Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/3048

 119 STAT. 3030

PUBLIC LAW 109–162—JAN. 5, 2006

TITLE VI—HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND SAFETY FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN SEC.

601.

ADDRESSING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING.

The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘Subtitle N—Addressing the Housing Needs of Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking 42 USC 14043e.

‘‘SEC. 41401. FINDINGS.

‘‘Congress finds that: ‘‘(1) There is a strong link between domestic violence and homelessness. Among cities surveyed, 44 percent identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness. ‘‘(2) Ninety-two percent of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Of all homeless women and children, 60 percent had been abused by age 12, and 63 percent have been victims of intimate partner violence as adults. ‘‘(3) Women and families across the country are being discriminated against, denied access to, and even evicted from public and subsidized housing because of their status as victims of domestic violence. ‘‘(4) A recent survey of legal service providers around the country found that these providers have responded to almost 150 documented eviction cases in the last year alone where the tenant was evicted because of the domestic violence crimes committed against her. In addition, nearly 100 clients were denied housing because of their status as victims of domestic violence. ‘‘(5) Women who leave their abusers frequently lack adequate emergency shelter options. The lack of adequate emergency options for victims presents a serious threat to their safety and the safety of their children. Requests for emergency shelter by homeless women with children increased by 78 percent of United States cities surveyed in 2004. In the same year, 32 percent of the requests for shelter by homeless families went unmet due to the lack of available emergency shelter beds. ‘‘(6) The average stay at an emergency shelter is 60 days, while the average length of time it takes a homeless family to secure housing is 6 to 10 months. ‘‘(7) Victims of domestic violence often return to abusive partners because they cannot find long-term housing. ‘‘(8) There are not enough Federal housing rent vouchers available to accommodate the number of people in need of

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