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 $599,388 Project Grant under the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault program (CFDA 16.736) to the Georgia Mountain Women's Center, Inc. (doing business as Circle Of Hope), a non-profit organization located in Cornelia, Georgia.

This 3-year grant, effective from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, will enable Circle Of Hope to provide comprehensive transitional housing and support services to at least 15 survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance. The project will offer a range of services, including rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, career and financial counseling, support groups, job training, and housing advocacy. Circle Of Hope will collaborate with local partners to deliver this holistic, survivor-centered approach, with the goal of helping clients secure permanent housing and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

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. Georgia mountain womens center, INC. (gmwc) is a non-profit, city organization located in , cornelia, GA , a rural region of the state. The organization will provide 15 communal and scattered site residences for 15 survivors and their families through private landlord housing units. Georgia mountain womens center, INC. (gmwc) will collaborate with its 4 partners, worksource georgia mountains (wsgm) , north georgia technical college (ngtc) ,money management international, INC. (MMI), and kimberly allen, lmft 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. Services offered will focus on expanding economic justice and primarily serving underserved (such as communities of color, people with disabilities, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, persons with limited english proficiency, older adults, and lgbtq) 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, childcare, transportation, career counseling, financial and credit counseling, support groups, individual counseling, job training, education attainment, and housing advocacy. The project will also maintain its current staff members to implement the program and provide follow-up services for at least 6 months once permanent housing is secured.