Helping a domestic violence victim escape abuse and keeping a roof over her head.

In October 2009, her husband pushed her against a door and bruised her arm badly. She called the police and reported it.  She contacted the Housing Authority asking for help, but they did nothing but contact the husband and alert him of his wife’s intention to move.  The couple went to therapy for awhile but things didn’t improve. Her husband was so intimidating that she eventually put a lock on her bedroom to protect herself and her granddaughter.  Their lives became so miserable that our client decided she had to move out, but couldn’t do that without the housing assistance. She did not know how to make the Housing Authority understand her need, and her husband had control of the voucher as he was listed as head of household.

Relying on Violence Against Women Act provisions we wrote a letter to the housing authority demanding they provide our client with the means to move out without delay.  We explained that her situation presented all the elements the law required for immediate action.  In 24 hours, the Housing Authority called our client to give her a moving packet. She was so stunned that she could barely articulate her thanks: She was free to move, free to live her life again without fear.