Victims of Family Violence Priority Placement Policy Date issued: May 1993 Definition Family violence is defined as including spousal/partner, child and elder abuse, and relates to physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse and neglect. Policy Victims of family violence will be given absolute priority for placement in provincially administered Social Housing. This includes units managed on behalf of the Province of Prince Edward Island by local Housing Authorities. Victims of family violence who are presently residing in units administered by the Community and Residential Services Division will be given absolute priority for transfer when a new unit becomes available. Privacy Any document relating to family violence will be maintained in the strictest privacy. Only the designated Regional Housing Official, appointed by the Regional Directors of the Community and Residential Services Division, will be permitted to obtain information relevant to the assessment of family violence. The designated Regional Housing Official will maintain absolute control over all documentation relating to family violence. Documentation regarding family violence is not to be placed on the tenant file under any circumstances. Advocate The applicant for Priority Placement can be accompanied by an advocate/third party when meeting with the designated Regional Housing Official. .Eligibility To be eligible for Priority Placement in provincially administered Social Housing, conditions described in sub-section A, B, and C must be met. One of the following conditions must apply: the applicant is residing in a family violence home situation; OR the applicant has sought temporary refuge with friends or relatives because of family violence or fear of family violence; OR the applicant has moved into an emergency or transitional facility because of family violence of fear of family violence. The applicant's acknowledgement that the family composition will not include the abuser at anytime during the Priority Placement assessment process or at the time of placement in a housing unit. All other standard eligibility criteria apply with the exception of the point scoring. There is no requirement to point score on Priority Placement applications. Application The applicant completes a standard program application form. Where family violence is reported, the designated Regional Housing Official explains the Priority Placement Policy to the applicant. The designated Regional Housing Official reviews the Victims of Family Violence Housing Eligibility Verification Form with the applicant. Priority Placement status is applied immediately to the application following documented verification of family violence. .Verification Verification of family violence must be obtained from at least one professional person knowledgeable of the applicant's situation,. This includes, but is not limited to, a: medical doctor social worker shelter worker lawyer . law enforcement officer victim services worker public health nurse case worker designated housing official . Verification Form Following the applicant's authorization, the Verification Form is to be completed buy the person named b the applicant to be knowledgeable of the applicant's family violence situation. Completion of the Verification Form will serve as the supporting documentation for Priority Placement. The completed form is to be retained by the designated Regional Housing Official. Priority Status When verification of family violence has been documented, the designated Regional Housing Official will forward the standard program application form to the appropriate Selection Committee (e.g. Housing Authority Board, Seniors Selection Committee). The Priority Placement status will be noted on the application form. Designated Contact Person The designated Regional Housing Official will be the contact person for the Priority Placement applicant. When applicable, the designated Regional Housing Official will maintain contact with: Local Housing Authorities External Agencies involved with the applicant for the purpose of completing the verification for family violence and subsequent follow-up to accommodation placement. Tenant Selection Priority Placement applicants will be offered the first available accommodation unit. Based on the household size and family composition (age and sex of children), the local Housing Authority will undertake to match family need with accommodation availability. However, flexibility will be shown in this regard. For example, in an interim period, a family composition requiring a two bedroom unit could be offered a one bedroom or a three bedroom unit. The applicant has the right to refuse the interim arrangement without it affecting their priority placement status. The designated Regional Housing Official is responsible for notifying the Priority Placement applicant of their selection into a local housing unit; and available unit size. The designated Regional Housing Official and/or a third party shall accompany the applicant to view the available housing unit. Transfer A current tenant, residing in a unit administered by the Community and Residential Services Division and a victim of family violence, is eligible for a priority placement transfer. The designated Regional Housing Official is to be notified immediately of a tenant's transfer request. The preceding policy procedures will apply to transfer requests.