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Administrative Plan 7/1/2025 Page 12-18 <br />Documentation of Abuse [24 CFR 5.2007] <br />SAHA Policy <br />When an individual facing termination of assistance for reasons related to domestic <br />violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking claims protection <br />under VAWA, SAHA will request that the individual provide documentation supporting <br />the claim in accordance with the policies in section 16-IX.D of this plan. <br />SAHA reserves the right to waive the documentation requirement if it determines that a <br />statement or other corroborating evidence from the individual will suffice. In such cases <br />SAHA will document the waiver in the individual’s file. <br />Terminating the Assistance of a Domestic Violence Perpetrator <br />Although VAWA provides protection against termination of assistance for victims of domestic <br />violence, it does not provide such protection for perpetrators. VAWA gives the PHA the explicit <br />authority to “terminate assistance to any individual who is a tenant or lawful occupant and who <br />engages in criminal acts of physical violence against family members or others” without <br />terminating assistance to “or otherwise penalizing the victim of such violence who is also a <br />tenant or lawful occupant” [24 CFR 5.2009(a)]. This authority is not dependent on a bifurcated <br />lease or other eviction action by an owner against an individual family member. Further, this <br />authority supersedes any local, state, or other federal law to the contrary. However, if the PHA <br />chooses to exercise this authority, it must follow any procedures prescribed by HUD or by <br />applicable local, state, or federal law regarding termination of assistance. This means that the <br />PHA must follow the same rules when terminating assistance to an individual as it would when <br />terminating the assistance of an entire family [FR Notice 3/16/07]. <br />If the perpetrator remains in the unit, the PHA continues to pay the owner until the PHA <br />terminates the perpetrator from the program. The PHA must not stop paying HAP until 30 days <br />after the owner bifurcates the lease to evict the perpetrator. The PHA may pay HAP for the full <br />month if the 30-day period will end mid-month [Notice PIH 2017-08]. <br />If the perpetrator is the only participant eligible to receive assistance, the PHA will provide any <br />remaining participant a chance to establish eligibility for the program. If the remaining <br />participant cannot do so, the PHA will provide them with 30 days to establish eligibility for <br />another housing program prior to termination of the HAP contract. <br />EXHIBIT 1