Public Policy Approaches

This Q&A document explains the key housing provisions of VAWA 2005, including housing-related grant programs, amendments to public housing and section 8 regarding eviction defense, eligibility, and portability, HMIS changes, and new planning requirements.

The first part of this report analyzes housing problems in comparison to food insecurity and lack of health insurance, for the purpose of raising awareness as to the enormity of the housing crisis (while emphasizing that the report should not be read to minimize the seriousness of the problems of food insecurity and lack of health care). The second part of the report reviews housing problems in more depth and is an excellent resource for talking point references regarding housing.

Advocates can get state and local information on rental costs in comparison to income.

The report reveals the extreme housing affordability crisis for those people living on an SSI income. A state-by-state executive analysis shows the percent of SSI Benefits needed to rent a one-bedroom apartment as well as the housing market areas that require more than 100% of monthly SSI benefits. Local information is contained in the appendix. Policy recommendations round out this easy to read and digest report focusing on the disabled population and housing affordability.

This manual lays out federal housing programs including programs for the elderly and section 8 housing.

This research and policy report offers an extensive overview of the HOPE VI (Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere) program. The introduction provides historical background, evaluation challenges and suggested reforms. It includes a description of the policy debates surrounding HOPE VI.

The toolkit is designed to provide advocates with an overview of VAWA's housing provisions and includes administrative guidance, recent legal developments, and sample advocacy materials.

This report presents a summary of recommendations from the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

This report makes recommends to improve the state of fair housing in the U.S. Additionally, the 2005 report specifically addresses the nature and extent of racial segregation in the U.S. Advocates may find this report helpful for understanding FHIP and for baseline data on housing discrimination. The piece also concretely connects anti-oppression and economic advocacy work as it describes how racial discrimination and segregated housing are tied to wealth accumulation and social wellbeing across race and ethnicity.

The Housing Discrimination Study 2000 (HDS 2000) represents the most ambitious effort to date to measure the extent of housing discrimination in the United States against persons because of their race or color. It is the third nationwide effort sponsored by HUD to measure the amount of discrimination faced by minority home seekers. The previous studies were conducted in 1977 and 1989.

This Q&A discusses discrimination in housing and the legal avenues that DV survivors can use. This includes information regarding the Fair Housing Act and when to contact an attorney.

This review lists state laws and recent legislative proposals addressing housing-related issues faced by survivors of domestic and sexual assault, including prohibitions on housing discrimination, defenses to eviction, termination of leases, and penalties for seeking police assistance. Links from the document take the reader to actual text of the laws and legislative proposals. Advocates will find this state law and legislative review helpful for possible state-level housing-related legislative actions and ideas.