HUD PIH Publishes Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 Guidance
On May 19, HUD Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) published a new notice (PIH-2017-08) that provides guidance to PHAs and owners on the requirements of the “Violence Against Women Act of 2013: Implementation in HUD Housing Programs Final Rule,” (VAWA Final Rule, published November 16, 2016) with respect to the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs (including the Project-Based Voucher (PBV)), and Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation (Mode Rehab).
Overall, the VAWA Final Rule provides expanded housing protections for survivors of violence and fully codifies the provisions of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013) into HUD’s regulations. At its core, VAWA 2013 prohibits housing providers from denying or terminating housing assistance on the basis that an applicant or tenant is a survivor of violence.
Notice PIH-2017-08 provides a summary of the major changes of the final rule’s impact on PIH programs and details who is eligible to receive VAWA protections and how eligibility is determined and certified.
Among its topics, the notice reviews policies for:
- PHA Documentation Requirements
- Notice of Occupancy Rights
- Victim Confidentiality
- Emergency Transfers (Emergency Transfer Plans must be in place by June 14, 2017)
- Family Break-up
- Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements
- Developing Partnerships with Victim Service Providers
- Lease Bifurcations
- Establishing Waiting List Preferences
- Landownership: Move with Continued Tenant-Based Assistance
- Owners in the HCV Program
- Assistance Under More Than One Covered Housing Program
- Fair Housing and Nondiscrimination
Please note that this guidance does not encompass every aspect of the VAWA Final Rule and should be used in conjunction with the VAWA Final Rule. NAHRO will provide a deeper analysis of this PIH notice for members in a forthcoming edition of the NAHRO Monitor.