HUD's Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Office
Protects Domestic Violence Victim

On June 1, 2009, Equal Opportunity Specialist, Kitty Amaya, successfully resolved a housing discrimination complaint against Douglas County Housing Authority, which administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing Programs in Omaha area. The Complainant, a single black woman alleged that the Housing Authority and its employees discriminated against her by terminating her Section 8 Voucher. She alleged that on March 24, 2009, she and her son had a physical altercation, and that she was arrested. The Complainant alleged that as a result of her arrest the Respondents notified her that she would be terminated from the Section 8 Program as of May 31, 2009.

The Complainant was not aware that the complainant's housing rights were protected by the Violence Against Women's Act (VAWA), but admitted to the HUD Investigator she was abused. When HUD's Investigator Amaya presented the Respondents with a VAWA Certification (HUD Form 50066) signed by the Complainant, the Respondents rescinded their decision to terminate the Complainant's assistance based on the Complainant's history as a victim of domestic violence and her VAWA Certification. On June 3, 2009, the Complainant signed a Withdraw with Resolution indicating she was satisfied that the Housing Authority accepted her Violence Against Women's Act Certification and did not terminate her assistance.