Choices For Victims Of Domestic Violence

ESTABLISHED IN 1977, CHOICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOCUSED SHELTER IN FRANKLIN COUNTY PROVIDING SAFE HAVEN AND A 24-HOUR CRISIS AND INFORMATION HOTLINE. CHOICES ALSO OFFERS COUNSELING SERVICES AND SUPPORT GROUPS, LEGAL AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EDUCATION. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, CHOICES WILL USE A CASE MANAGEMENT APPROACH. THE CASE MANAGERS WILL PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY AND/OR EMOTIONALLY ABUSED BY INTIMATE PARTNERS. ALSO, CHILDCARE WORKERS WILL PROVIDE ON-SITE, SHORT-TERM CHILDCARE FOR RESIDENTS WHILE THEY ARE IN THE FACILITY. THIS ENSURES THAT PARENTS DO NOT HAVE TO MEET WITH CASE MANAGERS AND OTHER SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS WITH THEIR CHILDREN PRESENT. THE SHELTER ADVOCATES HAVE THE DUAL ROLE OF ANSWERING THE CHOICES HOTLINE AND SUPPORTING ALL RESIDENTS THROUGH THE DAILY CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITY LIVING WHILE THE YOUTH ADVOCATE SUPPORTS PARENTS AND YOUTH RESIDENTS OF THE SHELTER BY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE ABOUT SCHOOL, DAY CARE AND SUMMER ACTIVITY OPTIONS, ENROLLMENT AND TRANSPORTATION.

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 AID MINORS, ADULTS, AND THEIR DEPENDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS, AS DEFINED BY 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, AND FOR WHOM EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES OR OTHER CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE UNAVAILABLE OR INSUFFICIENT. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS HOLISTIC, SURVIVOR-CENTERED APPROACHES TO PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES DESIGNED TO ENABLE A MINOR, AN ADULT, OR A DEPENDENT OF SUCH MINOR OR ADULT LOCATE AND SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING, SECURE EMPLOYMENT, AND INTEGRATE INTO A COMMUNITY. CHOICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, AN URBAN REGION OF THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE 42 SCATTERED SITE RESIDENCES FOR 42 SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PRIVATE LANDLORD HOUSING UNITS. CHOICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILL COLLABORATE WITH ITS PARTNER, LSS FAITH MISSION, TO PROVIDE A HOLISTIC, VICTIM-CENTERED, AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. 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 GRANT ACTIVITIES WILL BE TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SURVIVORS. THE RANGE OF OPTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, SAFETY PLANNING, LEGAL ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, PEER SUPPORT AND EDUCATION GROUPS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND HOUSING ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO HIRE 1 ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM