Housing Assistance
Housing Assistance Details
Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children (1 in 3 women are homeless due to DV). Addressing housing safety, stability, and sustainability via supportive services is critical for survivor safety, healing, and well-being. Most local domestic violence programs have emergency shelters to respond to immediate crises and provide support in keeping individuals and families safe when fleeing an abusive relationship. These programs may also provide support for survivors in accessing additional housing assistance via resources such as survivor-driven housing, rapid re-housing, and other local housing assistance programs. The UDVC does not provide direct advocacy or housing assistance—please contact your local program to find out what kind of assistance might be available.
Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are entitled to certain housing protections under Utah law. Additionally, discrimination against residents of public housing who’ve experienced domestic violence is prohibited by federal law and may constitute a breach of a person’s civil rights. Federal and state laws (see laws below) protect survivors and their families from wrongful eviction or being denied housing because of violence committed against them.
Additional Resources
Utah Tenant Rights
In Utah, the Utah Fit Premises Act provides rights for both landlords and tenants. The law includes certain protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault who are renting.
Additional Resources:
- HUD: Tenant rights, laws, and protections information in Utah
- Utah Housing Coalition: Provides advocacy and education to fulfill their vision for a society where every person has access to decent and affordable housing
- Fair Housing Commision: Information regarding fair housing rights in Utah
- Utah Legal Services provides assistance to qualified individuals on issues such as:
- Evictions and lock-outs
- Home foreclosure
- Habitability and repairs
- Problems with federally subsidized rentals
For survivors living in public housing
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides legal protections for survivors of domestic violence living in low-income federal public housing or Section 8 (voucher or project-based programs). Tenants cannot be denied housing, evicted, or terminated from participating in housing because they are a victim of domestic violence, or due to an incident of domestic violence. Learn more about the VAWA protections for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Additional resources:
- The Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors in Public and Subsidized Housing: Provides information from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Women’s Rights Project on the protections available to survivors of abuse.
National Housing Law Project: Provides information and training materials on the housing provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Fair Housing Act, and state law housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.