last updated June 11, 2008
Educating women about their housing rights and options is a vital role for advocates and attorneys. The following are useful resources. Though the content addresses domestic violence and housing in the United States, it can serve as a useful model for other countries.
· National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, “Lost Housing, Lost Safety: Survivors of Domestic Violence Experience Housing Denials and Evictions Across the Country,” February 2007
Documents frequent and widespread housing denials and evictions, and makes recommendations on how to improve the situation.
· Legal Momentum, “State Law Guide: Housing Protections for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence,” 2006
Summarizes federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination against, or provide protections for, domestic violence victims.
· National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, “The impact of the Violence Against Women Act 2005 (VAWA) on the housing rights and options of survivors of domestic and sexual violence,” February 2006
Answers FAQs about housing programs and legal protections in VAWA.
· Stern, Naomi, “Early Lease Termination by Battered Tenants,” Domestic Violence Report, February/March 2005
Includes strategies for negotiating early lease terminations; intended for attorneys. A summary is available as a PDF file.
· American Civil Liberties Union, “Housing Discrimination and Domestic Violence,” 26 October 2004
Basic fact sheet with information on actions to take.
· Greater Boston Legal Services, “Housing checklist for victims of domestic violence,” October 1999; “Advice for Households (Victims of Domestic Violence/Reprisal) Who Are Seeking Affordable Housing But Who Are Not Citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens”
Information for victims; addresses multiple housing situations.