Housing Policy and Local Ordinances

The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

Women's Rights issue image

What's at Stake

Domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, and other forms of gender-based violence deprive people of their fundamental ability to live with dignity. Women and girls experience domestic violence and sexual assault at alarming rates. Governments, institutions, laws, and policies contribute to the systematic devaluation of the lives and safety of women and girls by failing to respond to gender-based violence and discriminating against those who have experienced abuse and violence.

Victims of gender-based violence too often face discrimination in housing, such as evictions or housing denials based on the violence they have experienced or sexual harassment by landlords and housing managers. Many local governments undermine both the safety and housing stability of victims of domestic violence when they enact local ordinances that penalize property owners and tenants when police respond to instances of domestic violence at a property.

Have you faced discrimination because you experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment or assault, or stalking? Tell us your story.

Domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, and other forms of gender-based violence deprive people of their fundamental ability to live with dignity. Women and girls experience domestic violence and sexual assault at alarming rates. Governments, institutions, laws, and policies contribute to the systematic devaluation of the lives and safety of women and girls by failing to respond to gender-based violence and discriminating against those who have experienced abuse and violence.

Victims of gender-based violence too often face discrimination in housing, such as evictions or housing denials based on the violence they have experienced or sexual harassment by landlords and housing managers. Many local governments undermine both the safety and housing stability of victims of domestic violence when they enact local ordinances that penalize property owners and tenants when police respond to instances of domestic violence at a property.

Have you faced discrimination because you experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment or assault, or stalking? Tell us your story.

{{ showFullContent ? 'Hide more content' : 'Expand to read more' }}
Support our on-going litigation and advocacy work