After VAWA, State Housing Protections Still Needed

States Must Act to Fill Gap in Federal Law

One week after President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty has released a new report showing that state action is still urgently needed to prevent homelessness for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

In some areas of the country, one in four homeless adults report domestic violence as a cause of their homelessness.  Moreover, between 50 and 100 percent of homeless women nationwide have experienced domestic or sexual violence at some point in their lives.  There's No Place Like Home provides a comprehensive examination of the canon of state laws designed to address housing instability for survivors.

The federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), signed into law on March 7 following advocacy by the Law Center, includes numerous housing protections for survivors living in public and Section 8 housing, as well as all housing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, USDA, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. 

Unfortunately, VAWA's protections do not apply to private housing, meaning that without strong state laws, "survivors are faced with the horrifying choice of remaining with an abuser or ending up on the street," said Maria Foscarinis, executive director of the Law Center.  "Many states have taken action, but much more must be done."

There's No Place Like Home outlines legislation in all 50 states covering 16 types of housing protections. In addition to examining the laws in each state, the guide highlights particularly noteworthy statutes in each area of concern.

To read the full press release, click here.