USC Subpart 1

in effect

34 U.S.C. § 12471 Findings

Congress finds that: (1) There is a strong link between domestic violence and homelessness. Among cities surveyed, 44 percent identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness. (2) Ninety-two percent of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Of all homeless women and children, 60 percent had been abused by age 12, and 63 percent have been victims of intimate partner violence as adults. (3) Women and families across the country are being discriminated against, denied access to, and even evicted from public and subsidized housing because of their status as victims of domestic violence. (4) A recent survey of legal service providers around the country found that these providers have responded to almost 150 documented eviction cases in the last year alone where the tenant was evicted because of the domestic violence crimes committed against her. In addition, nearly 100 clients were denied housing because of their status as victims of domestic violence. (5) Women who leave their abusers frequently lack adequate emergency shelter options. The lack of adequate emergency options for victims presents a serious threat to their safety and the safety of their children. Requests for emergency shelter by homeless women with children increased by 78 percent of United States cities surveyed in 2004. In the same year, 32 percent of the requests for shelter by homeless families went unmet due to the lack of available emergency shelter beds. (6) The average stay at an emergency shelter is 60 days, while the average length of time it takes a homeless family to secure housing is 6 to 10 months. (7) Victims of domestic violence often return to abusive partners because they cannot find long-term housing. (8) There are not enough Federal housing rent vouchers available to accommodate the number of people in need of long-term housing. Some people remain on the waiting list for Federal housing rent vouchers for years, while some lists are closed. (9) Transitional housing resources and services provide an essential continuum between emergency shelter provision and independent living. A majority of women in transitional housing programs stated that had these programs not existed, they would have likely gone back to abusive partners. (10) Because abusers frequently manipulate finances in an effort to control their partners, victims often lack steady income, credit history, landlord references, and a current address, all of which are necessary to obtain long-term permanent housing. (11) Victims of domestic violence in rural areas face additional barriers, challenges, and unique circumstances, such as geographical isolation, poverty, lack of public transportation systems, shortages of health care providers, under-insurance or lack of health insurance, difficulty ensuring confidentiality in small communities, and decreased access to many resources (such as advanced education, job opportunities, and adequate childcare). (12) Congress and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development have recognized in recent years that families experiencing domestic violence have unique needs that should be addressed by those administering the Federal housing programs.

34 U.S.C. § 12472 Purpose

The purpose of this subpart is to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to prevent homelessness by— (1) protecting the safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who reside in homeless shelters, public housing, assisted housing, tribally designated housing, or other emergency, transitional, permanent, or affordable housing, and ensuring that such victims have meaningful access to the criminal justice system without jeopardizing such housing; (2) creating long-term housing solutions that develop communities and provide sustainable living solutions for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (3) building collaborations among victim service providers, homeless service providers, housing providers, and housing agencies to provide appropriate services, interventions, and training to address the housing needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (4) enabling public and assisted housing agencies, tribally designated housing entities, private landlords, property management companies, and other housing providers and agencies to respond appropriately to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, while maintaining a safe environment for all housing residents.

34 U.S.C. § 12473 Definitions

For purposes of this subpart— (1) the term “assisted housing” means housing assisted—(A) under sections 11 So in original. Probably should be “section”. 1715e, 1715k, 1715l(d)(3), 1715l(d)(4), 1715n(e), 1715v, or 1715z–1 of title 12; (B) under section 1701s of title 12; (C) under section 1701q of title 12; (D) under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzales 22 So in original. Probably should be “Cranston-Gonzalez”. National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013); (E) under title II of the Cranston-Gonzales 2 National Affordable Housing Act [42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.]; (F) under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.); (G) under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); or (H) under section 1437f of title 42; (2) the term “continuum of care” means a community plan developed to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless as they move to stable housing and achieve maximum self-sufficiency; (3) the term “low-income housing assistance voucher” means housing assistance described in section 1437f of title 42; (4) the term “public housing” means housing described in section 1437a(b)(1) of title 42; (5) the term “public housing agency” means an agency described in section 1437a(b)(6) of title 42; (6) the terms “homeless”, “homeless individual”, and “homeless person”—(A) mean an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and (B) includes—(i) an individual who—(I) is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; (II) is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or campground due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; (III) is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; (IV) is abandoned in a hospital; or (V) is awaiting foster care placement; (ii) an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or (iii) migratory children (as defined in section 6399 of title 20) who qualify as homeless under this section because the children are living in circumstances described in this paragraph; (7) the term “homeless service provider” means a nonprofit, nongovernmental homeless service provider, such as a homeless shelter, a homeless service or advocacy program, a tribal organization serving homeless individuals, or coalition or other nonprofit, nongovernmental organization carrying out a community-based homeless or housing program that has a documented history of effective work concerning homelessness; (8) the term “tribally designated housing” means housing assistance described in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.); and (9) the term “tribally designated housing entity” means a housing entity described in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103(21)); 33 So in original. The semicolon probably should be a period.

34 U.S.C. § 12474 Collaborative grants to increase the long-term stability of victims

(a) Grants authorized(1) In generalThe Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administration for Children and Families, in partnership with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for a period of not less than 2 years to eligible entities to develop long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency options for adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are currently homeless or at risk for becoming homeless. (2) AmountThe Secretary of Health and Human Services shall award funds in amounts—(A) not less than $25,000 per year; and (B) not more than $1,000,000 per year. (b) Eligible entitiesTo be eligible to receive funds under this section, an entity shall demonstrate that it is a coalition or partnership, applying jointly, that—(1) shall include a domestic violence victim service provider; (2) shall include—(A) a homeless service provider; (B) a nonprofit, nongovernmental community housing development organization or a Department of Agriculture rural housing service program; or (C) in the absence of a homeless service provider on tribal lands or nonprofit, nongovernmental community housing development organization on tribal lands, a tribally designated housing entity or tribal housing consortium; (3) may include a dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victim service provider; (4) may include housing developers, housing corporations, State housing finance agencies, other housing agencies, and associations representing landlords; (5) may include a public housing agency or tribally designated housing entity; (6) may include tenant organizations in public or tribally designated housing, as well as nonprofit, nongovernmental tenant organizations; (7) may include other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care process; (8) may include a State, tribal, territorial, or local government or government agency; and (9) may include any other agencies or nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations with the capacity to provide effective help to adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (c) ApplicationEach eligible entity seeking funds under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Health and Human Services at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Health and Human Services may require. (d) Use of fundsFunds awarded to eligible entities under subsection (a) shall be used to design or replicate and implement new activities, services, and programs to increase the stability and self-sufficiency of, and create partnerships to develop long-term housing options for adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and their dependents, who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Such activities, services, or programs—(1) shall develop sustainable long-term living solutions in the community by—(A) coordinating efforts and resources among the various groups and organizations comprised in the entity to access existing private and public funding; (B) assisting with the placement of individuals and families in long-term housing; and (C) providing services to help individuals or families find and maintain long-term housing, including financial assistance and support services; (2) may develop partnerships with individuals, organizations, corporations, or other entities that provide capital costs for the purchase, preconstruction, construction, renovation, repair, or conversion of affordable housing units; (3) may use funds for the administrative expenses related to the continuing operation, upkeep, maintenance, and use of housing described in paragraph (2); and (4) may provide to the community information about housing and housing programs, and the process to locate and obtain long-term housing. (e) LimitationFunds provided under paragraph 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”. (a) shall not be used for construction, modernization or renovation. (f) Underserved populations and prioritiesIn awarding grants under this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—(1) give priority to linguistically and culturally specific services; (2) give priority to applications from entities that include a sexual assault service provider as described in subsection (b)(3); and (3) award a minimum of 15 percent of the funds appropriated under this section in any fiscal year to tribal organizations. (g) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:(1) Affordable housingThe term “affordable housing” means housing that complies with the conditions set forth in section 12745 of title 42. (2) Long-term housingThe term “long-term housing” means housing that is sustainable, accessible, affordable, and safe for the foreseeable future and is—(A) rented or owned by the individual; (B) subsidized by a voucher or other program which is not time-limited and is available for as long as the individual meets the eligibility requirements for the voucher or program; or (C) provided directly by a program, agency, or organization and is not time-limited and is available for as long as the individual meets the eligibility requirements for the program, agency, or organization. (h) Evaluation, monitoring, administration, and technical assistanceFor purposes of this section—(1) up to 5 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (i) for each fiscal year may be used by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for evaluation, monitoring, and administration costs under this section; and (2) up to 8 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (i) for each fiscal year may be used to provide technical assistance to grantees under this section. (i) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to carry out the provisions of this section.

34 U.S.C. § 12475 Grants to combat violence against women in public and assisted housing

(a) PurposeIt is the purpose of this section to assist eligible grantees in responding appropriately to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking so that the status of being a victim of such a crime is not a reason for the denial or loss of housing. Such assistance shall be accomplished through—(1) education and training of eligible entities; (2) development and implementation of appropriate housing policies and practices; (3) enhancement of collaboration with victim service providers and tenant organizations; and (4) reduction of the number of victims of such crimes who are evicted or denied housing because of crimes and lease violations committed or directly caused by the perpetrators of such crimes. (b) Grants authorized(1) In generalThe Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice (“Director”), and in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (“Secretary”), and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (“ACYF”), shall award grants and contracts for not less than 2 years to eligible grantees to promote the full and equal access to and use of housing by adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. (2) AmountsNot less than 15 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this section shall be available for grants to tribally designated housing entities. (3) Award basisThe Attorney General shall award grants and contracts under this section on a competitive basis. (4) LimitationAppropriated funds may only be used for the purposes described in subsection (f). (c) Eligible grantees(1) In generalEligible grantees are—(A) public housing agencies; (B) principally managed public housing resident management corporations, as determined by the Secretary; (C) public housing projects owned by public housing agencies; (D) tribally designated housing entities; and (E) private, for-profit, and nonprofit owners or managers of assisted housing. (2) Submission required for all granteesTo receive assistance under this section, an eligible grantee shall certify that—(A) its policies and practices do not prohibit or limit a resident’s right to summon police or other emergency assistance in response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (B) programs and services are developed that give a preference in admission to adult and youth victims of such violence, consistent with local housing needs, and applicable law and the Secretary’s instructions; (C) it does not discriminate against any person—(i) because that person is or is perceived to be, or has a family or household member who is or is perceived to be, a victim of such violence; or (ii) because of the actions or threatened actions of the individual who the victim, as certified in subsection (e), states has committed or threatened to commit acts of such violence against the victim, or against the victim’s family or household member; (D) plans are developed that establish meaningful consultation and coordination with local victim service providers, tenant organizations, linguistically and culturally specific service providers, population-specific organizations, State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, and, where they exist, tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions; and (E) its policies and practices will be in compliance with those described in this paragraph within the later of 1 year or a period selected by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary and ACYF. (d) ApplicationEach eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such a time, in such a manner, and containing such information as the Attorney General may require. (e) Certification(1) In generalA public housing agency, tribally designated housing entity, or assisted housing provider receiving funds under this section may request that an individual claiming relief under this section certify that the individual is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The individual shall provide a copy of such certification to the public housing agency, tribally designated housing entity, or assisted housing provider within a reasonable period of time after the agency or authority requests such certification. (2) ContentsAn individual may satisfy the certification requirement of paragraph (1) by—(A) providing the public housing agency, tribally designated housing entity, or assisted housing provider with documentation, signed by an employee, agent, or volunteer of a victim service provider, an attorney, a member of the clergy, a medical professional, or any other professional from whom the victim has sought assistance in addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or the effects of abuse; or (B) producing a Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local police or court record. (3) LimitationNothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any housing agency, assisted housing provider, tribally designated housing entity, owner, or manager to demand that an individual produce official documentation or physical proof of the individual’s status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, in order to receive any of the benefits provided in this section. A housing agency, assisted housing provider, tribally designated housing entity, owner, or manager may provide benefits to an individual based solely on the individual’s statement or other corroborating evidence. (4) Confidentiality(A) In generalAll information provided to any housing agency, assisted housing provider, tribally designated housing entity, owner, or manager pursuant to paragraph (1), including the fact that an individual is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, shall be retained in confidence by such agency, and shall neither be entered into any shared database, nor provided to any related housing agency, assisted housing provider, tribally designated housing entity, owner, or manager, except to the extent that disclosure is—(i) requested or consented to by the individual in writing; or (ii) otherwise required by applicable law. (B) NotificationPublic housing agencies must provide notice to tenants of their rights under this section, including their right to confidentiality and the limits thereof, and to owners and managers of their rights and obligations under this section. (f) Use of fundsGrants and contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide to eligible entities personnel, training, and technical assistance to develop and implement policies, practices, and procedures, making physical improvements or changes, and developing or enhancing collaborations for the purposes of—(1) enabling victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking with otherwise disqualifying rental, credit, or criminal histories to be eligible to obtain housing or housing assistance, if such victims would otherwise qualify for housing or housing assistance and can provide documented evidence that demonstrates the causal connection between such violence or abuse and the victims’ negative histories; (2) permitting applicants for housing or housing assistance to provide incomplete rental and employment histories, otherwise required as a condition of admission or assistance, if the victim believes that providing such rental and employment history would endanger the victim’s or the victim children’s safety; (3) protecting victims’ confidentiality, including protection of victims’ personally identifying information, address, or rental history; (4) assisting victims who need to leave a public housing, tribally designated housing, or assisted housing unit quickly to protect their safety, including those who are seeking transfer to a new public housing unit, tribally designated housing unit, or assisted housing unit, whether in the same or a different neighborhood or jurisdiction; (5) enabling the public housing agency, tribally designated housing entity, or assisted housing provider, or the victim, to remove, consistent with applicable State law, the perpetrator of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking without evicting, removing, or otherwise penalizing the victim; (6) enabling the public housing agency, tribally designated housing entity, or assisted housing provider, when notified, to honor court orders addressing rights of access to or control of the property, including civil protection orders issued to protect the victim and issued to address the distribution or possession of property among the household members in cases where a family breaks up; (7) developing and implementing more effective security policies, protocols, and services; (8) allotting not more than 15 percent of funds awarded under the grant to make modest physical improvements to enhance safety; (9) training personnel to more effectively identify and respond to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (10) effectively providing notice to applicants and residents of the above housing policies, practices, and procedures. (g) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to carry out the provisions of this section. (h) Technical assistanceUp to 12 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (g) for each fiscal year shall be used by the Attorney General for technical assistance costs under this section.