CMS has received confirmation from the HUD Office of Multifamily Housing that properties should begin using the newly updated VAWA forms published on March 7, 2025. These new forms are now available on HUDCLIPS and bear an OMB expiration date of January 31, 2028.

• Form HUD-5380 – Notice of Occupancy Rights
• Form HUD-5382 – Certification of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking

Remember, these documents must be customized for each property. CMS will continue to stay in touch with HUD for updated guidance from the Office of Multifamily Housing, and will pass along that information to our partners as it becomes available.

If you have questions about the new VAWA forms, please contact HUD’s Office on Gender-Based Violence (OGBV) at ogbv@hud.gov and your local HUD Field Office contact.

What is VAWA and How it is Used

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law providing crucial housing protections for individuals applying for or residing in federally subsidized units who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The primary goal of VAWA is to enhance safety for these individuals and mitigate their risk of homelessness. CMS is a nationwide provider of services for the affordable housing industry, overseeing HUD-subsidized properties and ensuring compliance with complex program requirements, including those related to VAWA.

VAWA offers a range of protections to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, collectively referred to as “VAWA violence/abuse”. These protections are available regardless of whether the survivor is married to, related to, or living with the perpetrator, or how long ago the violence occurred.

Housing providers, including property owners and management agents, have specific responsibilities for implementing VAWA:

• They must distribute HUD’s Notice of VAWA Housing Rights (Form HUD-5380) and the HUD VAWA Self-certification Form (Form HUD-5382) to tenants at move-in, with any adverse action notices, when denying admission to a HUD-subsidized unit or program, and when issuing a notice of eviction or termination.
• These forms, along with other HUD VAWA resources, must be readily available to residents to ensure they understand their rights.
• The sources indicate that VAWA applies to numerous HUD programs, including Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 202, Section 811, HOPWA, HOME, Emergency Solutions Grants, and Continuum of Care programs, among others.

For more about the Violence Against Women Act visit: https://www.hud.gov/vawa