GRAND JUNCTION — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser recently reminded landlords across the state, including in Mesa County, about existing housing protections for domestic violence survivors. The reminder comes more than a year after Colorado expanded these housing protections, known as HB25-1168, and follows reports received by the state indicating that some landlords may not be adhering to the law.
For survivors of domestic violence, leaving an abusive environment often involves the immediate challenge of finding new, safe housing for themselves and their children. State law HB25-1168 offers several vital protections to address these challenges, which Attorney General Weiser highlighted in his recent statement.
Under this law, if domestic violence or abuse leads a tenant to miss or make a late rent payment, and they provide the necessary documentation, landlords are required to offer a repayment plan. This provision aims to prevent eviction for unpaid rent in such circumstances. The law also empowers survivors with options to end a lease early, change their locks for increased security, and take other essential safety precautions to protect themselves and their families.
Scott Barks, Executive Director at the Western Slope Center for Children, underscored the profound difficulties survivors face. He noted that housing is consistently a significant problem for these victims, who, along with their children, often grapple with a sense of "betrayal within their home environment" and a subsequent lack of safety. Barks also pointed out that when domestic violence occurs, multiple other crime types frequently co-occur. He stated that Colorado sees a higher rate of domestic violence cases reported through child advocacy centers, attributing this to the state's more stringent charging capabilities for domestic violence offenders compared to other states, rather than a higher incidence of abuse.
Even when children are not directly victimized, experts like Barks emphasize that they are still profoundly affected by the violence they witness or hear in the home. Barks noted a common misconception that if a child didn't directly see the abuse, it doesn't affect them. However, trends suggest that children who even hear abuse through walls can experience lasting impacts that carry into their adult relationships.
For these reasons, the Western Slope Center for Children stresses the critical importance of connecting families with support services and safe housing. The center acknowledges its gratitude for community partners, specifically naming Latimer House as the primary partner for referrals to safe housing options in the area.
Survivors and their children in Mesa County do not have to navigate this complex process alone. The Western Slope Center for Children stated that it provides its own resources and maintains a strong network of partnerships with other local nonprofits to meet the needs of families facing domestic violence.
The Attorney General's office clarifies that tenants can use various forms of documentation to access these legal protections. Acceptable documents include a police report, a protection order, a self-attestation affidavit, or a letter from a qualified third party. The AG's office encourages any tenants who believe their rights under HB25-1168 are not being respected to report their concerns.
