Program Brief
INTRODUCTION
The OVW Transitional Housing Assistance Program Grant for Victims of Domestic
Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault Program (Transitional
Housing Assistance Program) focuses on a holistic, victim-centered approach
to provide transitional housing services that move individuals into permanent
housing. Grants made under this grant program support programs
that provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, and stalking who are in need of transitional housing,
short-term housing assistance, and related support services. It
is critical that successful transitional housing programs provide a wide
range of flexible and optional services that reflect the differences
and individual needs of victims and that allows victims to choose the
course of action that is best for them. Transitional housing programs
may offer individualized services such as counseling, support groups,
safety planning, and advocacy services as well as practical services
such as licensed child care, employment services, transportation vouchers,
telephones, and referrals to other agencies. Trained staff and
case managers may also be available to work with clients to help them
determine and reach their goals.
SCOPE OF PROGRAM
Program Purpose Areas
Under 42 U.S.C. § 13975, grants under this program support programs
to provide assistance to individuals who are homeless or in need of transitional
housing or other housing assistance as a result of fleeing a situation of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and for
whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are
unavailable or insufficient.
Grants may be used for programs that provide:
- transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of
newly developed or existing transitional housing;
- short-term housing assistance,
including rental or utilities payments assistance and assistance with
related expenses such as payment of security deposits and other costs
incidental to relocation to transitional housing; and
- support services
designed to enable individuals who are fleeing domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, or stalking to locate and secure permanent
housing and integrate into a community by providing those individuals
with services such as transportation, counseling, child care services,
case management, employment counseling, and other assistance.
OVW is interested in programs that provide a broad range of holistic,
victim-centered transitional housing services that move individuals to
permanent housing, including transportation, counseling, child care services,
case management, and employment counseling.
Program Limitations
Grant funds for legal services will be
limited to those legal services that are necessary to assist a victim of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking locate and
secure permanent housing, and to integrate into a community, such as legal
services regarding housing, protection orders, and limited immigration matters.
Funds under this grant program may not be used for comprehensive, long-term
legal assistance.
- Grant funds may not be used for certain activities. Prohibited activities
include but are not limited to civil legal assistance for the following:
- Alleged batterers or, in the case of mutual arrest, the primary aggressor;
- Law reform initiatives, including but not limited to appellate litigation;
- Tort cases;
- Child sexual abuse cases;
- Cases involving the child protection system;
- Criminal defense of victims charged with crimes; and
- Victim service agency employee cases.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Under
42 U.S.C. § 13975(a),
Transitional Housing Assistance Program grants may be awarded to States,
units of government, Indian tribes, and other organizations,
including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service providers,
domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental
organizations, or community-based and culturally specific organizations, that
have a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
For
more information about the Transitional Housing Assistance Program,
please contact:
Office
on Violence Against Women (OVW)
800 K Street, N.W., Suite 920
Washington, D.C. 20530
Phone: 202-307-6026
Fax: 202-307-3911
TTY: 202-307-2277
Website: www.usdoj.gov/ovw |
