Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center Inc

MERRIMACK VALLEY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE REDUCTION TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM MODEL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE PREVENTION DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE

THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 12351), HAS AS ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE THE PROVISION OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO AID MINORS, ADULTS, AND THEIR DEPENDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS (AS DEFINED IN 34 U.S.C. 12473(6)) OR IN NEED OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR OTHER HOUSING ASSISTANCE AS A RESULT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS FOR WHOM EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES OR OTHER CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE UNAVAILABLE OR INSUFFICIENT. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS VICTIM-CENTERED APPROACHES TO PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, SHORT-TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND VOLUNTARY SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST WITH LOCATING AND SECURING PERMANENT HOUSING, OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND INTEGRATING INTO A COMMUNITY. JEANNE GEIGER CRISIS CENTER, INC, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN NEWBURYPORT, MA, WILL IMPLEMENT THE MERRIMACK VALLEY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM THROUGH THE PROVISION OF VICTIM-CENTERED APPROACHES TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING NEEDS, IN COLLABORATION WITH YWCA OF GREATER NEWBURYPORT. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TWENTY-ONE PRIVATE LANDLORD, SCATTERED SITE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING RESIDENCES FOR TWENTY-ONE SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN BOTH URBAN AND SUBURBAN REGIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS. THIS CONTINUATION PROJECT WILL USE FUNDS TO PROVIDE BOTH HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO MOVE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING WHO ARE HOMELESS OR IN NEED OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE PROJECT WILL ASSIST CLIENTS FOR AN ANTICIPATED MINIMUM OF 6 MONTHS AND A MAXIMUM LENGTH OF 24 MONTHS. THE RANGE OF OPTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES HOUSING ADVOCACY, VICTIM ADVOCACY, FINANCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, AND LEGAL ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL RETAIN TWO DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND STALKING.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING PROGRAM SUPPORTS VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING, ALONGSIDE OTHER VICTIM SERVICES. FLEXIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS IN ACHIEVING SAFETY, STABILITY, AND HEALING BY PAYING FOR NECESSITIES THAT ARE NOT EASILY MET BY TRADITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO MEET SELF-IDENTIFIED NEEDS QUICKLY. RECIPIENTS UNDER THIS NEW PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FLEXIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT SURVIVOR-IDENTIFIED NEEDS THAT COULD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, SUPPORT FOR RENT, SECURITY DEPOSITS, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, CHILDREN'S NEEDS, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH EXPENSES, EDUCATION EXPENSES, DEBT, AND/OR OTHER EXPENSES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A SURVIVOR'S LONG-TERM SAFETY, WELL-BEING, INDEPENDENCE, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.

THE GRANTS TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, AND SEX TRAFFICKING AGAINST CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM SUPPORTS COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS THAT DEVELOP OR EXPAND PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RESPONSE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, AND SEX TRAFFICKING, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR THEIR NON-ABUSING PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND LEGAL GUARDIANS. WITH THIS FUNDING, THE JEANNE GEIGER CRISIS CENTER, INC. (JGCC)WILL IMPLEMENT THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO DOMESTIC AND DATING VIOLENCE PROJECT AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGES14-19 IN LAWRENCE, MA. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAWRENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YWCA OF NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, AND MERRIMACK VALLEY BLACK AND BROWN VOICES, JGCC WILL: 1) HIRE AND TRAIN ADVOCATES TO PROVIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RESOURCES TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY; 2) REVIEW SCHOOL POLICIES AND PRACTICES AROUND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE/ACCESSIBILITY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT; 3) PROVIDE A VARIETY OF PREVENTION PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES BYSTANDER TRAINING; A HEALTHY MASCULINITY PROGRAM; HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND TRAINING; AND, GIRLS INC. PROGRAMMING; 4) IMPLEMENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR SCHOOL STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT STUDENTS IMPACTED BY GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE; AND 5) PROVIDE TRAINING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS. THE PROJECT PERIOD FOR THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.

THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. § 12351. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING WHO ARE HOMELESS, OR IN NEED OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR OTHER HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AS A RESULT OF THEIR VICTIMIZATION, AND FOR WHOM EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES OR OTHER CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE UNAVAILABLE OR INSUFFICIENT. A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL IS ONE WHO LACKS A FIXED, REGULAR, AND ADEQUATE NIGHTTIME RESIDENCE, AND INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SHARING THE HOUSING OF OTHER PERSONS DUE TO LOSS OF HOUSING, ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, OR A SIMILAR REASON. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS HOLISTIC, SURVIVOR-CENTERED APPROACHES TO PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT MOVE INDIVIDUALS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND HELP THEM SECURE EMPLOYMENT AND INTEGRATE INTO A COMMUNITY. PROJECTS MUST PROVIDE: 1) TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND 2) SUPPORT SERVICES (TO INCLUDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES) TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING MODELS INCLUDE: COMMUNAL/SHARED FAMILY LIVING SPACES, CLUSTERED/INDIVIDUAL FAMILY CO-LOCATED SPACES AND SCATTERED SITE/INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SPACES INDEPENDENTLY LOCATED. PROJECTS MUST OFFER A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS AND MAXIMUM 24 MONTHS OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE. SUPPORT SERVICES CAN BE A WIDE RANGE OF SURVIVOR-CENTERED VOLUNTARY SERVICES FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING SURVIVORS AND ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, RACE, ETHNICITY AND SPECIAL NEEDS (SUCH AS LANGUAGE BARRIERS, DISABILITIES, ALIENAGE STATUS, OR AGE). EXAMPLES OF SURVIVOR-CENTERED VOLUNTARY SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE: RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, SAFETY PLANNING, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, CAREER COUNSELING, FINANCIAL AND CREDIT COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION ATTAINMENT, LIMITED LEGAL ASSISTANCE (REGARDING HOUSING, PROTECTION ORDERS, AND LIMITED IMMIGRATION MATTERS THAT AFFECT A VICTIM’S ABILITY TO OBTAIN HOUSING), AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A COMPENSATED PARTNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF SERVICE. ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED, SURVIVOR-CENTERED VOLUNTARY FOLLOW-UP SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO SURVIVORS FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS AND A MAXIMUM OF 12 MONTHS.

THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM MODEL NETWORK TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

MERRIMACK VALLEY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT