. Fact Sheets aren’t a complete answer
to a legal problem. See a lawyer for advice. |
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© 2011 Mid-Minnesota
Legal Assistance. This document may be
reproduced and used for non-commercial personal and
educational purposes only. All
other rights reserved. This notice
must remain on all copies.
Reproduction, distribution, and use for commercial purposes are
strictly prohibited. |
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This project was supported by Grant No.
2005-WL-AX-0053 awarded by the office on Violence Against Women, U.S.
Department of Justice The opinions,
findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication are
those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S.
department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
To find other Legal
Aid Society materials, including any fact sheets mentioned in this
document, go to www.lawhelpmn.org/LASMfactsheets.
VAWA NOTICE
TO: Housing
Authority/Section 8 Program/Landlord
FROM: Name:
________________________________________________________
Address:
_______________________________________________________
DATE: ______________________
I am, or my immediate family member is, a victim of domestic
violence, dating violence or stalking.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Pub. L.
109-162 (January 2006), applies to me.
I cannot
have my
housing application denied
have my
lease terminated
be evicted
be treated differently than others
for reasons that are the result of
the domestic violence, dating violence or stalking that has happened to me or
my family member.
Please:
apply my
VAWA rights when reviewing my application
apply my
VAWA rights when reviewing an alleged lease violation
apply my
VAWA rights and take my abuser off my lease and make a new lease agreement with me
apply my
VAWA rights when considering termination of my lease
apply my
VAWA rights when considering evicting me
apply my
VAWA rights and give me new Section 8 Voucher papers to move
apply my
VAWA rights and give me new Section 8 Voucher papers to port my Voucher out of your program to a new location
apply my
VAWA rights to (other) ______________________________________
Please contact me for any information that you need in order
to provide me with my VAWA rights.
Please do not give out the information in this Notice
to anyone, especially my abuser, without my written permission.
______________________________________________________________
(Signature)
(KEEP A COPY OF THIS NOTICE FOR YOUR OWN RECORDS)