Report
HUD Memo Assessing Claims of Housing Discrimination against Victims of Domestic Violence Under the Fair Housing Act and the Violence Against Women Act
This memorandum provides guidance to Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) headquarters and field staff on assessing claims by domestic violence victims of housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (FHAct). Such claims are generally based on sex, but may also involve other protected classes, in particular race or national origin.
This memorandum discusses the legal theories behind such claims and provides examples of recent cases involving allegations of housing discrimination against domestic violence victims. This memorandum also explains how the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protects some domestic violence victims from eviction, denial of housing, or termination of assistance on the basis of the violence perpetrated by their abusers.
