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's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $593,750 Project Grant under the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault program (CFDA 16.736) to Empowering Pacific Island Communities, Inc. (EPIC), a non-profit organization located in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The grant will fund EPIC's provision of 30 scattered-site transitional housing units and comprehensive support services for a minimum of 6 months and up to 24 months for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance. EPIC will collaborate with its partners, Pacific Youth and Community Development and the American Samoa Workforce Development Board, to deliver a holistic, victim-centered approach that includes rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, childcare, transportation, career counseling, financial counseling, support groups, counseling, job training, education attainment, legal assistance, and housing advocacy. The project aims to help survivors secure permanent housing, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and successfully reintegrate into their communities.

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. Empowering pacific island communities is a non-profit organization located in pago pago, american samoa, a rural region of the territory. The organization will provide 30 scattered site residences for 30 survivors and their families through private landlord housing units. Empowering pacific island communities will collaborate with its two partners, the pacific youth and community development and the american samoa workforce development board 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 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. Services offered will focus on serving rural, asian american and pacific islander populations in the region. The grant activities will be tailored to meet the needs of the survivors. The range of optional support services include: rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, childcare, transportation, career counseling, financial and credit counseling, support groups, counseling, job training, education attainment, legal assistance, and housing advocacy. The project will also hire an additional staff member to implement the program and provide follow-up services for at least 3 months once permanent housing is secured.