The transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking program (transitional housing program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 12351), has as…

The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded Penobscot Indian Nation $510,400 on October 1, 2025, under the Transitional Housing Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking program (CFDA 16.736).

Penobscot Indian Nation will operate eight private landlord, scattered-site transitional housing residences in Old Town, Maine, serving survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance. The project will serve eight survivors and their families with victim-centered transitional housing approaches, assisting clients for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 24 months. Support services will include victim advocacy, housing advocacy, financial and employment counseling, individual and group counseling, transportation, and 24/7 services tailored to underserved populations in the tribal region. The initiative is designed to move survivors toward permanent housing and community integration.

Wabanaki Women's Coalition serves as a collaborating partner on the project. The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. The program's federal purpose is to provide transitional housing and support services to victims for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient, supporting victim-centered approaches to locating and securing permanent housing and employment.

The transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking program (transitional housing program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 12351), has as its primary purpose the provision of transitional housing and support services to aid minors, adults, and their dependents who are homeless (as defined in 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. The program is intended to provide assistance to victims for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient. The program supports victim-centered approaches to providing transitional housing, short-term housing assistance, and voluntary support services to assist with locating and securing permanent housing, obtaining employment, and integrating into a community. Penobscot indian nation, located in indian island, maine, will implement the transitional housing services project through the provision of victim-centered approaches to transitional housing needs, in collaboration with wabanaki womens coalition. The project will provide eight private landlord, scattered site transitional housing residences for eight survivors and their families in a tribal region of maine. This new project will use funds to provide only housing 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 primarily serving underserved populations in the region and will be tailored to address the needs of victims who are served. The range of optional support services includes victim advocacy, housing advocacy, financial/employment counseling, individual/group counseling, transportation, 24/7 hotline, hospital accompaniment, and crisis intervention. The project will provide follow-up services for at least three months once permanent housing is secured.