---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 12472"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "12472"
heading: "Purpose"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/12472"
units:
  - "Subtitle I — Comprehensive Acts"
  - "Chapter 121 — Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
  - "Subchapter III — Violence Against Women"
  - "Part L — Addressing the Housing Needs of Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking"
  - "Subpart 1 — grant programs"
---

# §12472. Purpose


The purpose of this subpart is to reduce [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12), [dating violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-11), [sexual assault](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-35), and [stalking](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-36), and to prevent homelessness by—

- (1) protecting the safety of victims of [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12), [dating violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-11), [sexual assault](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-35), and [stalking](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-36) who reside in [homeless](/usc/34/12473.md?p=6) shelters, [public housing](/usc/34/12473.md?p=4), [assisted housing](/usc/34/12473.md?p=1), [tribally designated housing](/usc/34/12473.md?p=8), or other emergency, transitional, permanent, or affordable housing, and ensuring that such victims have meaningful access to the criminal justice system without jeopardizing such housing;
- (2) creating long-term housing solutions that develop communities and provide sustainable living solutions for victims of [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12), [dating violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-11), [sexual assault](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-35), and [stalking](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-36);
- (3) building collaborations among [victim service providers](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-50), [homeless service providers](/usc/34/12473.md?p=7), housing providers, and housing agencies to provide appropriate [services](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-51), interventions, and training to address the housing needs of victims of [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12), [dating violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-11), [sexual assault](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-35), and [stalking](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-36); and
- (4) enabling public and [assisted housing](/usc/34/12473.md?p=1) agencies, [tribally designated housing entities](/usc/34/12473.md?p=9), private landlords, property management companies, and other housing providers and agencies to respond appropriately to [domestic violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-12), [dating violence](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-11), [sexual assault](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-35), and [stalking](/usc/34/12291.md?p=a-36), while maintaining a safe environment for all housing residents.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, § 41402, as added Pub. L. 109–162, title VI, § 601, Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 3031; amended Pub. L. 113–4, title VI, § 601(a)(2), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 102.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 14043e–1 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2013—Pub. L. 113–4 substituted “subpart” for “part” in introductory provisions.