Domestic Abuse Law Won't Throw You Out
- Julia
Imagine this: You're a usual wife and mother tending to your children, husband, and apartment. One day, while asleep in your home, your husband begins to beat and attack you severely. You do what you've been told to do in this situation- go to the police and turn him in. Your husband gets arrested and taken away, and you press charges. But suddenly, your landlord sends you an eviction notice for little or no reason behind it. This woman is Quinn Bouley, and she decided to sue her landlord, Ms. Young-Sabourin, based on gender discrimination. Young-Sabourin went to talk to Bouley about the abuse shortly after the incident, then gave her an eviction notice because, she said, violence may continue in the household.
The Fair Housing Act states in Section 804:
It shall be unlawful --
(b) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin.
Bouley's claim was just that, stating that because she sought help for her abuse and no longer cared for her husband, Young-Sabourin believed the abuse was Bouley's own fault, and evicted her because she didn't believe women should behave that way. Finally, a federal court ruled -- for the first time -- that the Fair Housing Act does not allow discrimination against abuse victims. In the ruling, Vermont District Court stated "The timing of the eviction, as well as reasonable inferences which a jury could draw from some of the statements in the eviction letter, could lead a reasonable jury to conclude that the real reason for the defendant's actions was unlawful discrimination." They also said that if women could be evicted because they turned in their abuser, they'd be more likely to let the abuse continue and not tell the police about the abuse.
The American Civil Liberties Union believes that this ruling will help other abused women as well as keep them safe. "Women who have been abused need to be protected from their abuser, not penalized for surviving the assault. If women know that seeking help won't jeopardize their home or their job, they are far better able to escape from violent relationships," says Lenora Lapidus, Director of Women's Rights at ACLU.
I personally think that this is a big step for battered women, and that they will be less afraid to tell the police about their abuse, knowing that they won't be evicted and homeless because of it. This judge's ruling helps women's rights more and more for the Fair Housing Act, and may help contain the spread of abuse.
Sources:
- Katz, Nikki. ACLU Hails Ruling That Fair Housing Act Prohibits Discrimination Against Victims of Domestic Violence. 18 Apr. 2005. 18 Apr. 2005 <http://womensissues.about.com/od/sexualdiscrimination/a/discrimdv.htm>.
- Martin, Emily. Federal Law Protects Battered Women From Housing Discrimination, Court Rules. 1 Apr. 2005. American Civil Liberties Union. 15 Apr. 2005 <http://www.aclu.org/WomensRights/WomensRights.cfm?ID=17883&c=173>.
- FAIR HOUSING ACT. United States Government. 15 Apr. 2005 <http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/title8.htm>.
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