The Legal Rights of Domestic Violence Victims

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and their families. The City Bar Justice Center (CBJC) can attest to this figure, as 30% of clients assisted by the Legal Clinic for the Homeless have been victims of or affected by domestic violence.

Attorney General Schneiderman has issued a helpful new brochure—“Victims of Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights!”— to inform domestic violence victims and survivors about their legal protections.

In the announcement of the brochure, the Attorney General stated, “Protecting New Yorkers from domestic violence – and the housing and job discrimination that victims often face in the wake of such abuse – is a key part to stopping the cycle of violence in our state and our nation.”

The brochure includes information on fair treatment in the workplace and rights to fair housing, such as the following guidance:

• Under New York State’s Human Rights Law, it is unlawful to discriminate against someone because that person is a victim of domestic violence.
• It is illegal for a landlord to refuse the federally subsidized housing vouchers of domestic violence victims.

You can download the “Victims of Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights!” brochure here.

CBJC offers the following additional advice and resources for victims of domestic violence:

• If you are in need of immediate help, please call 911.

• If you are an immigrant survivor of domestic violence, child abuse, trafficking or sexual assault, CBJC’s Immigrant Women and Children Project (IWC) may be able to help. IWC assists clients with the preparation of immigration applications, including special immigration relief under the Violence Against Women Act or U & T nonimmigrant status. Contact the IWC at (212) 382-4711.

• CBJC’s Legal Hotline offers legal information, advice and referrals to low-income New Yorkers on a range of civil legal issues, including domestic violence. The Legal Hotline phone number is (212) 626-7383.

• The New York City Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-621-HOPE, or by calling 311 if you are in New York City.