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NOTICE OF OCCUPANCY RIGHTS UNDER U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
<br /> THE. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OMB Ap ,g(.
<br /> Expires 06/30/2 17
<br /> Orange County Housing Authority
<br /> Notice of Occupancy Rights under the Violence Against Women Act'
<br /> To all Tenants and Applicants
<br /> The Violence Against Women Act(VAWA) provides protections for victims of domestic violence, dating
<br /> violence, sexual assault, or stalking. VAWA protections are not only available to women, but are
<br /> available equally to all individuals regardless of sex,gender identity, or sexual orientation.z The U.S.
<br /> Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the Federal agency that oversees that Orange
<br /> County Housing Authority(OCHA) is in compliance with VAWA. This notice explains your rights under
<br /> VAWA. A HUD-approved certification form is attached to this notice. You can fill out this form to show
<br /> that you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and
<br /> that you wish to use your rights under VAWA."
<br /> Protections for Applicants
<br /> If you otherwise qualify for assistance under OCHA,you cannot be denied admission or denied
<br /> assistance because you are or have been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,
<br /> or stalking.
<br /> Protections for Tenants
<br /> If you are receiving assistance under OCHA,you may not be denied assistance,terminated from
<br /> participation, or be evicted from your rental housing because you are or have been a victim of domestic
<br /> violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
<br /> Also, if you or an affiliated individual of yours is or has been the victim of domestic violence, dating
<br /> violence, sexual assault, or stalking by a member of your household or any guest,you may not be denied
<br /> rental assistance or occupancy rights under OCHA solely on the basis of criminal activity directly relating
<br /> to that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
<br /> Affiliated individual means your spouse, parent, brother, sister,or child, or a person to whom you stand
<br /> in the place of a parent or guardian (for example,the affiliated individual is in your care, custody, or
<br /> control);or any individual,tenant, or lawful occupant living in your household.
<br /> Removing the Abuser or Perpetrator from the Household
<br /> OCHA may divide (bifurcate)your lease in order to evict the individual or terminate the assistance of the
<br /> individual who has engaged in criminal activity(the abuser or perpetrator)directly relating to domestic
<br /> violence,dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
<br /> If OCHA chooses to remove the abuser or perpetrator, OCHA may not take away the rights of eligible
<br /> tenants to the unit or otherwise punish the remaining tenants. If the evicted abuser or perpetrator was
<br /> the sole tenant to have established eligibility for assistance under the program,OCHA must allow the
<br /> tenant who is or has been a victim and other household members to remain in the unit for a period of
<br /> time, in order to establish eligibility under the program or under another HUD housing program covered
<br /> by VAWA,or, find alternative housing.
<br /> ' Despite the name of this law, VAWA protection is available regardless of sex,gender identity,or sexual
<br /> orientation.
<br /> Housing providers cannot discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race,color,national
<br /> origin,religion, sex,familial status,disability,or age. HUD-assisted and HUD-insured housing must be made
<br /> available to all otherwise eligible individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation,gender identity,or
<br /> marital status.
<br /> Form HUD-5380
<br /> (12/2016)
<br />
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