Victims of Abuse Should be Allowed to Move

Each year, thousands of Wisconsin families are affected by domestic violence.  In order for these victims to escape these violent situations, they are often forced to move.  Unfortunately, under current Wisconsin law, landlords are not required to allow tenants that are victims of abuse or stalking to terminate their leases if they are in danger.  This week the State Senate passed Senate Bill 269 to change the law. The bill must move through the Assembly and be signed by the Governor to become law.

The statistics on domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking are staggering.  The FBI estimates a woman is beaten in our country every 15 seconds.  Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by their partner and over 1 million men and women are the victims of stalking every year. 

As many of these victims find the strength to leave these violent situations, they find themselves facing difficult economic barriers.  The prospect of paying a large fine to break a housing lease agreement or paying rent on two apartments often forces victims to choose between financial security and escaping a dangerous situation.

Fortunately, the State Senate passed a bill this week with a unanimous vote that would eliminate the need for victims to make this difficult decision.  The successful passage of The Safe Housing Act, SB 269, will improve the safety for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  The bill will allow victims to terminate leases if they are in imminent danger and have legal documentation, such as a domestic abuse injunction.  It will also void leases that financially punish tenants for seeking the help of law enforcement.

About 75 percent of rape and sexual assault victims know their attacker.  Only about a quarter of these rapes and assaults are reported to the police.  If these victims do not feel comfortable making a criminal complaint, the least we can do is make sure they can move to a new location so their attackers no longer know where they live.

Nine states have already enacted laws to ensure that these victims can be relieved of their lease obligations. The time has come for the state of Wisconsin to join these states in standing up for abuse victims and ensuring them a safe escape from violence.

I hope the Assembly will bring SB 269 to the floor for a vote this session. By passing this bill the Assembly can ensure the protection of domestic violence victims.  It is my hope that after the passage of this legislation, victims will no longer remain in dangerous situations simply because they cannot afford to leave.

For more information on the Safe Housing Act, SB 269 contact Senator Erpenbach at 608-266-6670 or sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov