Obama Decries Domestic Violence (announces HUD rule changes)

[usregimechange]

President Obama decried domestic violence against women and promised more help for victims in a White House ceremony on Wednesday.

“The bottom line is this: nobody in America should live in fear because they’re unsafe in their own home, no adult and no child,” he told a crowd of advocates and officials in the East Room. “And no one who is the victim of abuse should ever feel that they have no way to get out.”

Mr. Obama said the Department of Housing and Urban Development was releasing new rules on Wednesday to prevent victims from being evicted or denied housing because they were abused. “It’s not right and we’re going to put a stop to it,” he said. And he said the Justice Department was releasing “best practices” guidance to help judges and activists make sure that protective orders are enforced.

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. also spoke, calling his work as a senator on behalf of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 one of the best things he has done in his political career. Other notable figures were in attendance as well, including Joe Torre, the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who founded the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation as a result of domestic violence he witnessed and experienced as a child.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/obama-decries-domestic-violence/


:fistbump:

[bobbolink]

1. Finally, some change we can believe in.

If this is truly as it is being spoken of, then this is finally a move in the right direction.

Thanks, Obama. Women and children need all the protection they can get.

Now, how 'bout tackling the problem of children being taken from poor women?

[DCKit]

2. This is a huge policy change... something that would never happen under an (R) watch. n/t

[MadMaddie]

3. Bingo! Democratic Supporters

have to understand that one simple fact the conversation and law would not happen under Rs ever!

[Brickbat]

4. I didn't know this about Joe Torre.

Thanks for posting this.

[bobbolink]

5. Come on, DUers. This is the good news you wanted.

Where is the interest?

[laughingliberal]

6. K&R. This is change I can believe in!!!

:toast:

[bobbolink]

7. This is a serious problem, and I am impressed that he is dealing with it.

[Tsiyu]

8. Something positive

This issue has played a role in TN 4th district race. I watch TV at friends' places every now and then, and recenty saw an ad for Lincoln Davis featuring a victim's mother praising Davis for toughening laws.

I saw this ad once. The other night, I saw an ad attacking Davis' Repuke opponent, whom I will not name, at least a dozen times. This ad features this candidate's sordid past, which includes attacking and dry-firing a gun at his former partner.


Glad to see this issue get some attention, and to see changes in the way we treat victims.

[one_voice]

9. Excellent...

it will be interesting to see what the repugs have to say about this. They're supposed hate and criticize everything he does/wants to do. :popcorn:

[Lyric]

10. This is really important. I'm so glad to hear it.

Battered women trying to leave have been denied housing because landlords didn't want to deal with any potential "drama". That's incredibly unfair.

Now THIS is change we can all believe in.

:thumbsup:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

11. K + R big time!

Especially important since violence against women is epidemic. Women and children need safe shelter and laws with teeth that actually protect them

Thank You, Mr. President!

[depakid]

12. Women are being evicted or denied housing because they were abused?

:shrug:

Anyone have more specifics on this?

[leftstreet]

13. Zero-tolerance policies will often get entire families/households booted

Including the assaulted person/s

Looks like they're trying to fix that a bit

[niyad]

15. google "women denied housing for abuse" and be prepared. this is ONE link:

(this was one link of approximately 2.3 MILLION hits)

Housing

The availability of safe and affordable housing is critical for victims of domestic violence trying to obtain safety. Housing is the basic foundation upon which victims escape violent, abusive relationships. It is also an essential element for obtaining and maintaining employment, child custody, economic self-sufficiency, and stability. Without adequate housing for themselves and their children, battered women may view remaining in or returning to an abusive relationship as their only viable option for survival.

While it is true that all people need access to safe and affordable housing, battered women face particular challenges to obtaining this goal. For battered women and their children, the home is often a dangerous place. In addition to the physical violence perpetrated by abusive partners, batterers may prevent victims from accessing or obtaining the financial resources to pay their housing costs. Abusers may keep their partners or ex-partners from working, advancing in their jobs, or attending school. Batterers may also attempt to control victims lives and to limit their options for independence by sabotaging their employment through stalking and harassing them at work, destroying work clothes, threatening co-workers, tampering with vehicles, or eliminating childcare options.

Moreover, abusive partners may create housing barriers by negatively influencing victims credit histories and housing references (Correia & Rubin, 2001). Battered women with additional barriers such as a lack of transportation, unclear immigration status, or substance abuse or mental health issues are further at risk of being unable to access or maintain the limited housing that does exist. Finally, low-income battered women encounter further financial barriers to securing affordable housing. These additional barriers are particularly relevant given the current housing market: the few affordable housing options that do exist give landlords enormous power to refuse to rent to anyone with a housing, employment, or credit history that is less than stellar, effectively screening out battered women based on the effects of domestic violence.

The subject of housing includes many facets: working to create additional housing, ensuring the affordability of existing housing, landlord-tenant law, fair housing/housing discrimination law, public housing policies and priorities, and more.

, , , ,

http://www.pcadv.org/Domestic-Violence-Information-Center/Housing/

[depakid]

16. This much I knew, but HUD deals with public housing assistence

So apparently there's some zero tolerance sort of rule that kicks the entire family out in the event of domestic abuse.

That's just appalling- and if that's been the case, this action is LONG overdue.

[bobbolink]

19. Yes, it is the case. And remains the case with housing not HUD.

Municipalities consider it too expensive to protect women and children from abusers.

After so many calls made to police, they are OUT.

[bobbolink]

18. Yes, municipal laws. It will still go on in all housing not HUD.

[defendandprotect]

14. Good move, Obama..... !! :)

[strategery blunder]

17. K&R

I'm going to have to send this off to family (I experienced DV when I was growing up). My immediate family certainly has no love for Republicans, but is politically apathetic.

Thanks for the good news! :)

[bobbolink]

20. another kick

Because it is important.