Resources

Fact Sheet

Questions & Answers: Domestic Violence Shelters and Civil Rights Statutes

Created by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

This Q&A provides information about federal civil rights laws that apply to domestic violence shelters and the services they provide to clients. Four federal civil rights laws are discussed in this Q&A:

  1. Americans with Disabilities Act (referred to as the ADA)
  2. Fair Housing Act (referred to as the FHA)
  3. Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (referred to as Title VI)
  4. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (referred to as Section 504)

The ADA and FHA are applicable to most shelters. Section 504 and Title VI apply only if the shelter receives federal financial assistance.