BILL: Should We Protect Domestic Violence Survivors From Eviction? - Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2023 - H.R.2918

The Bill

H.R.2918 - Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2023

Bill Details

• Sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) on April 26, 2023
• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) is leading the legislation in the Senate.
• Committee: House - Judiciary
• House: Not yet voted
• Senate: Not yet voted
• President: Not yet signed

Bill Overview

• Provides protection for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and sex trafficking under the Fair Housing Act. A fundamental component of ending domestic and sexual violence is securing safe and affordable housing for survivors.
• Helps ensure that people who are survivors of these crimes do not face eviction or other forms of retaliation for crimes committed against them. 
• While the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides protections for survivors living in public housing and Section 8 project-based programs, survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and sex trafficking have no explicit legal foundation to fight discrimination and eviction in the private housing market.
• 84% of survivors in domestic violence shelters reported needing help finding affordable housing.

What's in the Bill

Protects survivors in private housing

• Expands protections to survivors living in private housing.
• Establishes a nationwide standard so that people victimized by domestic violence, sexual violence, or sex trafficking cannot be evicted or otherwise penalized for being victims of those crimes.
• Allows the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice to protect victims of domestic violence and sexual violence more effectively.

Protects women from homelessness

• According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. On average, 20 Americans per minute are victims of physical violence by an intimate partner. Intimate partner violence affects over 12 million people in the U.S. every year.
• Domestic and intimate partner violence is a leading cause of homelessness among women and families. As many as 57% of women and children experiencing homelessness cite escaping intimate partner violence as the primary reason for their homelessness.
• 92% of homeless women report having experienced severe physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.
• The severe shortage of affordable housing often leaves survivors with few housing options and can encourage people to stay with their abuser. 

Protects survivors from eviction

• Some municipalities have "nuisance-free" ordinances, which label households with frequent noise disturbances and calls to emergency services as "nuisance" properties. This can lead to domestic violence incidents being mislabeled and can prevent people from seeking help out of fear of eviction or retaliation. 
• Ensures that survivors are not revictimized by housing discrimination.

What Supporters Are Saying

• Rep. Schultz said:

"For far too long, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking have been forced to choose between confinement with their abusers or homelessness. Even as they are victimized, they can – and have been – evicted on the grounds of involvement in criminal activity. I am proud to introduce legislation that will remedy this injustice, expanding the protections granted by the Fair Housing Act to allow people to escape abusive situations."

• Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) said:

"Every survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking deserves a safe place to call home. I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Fair Housing for Survivors Act to ensure survivors have the necessary resources to rebuild their lives free from abuse, protect them from unfair discrimination in the private housing market, and provide them with support to escape abusive environments."

• Sandra Park, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU Women's Rights Project, said:

"Across the country, survivors of domestic and sexual violence are routinely denied housing or evicted from their homes because of the violence they have experienced. This bill will provide important protections from discrimination that will enable survivors to access secure housing for themselves and their families."

• The bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, the National Homelessness Law Center, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Tell your reps to support or oppose this bill 

—Emma Kansiz 

(Photo Credit: Canva)