We are a Tulane University class working with the Lousiana Fair Housing Action Center to demand that Louisiana State Legislators expand and update Act 456. 

Too many Louisianians are left without adequate protection of their housing rights due to domestic violence, and laws currently in place prioritize the interests of landlords over the needs of survivors.

Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and the need for safe and affordable housing is one of the most commonly reported concerns for survivors of domestic abuse across the nation. Among mothers with children experiencing homelessness, more than 80% had previously experienced domestic violence

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem, with many domestic violence victims having secured safe housing away from their abusers, only to lose their jobs and face eviction as a result of the pandemic.

It is time for a new, better law to protect survivors of intimate partner violence from eviction.