OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Solicitation | O OVW 2023 171508

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2023 171508

The OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), authorized under 34 U.S.C. 12351 and listed under CFDA 16.736. The core purpose is to help communities operate or expand transitional housing programs that combine safe, stable housing with victim-centered support services for people impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The program is built for survivors who are homeless or who otherwise need housing help because of the abuse, especially in situations where emergency shelter or other crisis services are unavailable or simply do not meet the survivor's needs.

A key feature of this opportunity is the housing timeframe it supports: projects are expected to provide 6 to 24 months of transitional housing assistance. Importantly, OVW frames transitional housing as more than a roof; it is paired with supportive services that help survivors stabilize, plan for safety, and work toward longer-term housing and independence. The program is meant to fill the gap between short-term crisis response and permanent housing stability, recognizing that many survivors cannot safely return to prior housing and may need time and structured support to rebuild.

The solicitation explains eligibility for services using two related ideas: "homeless" and "in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance." "Homeless" is defined broadly, consistent with federal statutory definitions, and includes people without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. That includes individuals staying temporarily with others due to loss of housing or economic hardship, people living in motels or hotels because they lack other adequate options, and individuals living in emergency or transitional shelters. It also covers people whose nighttime residence is not meant for regular sleeping accommodations, as well as certain children in unstable living situations, including migratory children who meet the relevant homelessness definition. The point of spelling this out is to make clear that homelessness is not limited to sleeping outside; many survivors experience hidden homelessness such as couch surfing or short-term motel stays.

The solicitation also emphasizes that a person does not have to meet the strict definition of homeless to qualify. Survivors may be considered "in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance" if they are losing housing or require housing help because of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. They also do not need to be actively fleeing to qualify. What matters is that the survivor's housing situation is no longer viable due to the abuse and that emergency shelter or crisis intervention options are unavailable or insufficient. The solicitation gives an example of a sexual assault survivor whose housing becomes untenable after the assault and who lacks access to sexual-assault-specific emergency shelter; that person could be immediately eligible for transitional housing assistance under this program.

In practical terms, the funding is intended to support organizations and governments that can provide transitional housing and the wraparound services survivors typically need to regain stability. While the solicitation text provided does not list every allowable cost or service model detail, OVW transitional housing grants generally focus on survivor-centered, trauma-informed services that help with safety planning, housing navigation, and stability supports. The solicitation also points applicants to OVW program performance measures and the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative, signaling that funded projects are expected to track outcomes and report performance data aligned with OVW goals.

One of the major updates highlighted is tied to the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022). VAWA 2022 revised the definition of victim services to explicitly include legal assistance, which broadens the range of services VAWA-funded programs can support. In other words, transitional housing programs funded under this solicitation can more clearly include comprehensive legal assistance by an attorney as part of their victim services approach, reflecting how legal needs (protective orders, custody, immigration relief, housing rights, and related matters) often directly affect a survivor's ability to remain safe and housed.

The opportunity outlines key administrative details as well. It is offered as a grant (not a cooperative agreement), with an award ceiling of $550,000 and an expectation of about 80 awards. The funding opportunity number is O-OVW-2023-171508. The posting date is February 17, 2023, with an original closing date of April 17, 2023. The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and community-based entities: state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); and other entities as clarified in the solicitation's additional eligibility language. This broad eligibility is designed to accommodate the reality that transitional housing and victim services are delivered through many local structures, including culturally specific organizations, tribal programs, and community nonprofits, often in partnership with local government.

Finally, the solicitation notes a specific budgeting flexibility change: applicants that propose to use Transitional Housing Program grant funds for support services only may now submit budgets up to $400,000 for the 36-month period. This is an important option for communities where the housing component may be provided through other funding streams or partnerships, while OVW funds focus on the intensive services that keep survivors safe and help them secure longer-term housing.

• The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Solicitation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.736.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 17, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $550,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O OVW 2023 171508

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