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 Gulf Coast Center For Nonviolence, Inc., a non-profit organization in Biloxi, Mississippi, received a $550,000 award on Oct 1, 2023 under the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (CFDA 16.736). This funding will enable the organization to provide 18 scattered-site transitional housing units and comprehensive support services for up to 24 months to assist survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance. Services offered include rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, counseling, childcare, transportation, workforce development, legal aid, and housing advocacy. The organization will collaborate with six local partners to deliver a holistic, victim-centered approach to transitional housing and support survivors in securing permanent housing and economic self-sufficiency.

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 gulf coast center for nonviolence incorporated is a non-profit organization located in biloxi, MS, an urban region of the state. The organization will provide 18 scattered site residences for 18 survivors and their families through private landlord housing units. The gulf coast center for nonviolence will collaborate with its six partners, program believe, boat people SOS, open doors homeless coalition, northcutt legal clinic, hope federal credit unit, and the biloxi housing authority to provide a holistic, victim-centered, and multidisciplinary approach to transitional housing needs in the community. This new project will use funds to provide both housing 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, as well as meeting the needs of the underserved (hispanic and vietnamese) populations in the region. 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, individual and group counseling, parenting classes, childcare, life skill classes, food assistance, transportation, education programs, specialized workforce development training, civil and criminal legal services and advocacy, financial planning, budgeting, financial literacy, immigration assistance and advocacy, ESL classes, and housing advocacy. The project will hire one full time, and four part time staff members to implement the program and provide follow-up services for at 3 months once permanent housing is secured.