Domestic Violence Protections (VAWA)

It's the Winter Haven Housing Authority's objective to assure awareness to applicants, participants, tenants, section 8 and public housing managers, and owners of the rights of women not to be discriminated against, denied access to, or evicted from public housing and subsidized housing because of their status of victims of domestic violence.

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA) was signed into law January 5, 2006, as Public Law 109-162. Title VI of the VAWA adds a new housing provision that establishes several categories of protected individuals. Under the law victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking are granted protections and cannot be denied or terminated from housing or housing assistance because of activity that is directly related to domestic violence. 2005 VAWA Pub. L. 109-162; Stat. 2960 signed into law on January 5, 2006 and codified at 42 U.S.C. §1437d(l) and 1435f(d), (0) & 1 and (u)

On March 7, 2013, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-4) (VAWA 2013) was signed into law. VAWA 2013 implemented several key changes related to housing protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. HUD published a notice in the Federal Register on August 6, 2013 describing HUD's programs. (See 78 FR 47717.)

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013: Implementation in HUD Housing Programs, Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on November 16, 2016, (81 Fed. Reg. 80724 (November 16, 2016)) (VAWA Final Rule).