Victim Assistance & Violence Against Women Act

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

CHA Victim Assistance staff assists residents living in public housing who are victims of non-random violent crimes occurring on CHA property or individuals who are impacted by a traumatic event.

The Victim Assistance department provides services including advocacy, crisis response and relocation services for those who qualify.  For more information, call the Victim Assistance hotline at (312) 913-7396.

PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING

VAWA Occupancy Rights Notice

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These protections are available to all individuals regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) ensures that the Chicago Housing Authority complies with VAWA regulations.

The below notice explains your rights under VAWA. A HUD-approved certification form is attached to this notice. You can fill out this form to show that you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and that you wish to use your rights under VAWA.

To access this HUD Form in multiple languages, please visit the HUD portal.

For additional information on VAWA's housing protections, visit the VAWA FAQ page on the HUD website.  

VAWA Certification Form

VAWA protects CHA applicants, residents, and program participants from being evicted, denied housing assistance, or terminated from housing assistance based on acts of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against them. Despite the name of this law, VAWA protection is available to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

If you are seeking VAWA protections from your housing provider, your housing provider may give you a written request that asks you to submit documentation about the incident or incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

In response to this request, you or someone on your behalf may complete this optional form and submit it to your housing provider.

Please see CHA's Emergency Transfer Plan below: 

For more information on the Violence Against Women Act, please click below: