Understanding the Violence Against Women Act: 12 Protections for Tenants in Subsidized and Public Housing

The Violence Against Women Act is a federal law that protects survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Here are 12 ways VAWA helps survivors and their immediate family and/or household members:

1. Tenants cannot be denied assistance or admission to covered HUD housing because they experienced violence or abuse.
2. Tenants cannot be evicted or lose their subsidy just because they're a survivor of violence or abuse.
3. Tenants cannot be denied housing, evicted, or lose assistance for reasons related to the violence or abuse, like having a bad credit history or criminal record.
4. Tenants have the right to stay in HUD-subsidized housing, even if there was criminal activity directly related to the violence/abuse.
5. Tenants can ask for an emergency transfer to a safer place.
6. Tenants with Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher you can move with assistance.
7. If a provider wants documentation to confirm VAWA coverage, tenants do not need to give more proof than the HUD VAWA Self-certification form, unless there's conflicting information.
8. You should receive important forms from your housing provider: HUD's Notice of VAWA Housing Rights and HUD's VAWA Self-certification Form.
9. Any information that tenants disclose under VAWA must be kept confidential.
10. Tenants can ask to remove the person who caused the violence from the lease or unit by asking for a lease bifurcation (emergency transfer).
11. Housing providers cannot threaten or retaliate against a tenant for seeking or using VAWA protections.
12. A tenant has the right to call for help from law enforcement or in emergencies without being penalized by local laws or policies because they are a victim.