What housing assistance is available to immigrant survivors during COVID-19?
By: Karlo Ng, Director of Legal Initiatives, National Alliance for Safe Housing; Rafaela Rodrigues, Fellow, National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project; and Leslye E. Orloff, Director, National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project
What Housing Assistance is Available to Immigrant Survivors During COVID-19?
Immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking face unique challenges when accessing and maintaining safe housing. Housing is a primary concern for survivors living with violence because it directly affects their ability to leave an abusive relationship. COVID-19 has exacerbated problems with safe, accessible, and affordable housing as survivors are forced to stay at home – making violence in their homes more frequent and dangerous. For those survivors looking for alternative, safe housing, there is misinformation among housing providers and survivor advocates about immigrant survivors’ eligibility for housing and homeless assistance programs. Here, we clarify some of these misconceptions as well as provide resources and tools with more detailed information supporting advocacy on behalf of immigrant survivors.
Resources linked in TAQ:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline - COVID-19 Special Report
- Office of Rural Development
- How to Advocate for Public and Assisted Housing for Your Battered Immigrant or Trafficking Survivor Client
- State and Local Rental Assistance
- FAQ: Eligibility for Assistance Based on Immigration Status
- Immigrant Crime Victim Access to Relief during the COVID-19 Crisis under the CARES and FFCRA Acts
- U Visa for Crime Victims
- T Visas: What They Are and How They Can Help Your Clients
- Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Campaign - Know Your Rights
- NIWAP - Maps by Benefit
- NIWAP - All State Public Benefits Chart
- NIWAP - A Guide to the Public Benefits Map
- NIWAP - Programs Open to Immigrant Victims and All Immigrants without Regard to Immigration Status
- The Difference Between Surviving and Not Surviving: Public Benefits Programs and Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims' Economic Security