Transitional Housing/ VAW Funds Available - Recovery Act

Office on Violence Against Women Makes Available $43 Million in Recovery Act Funds For Transitional Housing Assistance
WASHINGTON, March 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) announced that it is now accepting applications for $43 million in OVW Recovery Act Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking or Sexual Assault Program. Grants will support projects that 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.
"These Recovery Act funds will support victims of violence while helping to create and safeguard jobs for victims and victim advocates," said OVW's Acting Director Catherine Pierce. "Pumping new life into our transitional housing program will both stimulate our economy and improve our communities."
Grants will be awarded for up to $500,000 for transitional housing programs that meet the goals of the Recovery Act through employing victim advocates and other personnel to assist victims, renovating housing for victims, offering additional housing units, and increasing job opportunities for victims through training, education, and other support services. The award period for these grants is 24-36 months and the solicitation is available at http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/recovery.htm.
By statute, eligible entities for this program are states, units of local government, Indian tribes, other organizations, including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service providers, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, faith-based and community organizations, and culturally specific organizations that have a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.
The Office on Violence Against Women provides leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to overseeing 18 federal grant programs, OVW often undertakes initiatives in response to areas of special need, dedicating resources to develop enhancements in areas requiring particular attention or in communities facing particularly acute challenges.
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice