Discusses on pages 9, 25 and 26 eligibility of VAWA self-petitioning abused spouses and children of citizens and lawful permanent residents for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Publisher: Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
[pdf] Joint Letter from HUD, HHS, ad DOJ on Immigrant Access to Shelter and Transitional Housing (Aug 2016) (+)
[pdf] Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing for Immigrant Victims: Government Policies (February 10, 2017) (+)
This document brings together in one collection the polices issued by federal government agencies describing the legal rights of immigrant and Limited English Proficient (LEP) victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse, and the homeless to access emergency shelters and transitional housing from a wide array of programs offering these services who receive federal funding. The federal agency policies in this collection include policies issued by:
The U.S. Department of Justice (Office of Victims of Crime, Office on Violence Against Women)
The Health and Human Services (Family Violence Prevention)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
These policies provide the requirements for providers of emergency shelter, transitional housing and other programs offering services necessary to protect life and safety. this packet of policies will help advocates and attorneys working with immigrant survivors and immigrant children gain access to housing, services and assistance they are eligible to receive without regard to their immigration or LEP status.
[pdf] HUD – VAWA Self-Petitioner Verification Procedures (January 19, 2017) (+)
Describes to public housing providers how to use the SAVE system to verify housing eligibility for VAWA Self-petitioners.
[pdf] HUD VAWA Self-Petitioner Cover Letter (December 22, 2016) (+)
Cover letter to memo from HUD Acting General Counsel to Secretary Castro clarifying that certain immigrant victims battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent spouses have satisfactory immigration status to apply for and access Section 214 public and assisted housing including public and multifamily housing.
[pdf] Eligibility of VAWA Self-Petitioners for Financial Assistance Under Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 (December 15, 2016) (+)
This memo from HUD’s General Counsel to Secretary Castro clarifies HUD’s position on the rights of certain noncitizens who are battered or subject to extreme cruelty by a spouse or parent, who is a Untied States Citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR), to apply for and receive assistance under Section 214 of the Housing and Communality Development Act. Specifically it clarifies that VAWA self-petitioners can indicate they are in “satisfactory immigration status” when applying for assistance or continued assistance from Section 214-covered housing providers (this includes public and multifamily housing). Under this memo VAWA self-petitioners, VAWA cancellation of removal, VAWA suspension of deportation and approved family based visa petition applicants who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or parent are able to stay in public and assisted housing units when the abuser is removed from the unit by a protection order and will also be able to apply for 214 benefits. Battered immigrant spouses and children of citizens and lawful permanent residents will no longer be subject to proration.
[pdf] Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAP), The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 and HUD’s Homeless Assistance Programs (+)
HUD discussion of the range of programs that fund transitional housing programs that are to be open to immigrants without regard to immigration status.
[pdf] SNAPS In Focus: Addressing the Needs of Human Trafficking Victims (2016) (+)
Discusses action plan for serving human trafficking victims. Includes a discussion of the HUD requirement that housing and service providers that they must not turn away immigrants experiencing homelessness or victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, on the basis of their immigration status, from certain housing and services necessary for life or safety – such as street outreach, emergency shelter, and short term housing assistance including transitional housing and rapid rehousing funded through the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and CoC Programs.
[pdf] Office of Health Homes and Lead Hazard Control Policy Guidance (January 16, 2001) (+)
HUD policy on the Lead Hazard Control Program is not a federal public benefit and is open to all persons without regard to immigration status.
[pdf] HUD Cover to HUD, HHS, and DOJ Joint Letter Regarding Immigrant Access to Housing and Services (+)
This letter reiterates long standing federal policies that immigrants cannot be denied access to certain services necessary to protect life and safety based on their immigration status.
This letter reiterates that immigrants experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking or human trafficking may not be turned away on the basis of immigration status from life and safety services including but not limited to emergency shelters, and short-term housing assistance (including transitional housing and rapid re-housing), crisis counseling and intervention, soup kitchens, community food banks, and medical and public health services.
Importantly, this Tri-Agency letter describes the non-discrimination requirements that apply to all federal grantees and the application of these protections to cases involving immigrants.
[pdf] HUD-HHS-DOJ-Letter-Regarding-Immigrant-Access-to-Housing-and-Services (+)
This letter reiterates long standing federal policies that immigrants cannot be denied access to certain services necessary to protect life and safety based on their immigration status.
This letter reiterates that immigrants experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking or human trafficking may not be turned away on the basis of immigration status from life and safety services including but not limited to emergency shelters, and short-term housing assistance (including transitional housing and rapid re-housing), crisis counseling and intervention, soup kitchens, community food banks, emergency Medicaid and public health services.
Importantly, this Tri-Agency letter describes the anti-discrimination requirements that apply to all federal grantees and the application of these protections to cases involving immigrants
[pdf] HUD Handbook 4350.3: Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs (+)
HUD-subsidized multifamily properties represent an important and valuable resource in addressing the nation’s affordable housing needs. The successful delivery of this housing resource to the people who need it depends on effective occupancy policies and procedures. HUD’s occupancy requirements and procedures ensure that eligible applicants are selected for occupancy, that tenants receive the proper level of assistance, and that tenants are treated fairly and consistently. This handbook describes the occupancy requirements and procedures governing the HUD-subsidized multifamily housing programs identified. The handbook addresses the procedures by which households apply for housing and the rights and responsibilities of in-place tenants and property owners. This handbook is addressed to tenants, owners, managers, HUD Field Office Staff, and Performance-Based and Non-Performance Based Contract Administrators.
[pdf] Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, or Stalking (2007) (+)
The Violence Against Women and Justice Department Reauthorization Act of 2005 protects qualified tenants and family members of tenants who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking from being evicted or terminated from housing assistance based on acts of such violence against them. This is a certification template of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking that is to be completed by the victim of domestic violence.
[pdf] Public Housing Occupancy Guidebook (+)
This guide is designed to assist public housing authority staff and HUD with a range of issues related to public housing occupancy, from application for admission and rent calculations through ongoing occupancy to lease termination. The guidebook is intended to provide a handy reference for all aspects of admissions and occupancy administration.
[pdf] HUD Letter on Immigrant Victim Access to Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing (2001) (+)
A memo about the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding programs that provide emergency shelter and transitional housing for up to two years that are equally available to all needy persons, including aliens who we not “qualified aliens.”