A survivor of domestic violence and resident of Section 8 housing was living with her ex-boyfriend when on several occasions he had physically and verbally abused her and punched holes in the wall, damaging the apartment. Every time an incident occurred, the police were called, and a report was documented and provided to the housing authority.
The abuse got to a point where the client’s life was in danger, and she received a VAWA voucher to transfer to an out-of-state location to flee from her abuser. When she returned to Florida, she was living in her car because she was told she could not qualify for public housing until she paid for all the damage in the apartment left behind when she fled.
She did not have the money and felt that she should not be responsible, so she reached out to Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) for assistance. FRLS is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
FRLS requested that the charges be waived under the VAWA exception and that the client be given another voucher, but housing initially claimed she did not qualify and had to pay the balance. FRLS then obtained the police reports from the many incidents at the property and showed housing that the damages were the direct result of domestic violence. The reports also showed that housing had been notified each time an incident occurred.
FRLS argued that the charges must be waived under federal law and that the client had the right to receive a new voucher. Housing ultimately agreed, and the client received her voucher and is now able to live in a home instead of her vehicle.
FRLS advocates for domestic violence survivors helping them stay safe in stable housing accommodations. Reach out to us at 1-888-582-3410 or apply online at FRLS.org for help.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in
housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.