The Violence Against Women Act of 2013 (VAWA) and subsequent guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) establishes new housing protections for individuals participating in HUD-funded housing programs who are survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking.
In response, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Commission has approved “Housing Protections Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the Los Angeles Continuum of Care.” This policy provides protections against discrimination, a requirement to notify participants of occupancy rights, a requirement to develop emergency transfer plans, and establishes provisions for lease bifurcation.
LAHSA’s policy extends VAWA housing protections to survivors of human trafficking and makes requirements under VAWA applicable to all housing providers that receive LAHSA funding. This is to ensure that separate or unequal situations are not created for participants within housing programs who have or are currently experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or human trafficking.
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