Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill would make survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking a protected class under the Fair Housing Act, giving them the same legal protections against housing discrimination that already exist for race, religion, sex, and national origin.
• Survivors currently face housing discrimination when landlords deny them apartments because of past protective orders, stays in domestic violence shelters, or any evidence of prior abuse. This bill would make such practices illegal under federal law.
• The bill specifically targets coercion by landlords, adding protections against those who pressure vulnerable tenants for sex in exchange for rent or to avoid eviction. It amends federal intimidation laws to cover coercion alongside threats of force.
• The law would also allow the government and nonprofits to create housing programs designed specifically for survivors without running afoul of anti-discrimination rules, ensuring that shelters and survivor-focused housing can continue to operate.
• The bill's findings highlight that intimate partner violence affects more than 10 million people annually and that survivors who become homeless face heightened risk of further violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking.