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Advocates from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and New Hampshire Legal Assistance played key roles in collaborating with landlord groups to discuss different scenarios and negotiate a detailed final bill which, they believe, has a very clear focus on ensuring the safety of survivors. The new protections are now embedded in New Hampshire’s tenants’ rights statute, which advocates hope will lead to clear and consistent enforcement across the court system.
As summarized in NLIHC’s Advocates’ Guide, complex relationships exist between housing insecurity, domestic and gender-based violence, and power. “There are many reasons a survivor may need to break their lease to maintain their safety,” said Rachel Duffy, the housing and economic justice manager for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “Everyday crisis center advocates and legal representatives across the state work with survivors who need support in fleeing violence or creating security within their homes. Advocates and attorneys know and understand that when housing survivors, there are exceptional considerations to be made including safety and confidentiality.” National Low Income Housing Coalition June 10, 2024 After the bill passed the House on a voice vote, the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence came out against it, along with Attorney General John Formella, some local police chiefs, the state’s forensic lab and the state’s sexual assault examiner program.
They argued that as written, it potentially could have prevented victims from accessing their own bill of rights and created situations where evidence collected from rape kits wouldn't be admissible in court. A national group, Rise Now, accused the bill's opponents of trying to deny more rights to victims. "We are extremely disappointed that a DC-based group stepped into New Hampshire to advocate for amending a state law without first consulting with state legal experts on sexual violence," said Coalition Director of Public Affairs, Amanda Grady Sexton. "As a result, this group ended up pushing for bill language that would have had a devastating effect on sexual assault survivors throughout our state. This is not the way to engage in state-level advocacy". Union Leader June 1, 2024 Anyone convicted of crimes against a child or certain violent felonies, including murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, kidnapping, arson, robbery, felonious sexual assault, and human trafficking, will be unable to change their name unless they can demonstrate the necessity of doing so.
The coalition’s director of public affairs, Amanda Grady Sexton, said it was an honor to support the survivors who advocated for HB 1003. She thanked lawmakers for listening to their stories, and thanked Sununu for signing the legislation, which she said adds important safeguards “to ensure violent offenders can’t simply erase their past and escape accountability through a name change.” Boston Globe May 31, 2024 |
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The 12 member programs of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence provide services to all victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, stalking, and child abuse.
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Funding for this website was provided by The Corporate Fund.
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
PO Box 353, Concord, NH 03302-0353
(603) 224-8893
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