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 U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $441,418 Project Grant under the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (CFDA 16.736) to Women Aware, Inc.'s Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center Division in Paducah, Kentucky. This 3-year grant will fund transitional housing and comprehensive support services, including case management, safety planning, childcare, transportation, career and financial counseling, job training, education assistance, and housing advocacy, to help survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking secure permanent housing and achieve economic self-sufficiency. The project will collaborate with the Cornerstone of Hope, Inc. to provide these holistic, victim-centered services to clients for 6-24 months.

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, as defined by 34 U.S.C. 12473(6), 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. 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. The women aware, INC., is a non-profit organization located in paducah, kentucky a rural region of the state. The women aware, INC., will collaborate with its 1 partner, the cornerstone of hope, INC. To provide a holistic, victim-centered and multidisciplinary approach to transitional housing needs in the community. This new project will use funds to provide only 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. Services offered will focus on: expanding economic justice. The grant activities will be tailored to meet the needs of the survivors. The range of optional support services includes: case management, safety planning, childcare, transportation, career counseling, financial and credit counseling, individual counseling, job training, education attainment, and housing advocacy. The project will also hire 3 additional staff members to implement the program and provide follow-up services for at least 3 months once permanent housing is secured.