From New York Women’s Equality at: http://nywomensequality.org/10-point-plan/
5. Ending Discrimination in Housing based on Domestic Violence Victim Status & Source of Income (S.5876)
• Women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence, with more than one in three women experiencing rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
• Nationally, 11% of evictions involve victims of domestic violence who are evicted due to abuse.
• Female-headed households account for 76% of all housing choice vouchers issued, including Section 8 vouchers.
The Women’s Equality Act would:
1. Prohibit building owners, managers and leasing agents from refusing to lease or sell, or evicting a tenant because of their status as a domestic violence victim
2. Create a task force to study the impact of discrimination based on source of income in housing, in particular discrimination against tenants receiving Section 8 rental assistance, with focus on any sex-based impact
In Buffalo we have a safe house for victims of domestic violence who need to escape to escape to protect themselves and their families. But what about the women who are abused and are evicted or snubbed by a landlord? In the time of crisis, safe affordable housing is one of the best ways to protect that woman and her family and help them rebuild their lives. Domestic violence not only impacts families, but the entire community – helping women rebuild their lives is a community issue. Assuring they have equal access to housing is a foundational start to solving the problem.