Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Policy

Purpose and Applicability

The purpose of this policy (herein called “Policy”) is to implement the applicable provisions of VAWA 2013 (Pub. L. 113–4, 127 Stat. 54). VAWA 2013 reauthorizes and amends VAWA 1994 (Title IV, sec. 40001–40703 of Pub. L. 103–322), which was previously reauthorized by VAWA 2000 (Pub. L. 106–386) and VAWA 2005 (Pub. L. 109– 162, approved January 5, 2006, with technical corrections made by Pub. L. 109–271, approved August 12, 2006) and more generally to set forth the Dedham Housing Authority’s (DHA’s) policies and procedures regarding domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault as hereinafter defined.

Notwithstanding its title, this policy is gender-neutral, and its protections are available to males who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking as well as female victims of such violence.

This Policy shall be applicable to the administration by the DHA of all its federally subsidized public housing and Section 8 rental assistance programs under the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. §1437 et seq.).

Goals and Objectives

This Policy has the following principal goals and objectives:

1. Maintaining compliance, including training of appropriate staff managing the DHA properties, with all applicable legal requirements imposed by VAWA;
2. Participating, with others, in protecting the physical safety of victims of actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault who are assisted by the DHA;
3. Providing and maintaining housing opportunities for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault;
4. Cooperating, with others, in formation and maintenance of collaborative arrangements between the HA, law enforcement authorities, victim service providers, and others to promote the safety and well-being of victims of actual and threatened domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault who are assisted by the DHA; and
5. Responding in accordance with DHA policies and procedures to incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault affecting individuals assisted by the HA.

Click here to access the complete Violence Against Women Act Policy.