How Arizona landlords can help end domestic violence and sex trafficking
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Dozens of Phoenix landlords and apartment managers gathered last month to learn how to support victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking who live in their complexes.
Why it matters: These types of crimes can go unnoticed because they often occur behind closed doors. But the proximity of apartments allows observers to offer potentially life-saving support to victims.
- Arizona consistently ranks as one of the states with the highest rates of women murdered by men, according to the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. At least 101 residents were killed during a domestic dispute last year.
Zoom in: The coalition's survivor engagement coordinator, Daniela Muñoz Alvarez, told landlords that if they hear or witness domestic violence, or if neighbors voice concerns, they should:
- Try to talk to the victim when the perpetrator is away.
- Tell the victim what they heard or saw.
- Offer to connect them with resources such as shelters or support agencies.
- Inform them they have a legal right to break their lease without punishment in cases of domestic violence.
Be smart: Neighbors or apartment staff should not try to intervene in an ongoing situation or call out a perpetrator. It will likely cause more issues for the victim and can be dangerous, Alvarez and Phoenix Police detective Eric Nash said.
- "My No. 1 advice to tenants, employees and staff is to call 911. We all feel a need to help each other or protect each other, but domestic violence is one of the most violent and dangerous scenarios that police officers deal with," Nash said.
Meanwhile, Tenisha Brown of Love146 encouraged property managers to also look for and document signs of human trafficking, including:
- One person controlling when another tenant can leave the apartment.
- Many people going in and out of a unit.
- Sexually explicit content circulating around the complex.
- Tenants appearing malnourished or abused.
The other side: While landlords can be an important ally in the fight against these types of crimes, they can also perpetuate violence by evicting victims, Alvarez said.
- Property managers often point to "crime-free" ordinances in cities that require them to evict tenants when a crime is committed on the property.
- Yes, but: Alvarez said landlords should try to work around these rules to ensure the victim of a crime is not displaced. Or at the very least, they should connect the victim with a shelter or other support so they can find new housing.
The bottom line: "This is a community issue and we all have a responsibility to be informed ... and to be equipped to step in and be able to create a positive impact in somebody's life," Alvarez said.