Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA)

What is VAWA? 

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) expands housing protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. Changes under VAWA include extending protections to survivors of sexual assault; allowing survivors who remain in the unit to establish eligibility or find new housing when a lease is bifurcated; providing survivors with emergency transfers; and additional notification to applicants and tenants of housing rights under VAWA. While these changes substantially extend VAWA’s coverage to include most affordable housing programs, they provide no protection to tenants in private market-rate housing but do apply to tenants with vouchers in private market-housing.

SHA will provide all protection under VAWA to program participants and family members of program participants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking from being evicted or terminated from housing assistance based on acts of such violence against them.

If you feel you are being evicted from housing or terminated from housing assistance due to domestic violence, dating violence or stalking, please contact your Eligibility Specialist or Property Supervisor at Spokane Housing Authority immediately. You will be required to complete certification and/or provide alternate documentation to verify your claim. If you are on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, you may download and return a completed VAWA Packet to your Eligibility Specialist.

Where can I find more information on VAWA?

Please visit Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Resources for Multifamily Assisted Housing | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on HUD’s website. This page provides an overview, links to training, and VAWA forms.