The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and KnowledgePlex
present
“Implementing the Violence Against Women Act in Public and Section 8 Housing”
Thursday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. ET

The 2005 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (”VAWA”) included important new housing provisions to protect victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to new funding for housing, new confidentiality provisions and new grant programs, VAWA created protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking in Public and Section 8 housing, required Housing Authorities to include VAWA in their planning and created notification requirements. These provisions forbid denial of housing based on an applicant’s status as a victim and prohibited evictions due to the violence or stalking.

VAWA is a powerful tool for Housing Authorities and Section 8 landlords and owners to protect victims of domestic violence, and it creates legal obligations in Public and Voucher and Project-based Section 8 housing. However, HUD has issued little guidance for Housing Authorities and Section 8 landlords and owners on implementing the law. As a result, many affected organizations and people are unclear about their rights and obligations. This Expert Chat is designed to give information to Housing Authorities, landlords, owners, developers and advocates about the provisions of the law and strategies for implementing it.

KnowledgePlex teams up with The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty for this online discussion of innovative implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and its implementation in Chicago and Alchoa County, Fla. The discussion will include policies developed by the Housing Authorities and the role of advocates in developing those policies. Our experts will strategize with participants around VAWA implementation in their own jurisdiction so that Housing Authorities, landlords and owners who participate in Section 8 will better understand their obligations under the law.

Panelists
Kate Walz - Senior Staff Attorney, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty
Gail Monahan - Executive Director, Alchoa Housing Authority
Katherine Zeisel - Staff Attorney, NLCHP, Domestic Violence Program (Moderator)
For more information on joining this online chat, please click here.