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City of Glendale Community Housing Division 6842 N 61st Ave Glendale AZ 85301 623-930-2180 Violence Against Women Act Addendum to FY 2022 PHA Plan The Glendale Housing Authority (GHA) has adopted a policy to implement applicable provisions of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Pub. L. 109-162) (VAWA). Goals, objectives and policies enable GHA to serve the needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as defined in VAWA, are stated below. This addendum reflects policy changes consistent with the Federal Register titled, The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (FR-5720-F-03). GHA is a division of the City of Glendale. GHA is located within the city limits of the City of Glendale Arizona. All services provided by the City of Glendale Police Department (Glendale PD) are available to all residents of the City of Glendale Public Housing communities, just as they are to all City of Glendale residents. A. Activities, services, or programs provided by GHA, directly or in partnership with other service providers, to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. Glendale Police Department (PD), as the policing authority for the City of Glendale, provides victim advocate services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking who report the crime to the Police. Glendale PD offers services, which include: • 9-1-1 response (City-wide system) • Assistance with emergency shelter relocation • Case management and assistance with relocation resources • Crisis intervention • 24-hour victim assistance/crisis services • Assistance with victim compensation claims • Glendale PD sponsors outreach programs, such as “DV Awareness Month” outreach at shelters and in schools. • Glendale PD immediately provides a carbon copy of the domestic violence (DV) police report face sheet as proof to assist with the DV rental provisions of ARS 33-1318 for lock changes or early lease termination. • Provides referrals to other community resources based on victim needs. Through Glendale PD, victims have access to the Glendale Family Advocacy Center (Glendale Victim Assistance Program), which offers counseling, emotional support, safety planning, assistance with victim rights, guiding a victim through the criminal justice system and with orders of protection or injunction, 9-1-1 cell phone loaners, and victim compensation claims. The Glendale Victim Assistance Program acts as a liaison between the victim and various agencies, not only to keep the victim informed, but to allow the victim to be heard, assisting will all aspects including safe-house location and court assistance. PHA Name: GLENDALE COMMUNITY HOUSING Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2022 HA Code: AZ003 Page 2 B. Activities, services, or programs provided or offered that helps victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to obtain or maintain housing. GHA has revised its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan and its Conventional Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy to comply with and support the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) by establishing policies to support victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking from being denied assistance evicted or terminated from housing assistance programs on the basis that the applicant or tenant is or has been a victim of a VAWA crime (FR-5720-F-03, pg. 80728). GHA has implemented the use of the revised form HUD 52641, Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract and form HUD 52641(A), Tenancy Addendum. GHA includes HUD’s Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking, and Alternate Documentation form, and the Notice of Occupancy Rights, and a notice advising families of their protections upon being admitted to a rental assistance program, if denied assistance, and in all negative action letters. An applicant who has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall not be denied admission into the program if they are otherwise qualified. GHA will not terminate a tenant’s assistance who is the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking based on activity associated with the act of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking as long as the victim tenant provides the required documentation that validates the victim’s claim within 14 business days of receipt of the written request by GHA. An extension may be granted if GHA determines that an extension is warranted. Actual and imminent threats of abuse will not be construed as serious or repeated violations of the lease or other “good cause” for termination of the assistance, tenancy or occupancy rights of a victim. Criminal activity directly relating to abuse, engaged in by a member of a tenant’s household or any affiliated individual, guest or other person under the tenant’s control, shall not be cause for termination of assistance, tenancy, or occupancy rights of the tenant; or if an immediate member of the tenant’s family, or an affiliated individual is the victim or threatened victim of that abuse. A “tenant”, or “lawful occupant”, does not include affiliated individuals who are neither tenants nor lawful occupants. Affiliated individuals are not themselves afforded protections or remedies under VAWA 2013 or HUD’s VAWA regulations. However, a tenant may be entitled to VAWA protections because an affiliated individual of that tenant is or was a victim of a VAWA crime. However, an affiliated individual cannot seek remedies from the housing provider. The public housing lease includes residents’ VAWA rights and responsibilities. Section 8 HCV landlords/owners/managers are notified of their rights and responsibilities under VAWA. Section 8 HCV participants and Public Housing residents are notified of their rights and responsibilities under VAWA. PHA Name: GLENDALE COMMUNITY HOUSING Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2022 HA Code: AZ003 Page 3 Definitions of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking have been included in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan and the Conventional Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy. At the tenant’s request, GHA will contact Glendale PD, to assist the victim with determination of the best action and for referral to community services. GHA has in place a wait list preference for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. If damages to public housing property occur and is directly related to an act of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, GHA will not charge the victim resident with costs to repair if the tenant takes the steps necessary to protect against the perpetrator (police, court, counseling, etc.) and provides the required documentation that proves the claim of violence. If the victim takes the necessary steps and GHA waives any maintenance charges associated with damage due to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the victim allows the perpetrator back into the unit, the tenant will be charged the full cost of the repair/replacement. ** GHA will review and take into consideration all circumstances to remove a person from the household. If warranted, GHA will issue a 24 hour notice of removal/trespassing, if allowed by court action or upon law enforcement advice/guidance. GHA provides an exception to the prohibition against a family moving under portability in violation of the lease in the Section 8 program. Within public housing, GHA will consider allowing a family to move if it is to protect a member of the family, or an affiliated individual who is a victim under VAWA and the only basis for the denial is that the family is violating the lease agreement. C. Activities, services, or programs provided by GHA to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, or to enhance victim safety in assisted families. Lobby notice explaining VAWA and the protections available to victims who are either applicants or participants to housing assistance through GHA. GHA will also consider transfer between units to offer additional safety for the victim. Section 8 voucher portability for a victim will be considered a priority action in order to remove the family as soon as possible from an imminent threat of harm. In such instances, at the request of the tenant, GHA will work with the landlord/owner/manager for a mutual rescission, or bifurcation of the lease. GHA works directly with Glendale PD to enforce policy on reported instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on the public housing rental community properties. If the required documentation that proves the claim of violence is timely submitted, GHA will review for termination of assistance for the abuser, and Glendale PD will review for the possibility of trespassing the abuser from the public housing property, along with all other protections offered to the residents of the City of Glendale, such as orders of protection, etc. For the Section 8 HCV program, GHA works directly with the Glendale Police Department and landlords/owners/managers on reported instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. If the required documentation is completed and timely submitted, GHA will PHA Name: GLENDALE COMMUNITY HOUSING Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2022 HA Code: AZ003 Page 4 review for termination of assistance for the abuser without terminating assistance or otherwise penalizing the victim. GHA does not have in-house counseling staff and does not provide activities, services or programs directly. GHA works closely with Glendale PD. If the Police Department was not called at the time of the incident, GHA will offer the victim assistance by contacting Glendale PD who, together with the Glendale Family Advocacy Center, from the Glendale Victim Assistance Program. Glendale Police Department is called to counsel victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to inform the victim of all services available. All of these programs and policies form a network of services that provide or offer activities, services, or programs that help child and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, to obtain or maintain housing, or to enhance victim safety in assisted families. ** If GHA bifurcates the lease and terminates the assistance of the perpetrator of the VAWA crime, or terminates the perpetrator’s Section 8 assistance, and the remaining family members allow the tenant to move back into the unit, the remaining family members are in violation of the lease for unauthorized occupants. If the victim of the VAWA crime allows the perpetrator onto the property, and if the presence of the perpetrator on the property will endanger others, or if GHA can demonstrate an actual and imminent threat to other tenants, or those employed at or providing services to the property, GHA will evict or terminate assistance of a victim of a VAWA crime (80731).