O-OVC-2023-171705-OVC FY23 HTHOUSING-V1_SI-171705.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329 Expires 12/31/2023

U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office for Victims of Crime

OVC FY 2023 Anti-Trafficking Housing Assistance Program (Services and Training and Technical Assistance)

Assistance Listing Number # 16.320

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-OVC-2023-171705

Solicitation Release Date: April 03, 2023 1:00 PM ET

Step 1: Application Grants.gov Deadline: May 30, 2023 11:59 PM ET

Step 2: Application JustGrants Deadline: June 05, 2023 8:59 PM ET

Overview

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) seeks applications for funding to support housing assistance for victims of all forms of human trafficking throughout the United States. This program furthers the DOJ’s mission by enhancing the field’s response to victims of human trafficking.

This solicitation incorporates guidance provided in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide which provides additional information for applicants to prepare and submit applications to OJP for funding. If this solicitation expressly modifies any provision in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide, the applicant is to follow the guidelines in this solicitation as to that provision.

Solicitation Categories

O-OVC-2023-171705

http://www.justice.gov http://www.ojp.gov http://www.ovc.ojp.gov/ http://www.ovc.ojp.gov/ https://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm https://www.ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/Grant-App-Resource-Guide.htm

Competition ID Category * Number of Awards

Dollar Amount for Award

Performance Start Date

Performance Duration (Months)

C-OVC-2023-00022-PROD

Purpose Area 1: Developing Capacity to Serve Human Trafficking Victims

5 $600,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

C-OVC-2023-00023-PROD

Purpose Area 2: Enhancing Scope of Housing Services for Human Trafficking Victims

10 $1,200,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

C-OVC-2023-00024-PROD

Purpose Area 3: Housing Training and Technical Assistance

1 $2,000,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

Eligible Applicants:

City or township governments, County governments, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Small businesses, State governments

Eligible Applicants Categories 1 & 2

State governments City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

O-OVC-2023-171705

Eligible Applicants Category 3 Only

Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

An applicant entity may submit more than one application, if each application proposes a different project in response to the solicitation. Also, an entity may be proposed as a subrecipient (subgrantee) in more than one application.

OVC will consider applications under which two or more entities would carry out the federal award; however, only one entity may be the applicant. Any others must be proposed as subrecipients (subgrantees). For additional information on subawards, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

OVC may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2023 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, among other considerations, the merit of the applications and the availability of appropriations.

Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OJP Response Center at 800-851-3420, 301-240-6310 (TTY for hearing-impaired callers only), or grants@ncjrs.gov. The OJP Response Center operates from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

eastern time (ET) Monday–Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on the solicitation close date.

Pre-application Information Session

OVC will conduct pre-application webinars during which OVC staff will review all planned FY 2023 anti-trafficking solicitations, provide high-level information about solicitation requirements, and conduct a question-and-answer session with interested potential applicants. Participation is optional. When the webinars have been scheduled, the details and registration information will be available at https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars. Preregistration is required for all participants. Register and follow the instructions at https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars. To use the time most efficiently, OVC encourages participants to review the solicitation and submit any questions they may have in advance and no later than 2 days prior to the webinar. Submit your questions to askovc@ncjrs.gov with the subject as “Questions for OVC Anti-Human Trafficking Solicitations Webinar.”

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https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#information-proposed-subwards mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars https://ovc.ojp.gov/funding/funding-webinars mailto:askovc@ncjrs.gov

Submission Information

Registration: Before submitting an application, all applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). You must renew and validate your registration every 12 months. If you do not renew your SAM registration, it will expire. An expired registration can delay or prevent application submission in Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Registration and renewal can take up to 10 business days to complete.

Submission: Applications must be submitted to DOJ electronically through a two-step process via Grants.gov and JustGrants.

Step 1: The applicant must submit by the Grants.gov deadline the required Application for Federal Assistance standard form (SF-424) and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form when they register in Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/ web/grants/register.html. Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. If an applicant fails to submit in Grants.gov, they will be unable to apply in JustGrants.

For technical assistance with submitting the SF-424 and a SF-LLL in Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, 606-545-5035, Grants.gov Customer Support, or support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.

Step 2: The applicant must submit the full application, including attachments, in JustGrants at JustGrants.usdoj.gov by the JustGrants application deadline.

For technical assistance with submitting the full application in JustGrants, contact the JustGrants Service Desk at 833-872-5175 or JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov. The JustGrants Service Desk operates 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays.

OJP encourages applicants to review the “How To Apply” section in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide and the JustGrants website for more information, resources, and training. Applicants should maintain all receipts and confirmations received from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, JustGrants systems.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html http://support@grants.gov https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://www.ojp.gov/funding/apply/ojp-grant-application-resource-guide#apply https://justicegrants.usdoj.gov/news

Contents

Overview 1 Contact Information 3

Pre-application Information Session 3 Submission Information 4

Program Description 8 Overview 8 Statutory Authority 8 Specific Information 8 Mandatory Program Requirements for Purpose Areas 1 and 2 11 Applicants that receive funding under this program will be required to do the following:

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables 13 Evidence-Based Programs or Practices 18 Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

Priority Areas 19 Federal Award Information 20

Awards, Amounts and Durations 21 Continuation Funding Intent 21 Availability of Funds 21 Type of Award 21 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls 22 Budget Information 22 Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement 22 Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 23 Limitation on Use of Award Funds for Employee Compensation:

Waiver

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/ Training Costs

Costs Associated with Language Assistance (if applicable) 23 Eligibility Information 23 Application and Submission Information 24

Content of Application Submission 24 Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) in Grants.gov

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information)

Proposal Abstract 25 Proposal Narrative 25 Goal, Objective and Deliverables 32 Budget and Associated Documentation 32 Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) 32 Pre-agreement Costs (also known as Pre-award Costs) 33 Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) 34 Consultant Rate 34 Limitation on Employee Compensation; Waiver 34 Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status)

Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation 34 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive Documents

Additional Application Components 35 Curriculum Vitae or Resumes 35 Tribal Authorizing Resolution 35 Research and Evaluation Independence and Integrity Statement 35 Disclosures and Assurances 35 Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 35 DOJ Certified Standard Assurances 35 Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items 35 DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements;

Law Enforcement and Community Policing

Applicant Disclosure and Justification - DOJ High Risk Grantees 36

How to Apply 36 Submission Dates and Time 37

Experiencing Unforeseen Technical Issues Preventing Submission of an Application

Application Review Information 38 Review Criteria 38 Review Process 39

Federal Award Administration Information 40 Federal Award Notices 40 Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements 40 Information Technology Security Clauses 40 General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

Other Information 41 Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C.

552a)

Provide Feedback to OJP 41 Performance Measures 41 Application Checklist 43

Standard Solicitation Resources 46 Appendix A: Types of Victim Services That OVC Funds 46

Program Description

Overview

OJP is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community.

To enhance capacity to identify, assist, and provide services to all victims of human trafficking, OVC leads the Nation in supporting victim-centered and trauma-informed programs, policies, and resources that promote justice, access, and empowerment.

With this solicitation, OVC seeks to provide funding for housing services for victims of human trafficking, as defined by 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11).

Statutory Authority

22 U.S.C. § 7105(b)(2)

Specific Information

The purpose of this program is to develop, expand, and/or strengthen funded organizations so they can provide housing and associated support services to victims of human trafficking.

This solicitation has three purpose areas with specific goals, objectives, and deliverables.

Purpose Areas 1 and 2 will support direct housing assistance to victims of human trafficking, while Purpose Area 3 will provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to organizations providing housing assistance to survivors of trafficking. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read through each category carefully to ensure that their application is tailored to fit the requirements identified in this solicitation.

Purpose Area 1: Developing Capacity to Provide Housing Assistance to Human Trafficking Victims

The purpose of these awards is to support (1) organizations that have experience providing housing services but that have limited or no prior experience in serving victims of human trafficking; (2) anti-trafficking organizations that have limited or no prior experience in providing housing services to victims of human trafficking, and/or (3) organizations that have no prior experience in receiving direct federal funding to serve victims of human trafficking. During the first 12 months of the project period, grantees will work with designated OVC human trafficking TTA providers to build internal capacity to provide housing services for survivors of labor and sex trafficking and implement a federal award. Grantees will hire staff who have experience providing services to human trafficking victims or train existing staff to address identified skill or knowledge deficits.

During the last 24 months of the program, grantees will provide housing assistance and support services for human trafficking victims. See Appendix A for the types of services that OVC funds.

Purpose Area 2: Enhancing Access to Housing Assistance for Human Trafficking Victims

Under Purpose Area 2, awards will be made to organizations with a demonstrated history of providing human trafficking victims with housing assistance and support services (or that have a formal partnership with a victim service provider with demonstrated experience). The purpose of these awards is to enhance victims’ access to housing assistance and the diverse support services that victims of labor and sex trafficking often require to address their needs. See Appendix A for the types of services OVC funds. In addition to providing housing assistance, applicants funded under this purpose area are expected to use OVC funding to support two additional types of services for victims of human trafficking receiving housing assistance, either directly or through subrecipients.

Additionally, grantees will be expected to have or develop partnerships to enable survivors to access a variety of housing options in their community. Successful applicants are also expected to expand collaborative partnerships among federal, state, local, and tribal housing providers and system- and community-based service providers during the award period to identify safe, affordable housing options and remove barriers for victims of human trafficking in obtaining housing.

Housing and Support Services for Purpose Areas 1 and 2

Providing rapid rehousing is the primary focus of Purpose Areas 1 and 2. Rapid rehousing is a type of housing assistance in which supportive services and transitional housing are provided to assist victims in moving as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieving stability.

For some victims and in some housing markets, the short-term use of emergency shelter or crisis housing may be required to facilitate access to long-term sustainable housing. If the applicant proposes a project involving emergency shelter or crisis housing, the applicant must work with victims to identify longer term housing as soon as it is safe and feasible for the victim, while providing necessary case management and culturally responsive support services. Applications focused primarily on emergency shelter or crisis housing are out of scope for this solicitation and may be excluded from peer review consideration.

Applicants may propose housing assistance related to the following:

Emergency shelter, meaning a type of shelter or non-permanent housing in which a victim of human trafficking may be placed for less than 6 months, depending on the immediate need and preference of the victim. Crisis housing can be provided on an emergency, temporary basis, which may include congregate shelter and/or hotel/motel placements as a bridge to imminent shelter openings or other housing.

Transitional housing assistance, meaning temporary housing offered for at least 6 months and no more than 24 months that helps victims transition into permanent housing. Transitional housing is not an extended shelter stay.

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https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Rapid-Re-Housing-Brief.pdf https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Rapid-Re-Housing-Brief.pdf

Short-term housing assistance, meaning rental assistance and/or other financial assistance (e.g., utility assistance, relocation costs) offered for at least 6 months and no more than 24 months that helps victims transition into permanent housing. Under this solicitation, these activities are not considered short-term housing assistance: emergency shelter, rental assistance offered for less than 6 months, or financial assistance for victims not provided with housing.

While the majority of funds under Purpose Areas 1 and 2 must support housing services, applicants must also dedicate project funds to culturally responsive and meaningfully accessible services that support victims and any dependents in securing permanent housing, such as case management, employment and education services, and more. See Appendix A for the types of services OVC funds. Support services under this solicitation are limited to individuals receiving housing assistance as defined above (other than followup services described under the “Mandatory Program Requirements” section).

Collaboration and Training for Purpose Areas 1 and 2

Applicants under Purpose Areas 1 and 2 are encouraged to use federal funds to create or support a housing navigator position to build collaborative partnerships to identify housing options and remove barriers for victims of human trafficking in obtaining housing.

Other tasks for this position may include the following:

Assisting victims in locating, obtaining, and retaining suitable housing, including tenant counseling (e.g., being responsible for rent as indicated in the lease).

Assisting victims in understanding the language in leases and their rights and responsibilities.

Educating stakeholders and landlords about housing protections available to victims.

Aiding in lease negotiations with landlords.

Assisting victims with challenges that may arise related to rent payment, housing conditions, or other concerns.

Attending local housing-stakeholder meetings (e.g., Continuum of Care, Public Housing Authority) and developing relationships with local landlords and apartment associations.

While they work directly with clients, housing navigators generally have different responsibilities from case managers or advocates. Separating the case manager role from the housing navigator role helps to ensure each role is specialized, emphasized, and appropriately staffed according to skills and experience best suited for the duties of each.

Additionally, if an applicant does not have documented experience in serving victims of human trafficking, the application must include a Letter of Intent or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from a victim service provider as a required partner. The victim service provider partner must play an active role in developing and implementing the https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/COVID-19-Homeless-System-Response-Housing-Navigation.pdf project. Applications must demonstrate that the victim service provider is significantly involved in the project design and development, including the development and/or review of all policies and procedures, and describe how the applicant will ensure that anyone working with survivors is trained to work with victims of human trafficking.

In addition to building community collaboration, successful applicants will conduct training and public awareness activities for housing stakeholders (e.g., Continuums of Care, Public Housing Agencies, community-based and/or tribal organizations, private landlords) to improve their knowledge of human trafficking and ability to identify and respond appropriately to victims.

Mandatory Program Requirements for Purpose Areas 1 and 2

Applicants that receive funding under this program will be required to do the following:

Submit the policies, procedures, and rules governing the provision of services for review upon OVC request (post-award).

1.

Ensure that their policies and procedures follow applicable federal and state laws protecting the civil rights of program participants and staff (post-award).

2.

Ensure that any staff, partner staff, or service providers working with trafficking victims are adequately licensed and trained to work with such victims, including by accessing OVC-supported TTA.

3.

Ensure that the project coordinator/program director and other relevant staff participate in any grantee orientations and OVC-sponsored TTA.

4.

As part of routine programmatic reporting, describe ongoing efforts to enhance responses to labor trafficking.

5.

Send the project coordinator or program director and one other key staff member to a virtual OVC grantee orientation and have relevant staff participate in OVC-sponsored TTA.

6.

Provide all grant-funded staff at least one session of training annually (to be delivered by individuals or organizations with reasonable and demonstrable expertise) related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or accessibility and tied to program goals and objectives.

7.

Offer referrals to followup culturally responsive support services for trafficking victims who secure permanent housing. Followup services are limited to advocacy, support groups, case management, and minimal financial assistance (e.g., first month’s rent for permanent housing).

8.

Purpose Area 3: Housing Training and Technical Assistance

Survivors of human trafficking often experience challenges in securing and retaining safe, affordable housing, particularly survivors who face multiple barriers, such as criminal records, limited English proficiency, immigration status, and lack of credit history.

In its 2022 Annual Report, the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking observed that access to affordable housing combined with engagement in the justice system increases individuals’ vulnerabilities to human trafficking. In addition, few emergency shelters or

O-OVC-2023-171705

https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/CoCProgramIntroductoryGuide.pdf https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/CoCProgramIntroductoryGuide.pdf https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-Annual-Report-FINAL_Web-Version_508.pdf housing programs are trained or equipped to serve victims of human trafficking.

Facilitating survivors’ access to permanent housing and self-sufficiency is essential in providing stability and promoting survivor well-being. Since 2020, OVC has supported specialized TTA focused on building the capacity of victim service and housing providers to provide housing assistance to victims of all forms of human trafficking. This housing TTA award continues that work.

The purpose of this project is to (1) support OVC’s human trafficking housing grantees and their partners in meeting their award goals and objectives and (2) provide practitioner-driven, evidence-based TTA to victim service providers and housing entities to develop, expand, or enhance housing assistance for all victims of human trafficking.

The applicant will work with victim service and housing programs providing housing assistance to trafficking victims, with priority support given to OVC anti-trafficking housing grantees, to assist with identifying challenges and opportunities to better meet the full range of housing needs of survivors of human trafficking. The applicant must be able to assist service providers on a national scale in leveraging existing federal, state, local, and private housing programs and initiatives that trafficking survivors may qualify for, and should demonstrate partnerships with relevant housing stakeholders. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of a range of emergency, short-term, and long-term housing and shelter options and models, including transitional housing, rental assistance, and others.

Applicants should demonstrate how they will assist OVC human trafficking grantees and other service providers as they address the diverse housing needs of all types of victims of trafficking. The TTA provider will work closely with OVC, other OVC-funded human trafficking TTA providers, and other key stakeholders to leverage resources and collaboratively support the needs of OVC anti-trafficking grantees and the broader anti-trafficking field.

At a minimum, the successful applicant will engage in the following activities, among others, as required, to meet the project’s goals and objectives.

Provide proactive technical assistance to OVC grantees implementing human trafficking housing awards. The TTA provider will deliver intensive support annually to recipients of OVC housing assistance awards during their first year of implementation (approximately 15–20 awards per fiscal year) and ongoing support for organizations implementing existing awards. Support should include—

1.

conducting routine and in-depth program consultations and troubleshooting to support grantees in meeting their program goals and objectives, including onsite TTA to grantees selected by OVC.

a.

reviewing housing policies and standard operating procedures for funded anti-trafficking housing assistance programs.

b.

sharing information on anti-trafficking housing assistance award requirements.

c.

facilitating structured peer support and mentoring between OVC housing grantees based on program type and/or housing assistance model as well as among designated housing navigators.

d.

helping grantees navigate national and local systems related to housing ande.

O-OVC-2023-171705

https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/training-and-technical-assistance-resources https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/training-and-technical-assistance-resources

1.

a.

b.

c.

d.

homelessness and facilitating partnerships with key stakeholders in those systems.

e.

identifying partnerships to assist with supportive services and permanent housing for victims.

f.

supporting grantees in developing sustainability planning for housing programs.

g.

working with OVC to virtually onboard new anti-trafficking housing assistance grantees.

h.

managing grantee listservs and correspondence.a.

Deliver training and technical assistance on effective collaboration and housing assistance for trafficking survivors, to include—

2.

developing and disseminating resources and training on victim identification, housing options, community partnerships, voluntary services, and program assessment.

a.

maintaining a consultant database of subject matter experts with diverse expertise.

b.

providing and maintaining online access to housing-related resources for anti-trafficking grantees and victim service providers. During the first year, the grantee will work with OVC and other human trafficking TTA providers to determine the needs of the grantee pool and the field and propose a recommended approach for a web presence.

c.

convening subject matter experts in collaboration with OVC to explore gaps, identify opportunities, and propose solutions in housing assistance for victims of human trafficking.

d.

providing training at relevant conferences, through webinars, or through other mechanisms.

e.

Collaborate proactively with other anti-trafficking TTA providers to prevent duplication and strengthen accessibility of resources, to include—

3.

engaging in regular communication with other OVC-funded TTA providers, including participating in regular and ad hoc TTA provider workgroups meetings.

a.

referring grantees to other TTA providers as needed.b.

developing and delivering joint TTA, such as webinars and grantee meeting sessions.

c.

working collaboratively with other OVC-funded TTA providers as required by

OVC.

d.

Support data collection and program assessment, to include—4.

disseminating information on engaging in action research to enhance programming, including supporting grantees in collecting and incorporating client satisfaction data to strengthen program performance.

a.

collecting data on TTA and participating performance management and assessment activities to determine if the program is meeting stated goals and objectives.

b.

implementing a mechanism to solicit feedback from TTA recipients to track if and how they implemented policies or practices and/or if they reported improvement in operations in the relevant purpose area as a result of TTA.

c.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/media/document/Action-Research-Fact-Sheet-508.pdf

Goals

For Purpose Areas 1 and 2: The goal of this program is to support organizations with the capacity to implement collaborative, coordinated, and comprehensive housing models in providing trafficking survivors with safe, stable housing and appropriate trauma-informed, victim-centered, and culturally responsive services. Organizations are to engage with appropriate local partners to address the needs of victims of human trafficking leading to increased autonomy, self-sufficiency, safety, and well-being.

For Purpose Area 3: The primary program goals are to— support victim service and housing providers to develop, enhance, and expand housing assistance for victims of human trafficking.

1.

strengthen and expand the skills, expertise, and capacity of victim service and housing providers to provide trauma-informed services to victims of human trafficking.

2.

increase collaboration among anti-trafficking service providers, community partners, and other stakeholders to enhance identification, referrals, and service delivery.

3.

support OVC anti-trafficking housing grantees in meeting their award goals and objectives.

4.

Support is to be provided to victim service and housing providers funded under the OVC HT Housing program (and those that are not) on developing, enhancing, and expanding housing assistance for victims of human trafficking. This program will continue the TTA support delivered to OVC anti-trafficking grantees under the OVC FY 2020 Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking solicitation.

Objectives

An applicant should address all the objectives listed below in the Goals, Objectives, Deliverables and Timeline web-based form.

For Purpose Areas 1 and 2: The objectives are to— deliver and expand housing interventions and related support services for victims of human trafficking.

1.

collaborate with and train local partners (e.g., housing and service providers, community- and faith-based organizations) to improve their knowledge and ability to identify and appropriately respond to human trafficking victims.

2.

provide victims of human trafficking with trauma-informed, victim-centered support services or referrals for other essential services.

3.

develop and implement housing policies and training that consistently incorporate 4.

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2.

3.

low-barrier, victim-centered, trauma-informed, and collaborative approaches.

4.

work collaboratively with federal, state, and local entities to identify barriers to housing and develop collaborative models to meet the housing needs of victims of human trafficking.

5.

improve outcomes for victims of human trafficking.6.

collect data and conduct ongoing assessment activities to determine if the program is meeting the stated goals and objectives.

7.

For Purpose Area 3: The overall objectives are to provide training and technical assistance and subject matter expertise to organizations in achieving increased safety, independence, self-efficacy, and well-being for victims of human trafficking in need of housing using a trauma-informed, victim-centered model. The objectives are to— provide intensive TTA to OVC grantees implementing human trafficking housing awards, including establishing and building relationships among grantees and local stakeholders, and reviewing policy and procedure materials.

1.

develop and disseminate resources and training on housing options and collaborations, applicable civil rights statutes, and program sustainability.

2.

increase service providers’ expertise and specialized skills.3.

collaborate with other OVC human trafficking TTA providers.4.

support award assessment activities.5.

Deliverables

For Purpose Areas 1 and 2: The deliverables to be provided are services, measured quarterly by service-hour or units delivered; type of service; number of new and continuing victims served; and other key data points.

The goals, objectives, and deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that show the completed work’s results, as discussed in the “Application and Submission Information” section.

All successful applicants may be required to submit and amend their existing housing policies and procedures to align with OVC Model Standards and practices as outlined under the “Enhancing Access to Services and Promoting Survivor Autonomy” section.

For Purpose Area 3: Deliverables include the training and technical assistance provided, measured semi-annually by TTA requests received, TTA requests delivered, type of TTA provided, number of persons trained, and other key data points.

Strengthening Responses to Labor Trafficking

Through its award funding, training and technical assistance, and collaboration with federal partners, OVC has worked to strengthen identification of and responses to labor trafficking victims in the United States. Despite these efforts, labor trafficking remains misunderstood, under-identified, underreported, and often unaddressed. As reflected in

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https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/emergency-shelter-key-considerations.pdf https://ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh226/files/model-standards/6/index.html

OVC grantee data, many individuals experience polyvictimization, including both labor and sex trafficking. To increase identification and expand access to services and justice for victims of labor trafficking, OVC is strengthening its expectations of organizations that receive anti-trafficking award funds. More information about gaps and opportunities in the response to this form of human trafficking is available on OVC’s website. Organizations with all levels of experience responding to and serving labor trafficking victims are encouraged to apply, including those that have historically focused exclusively on responding to sex trafficking who are interested in enhancing their responses to labor trafficking.

Ensuring Civil Rights

Federal laws prohibit recipients of funding administered by the OJP from discriminating in the delivery of services on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, or disability. Applicable federal laws also prohibit recipients from discriminating on the basis of disability in their employment practices, and from discriminating against employees and beneficiaries on the basis of sex in funded education or training programs.

Recipients are also obligated under federal civil rights laws to provide meaningful access to their programs and activities for persons with limited English proficiency. Under certain circumstances, it might be permissible to limit services based upon age. Please note that other federal, state, or local laws prohibiting discrimination may apply.

Enhancing Access to Services and Promoting Survivor Autonomy

OVC is committed to an approach to human trafficking that is trauma-informed, victim-centered, survivor informed, culturally responsive; and evidence-based. Definitions of these concepts are available in the glossary of OVC’s Model Standards for Serving Victims and Survivors of Crime.

In line with these concepts and to enhance survivors’ access to victim services, programs funded under this solicitation will engage in practices that remove barriers to receiving services and support survivor autonomy. Such practices will reduce requirements to engage in services, promote survivors’ choice within service delivery, and protect victim privacy and confidentiality.

Funded programs will demonstrate their commitment to this approach by maintaining the following. (Note: Many of these requirements are mandated by federal civil rights laws, while others reflect OVC’s policy direction to recipients to enhance access to services and promote survivor autonomy.)

Procedures or policies that provide all survivors access to safe shelter, advocacy services, counseling, and other assistance without exclusions based on actual or perceived sex, age, immigration status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health condition, physical health condition, criminal record, involvement in commercial sex, income or lack of income, or the age and/or sex of their children. For those programs that by their design target a particular population (e.g., youth, gender specific) there should be procedures or policies in place to ensure access to comparable, qualified services for other survivors seeking support.

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Procedures or policies that protect the confidentiality of information and/or privacy of persons receiving services.

Procedures or policies that do not require victims to take certain actions (e.g., receive counseling, report to law enforcement, commit to sobriety) to be eligible for, or to receive services. For youth-serving programs with justifiable mandatory requirements, a shared decision making model should be used to provide minors with agency in participating in decisions that impact them.

Project designs, products, services, and/or budgets that consider the unique needs of individuals with disabilities, with limited English proficiency, or who are Deaf or hard of hearing, including accessibility for such individuals.

For Programs Serving Children and Youth

If your program provides services to child and youth victims of crime, services must be tailored to ensure that they are developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, victim-centered and trauma-informed. In addition to encouraging use of a shared decision making model, OVC promotes the use of evidence-based and evidence-informed practices when working with children and youth victims of crime.

Unallowable Costs

The following activities cannot be supported with grant funds.

Holding Beds: Grantees may not “hold beds” in a housing facility by charging their cost to the grant and keeping them empty until a victim needs the bed, when other victims need access to the beds, as this would be considered an unallowable contingency payment (see 2 C.F.R. 200.433 (c)).

1.

Stipends/Incentives to Participate in Services: Neither cash, non-cash stipends, nor incentives may be paid to victims to encourage their participation in services.

Nominal cash or non-cash stipends (e.g., taxi or ride share vouchers; public transportation tickets or tokens; money to pay for childcare; or gift cards for meals that are necessary when participants receive services) are allowable.

2.

Primary Prevention Activities: Per 22 U.S.C. § 7105(b)(2), the purpose of this funding is to support victim service programs; therefore, applicants should not propose primary prevention activities under this program.

3.

Savings accounts for victims: Federal funds cannot be invested in savings accounts for victims.

4.

Financial support for private residence: Grant funds may not be used to keep victims in their privately owned homes or to prevent them from losing such housing.

5.

Construction or purchase of property.6.

Drug and/or alcohol testing.7.

Purchase and/or lease of vehicles.8.

Applicants should consult the DOJ Grants Financial Guide for information on additional unallowable costs for federal award recipients and subrecipients.

In addition, the following activities can be supported only in limited circumstances:

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Legal services – Use of grant funds for legal services is limited to providing legal services to victims in the housing program and must terminate when they obtain permanent housing. Legal services are limited to those that are necessary to enable a housing program participant to locate and secure housing, including legal services regarding housing, protection orders, criminal record relief, and limited immigration matters that affect a victim’s ability to obtain housing. Funds may not be used for comprehensive, long-term legal assistance, such as divorce or child custody.

1.

Services for dependents – Housing and supportive services may be provided to human trafficking victims of any age under this program. Grant funds may be used to provide direct services to victims' dependents where such services are an ancillary part of providing housing and supportive services to the victim of human trafficking.

2.

Limitation on Use of Funds (22 U.S.C. § 7110(g))

The following statutory language applies to all awards under this solicitation:

Restriction on programs – No funds made available to carry out this chapter, or any amendment made by this chapter, may be used to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed to preclude assistance designed to promote the purposes of this Act by ameliorating the suffering of, or health risks to, victims while they are being trafficked or after they are out of the situation that resulted from such victims being trafficked.

1.

Restriction on organizations – No funds made available to carry out this chapter, or any amendment made by this chapter, may be used to implement any program that targets victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons described in section 7102(9)(A) of this title through any organization that has not stated in either a grant application, a grant agreement, or both, that it does not promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. The preceding sentence shall not apply to organizations that provide services to individuals solely after they are no longer engaged in activities that resulted from such victims being trafficked.

2.

Pursuant to the statute above, OVC requires grantees under this program to agree to the following award condition: Recipient certifies that it does not promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution, nor will it use grant funds or program match funds to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution.

Information on Managing Human Trafficking Awards

For more information on implementation of OVC Human Trafficking awards, please consult the OVC Human Trafficking Program FAQs.

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

OJP strongly encourages the use of data and evidence in policymaking and program https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/human-trafficking/ovc-human-trafficking-program-faqs development for criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. For additional information and resources on evidence-based programs or practices, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide.

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

OJP may conduct or support an evaluation of the projects and activities funded under this solicitation. For additional information and applicable documentation to be included in the application, see the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide section entitled “Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities.”

Priority Areas

The Department of Justice is committed to advancing work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety and protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community.

Priority Considerations Supporting Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

In support of this Executive Order, OJP will provide priority consideration when making award decisions to the following:

A. Applications that propose project(s) that are designed to promote racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality.

To receive this consideration, the applicant must describe how the proposed project(s) will address potential racial inequities and contribute to greater access to services and opportunities for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, and identify how the project design and implementation will specifically incorporate the input or participation of those communities and populations disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and the criminal justice system overall. Examples addressing this requirement include, but are not limited to, the following: budgeted project planning and/or implementation meetings with community stakeholders representing historically underserved and marginalized communities;

outreach and/or public awareness campaigns specifically tailored to historically underserved and marginalized communities to encourage participation in the proposed project(s); budgeted incorporation of members representing historically underserved and marginalized communities in program evaluation, surveys, or other means of project feedback; and partnership with organizations that primarily serve communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality.

B. Applicants that demonstrate that their capabilities and competencies for implementing

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To receive this additional priority consideration, applicants must describe how being a culturally specific organization (or funding the culturally specific subrecipient organization (s)) will enhance their ability to implement the proposed project(s) and should also specify which populations are intended or expected to be served or to have their needs addressed under the proposed project(s).

Culturally specific organizations are defined for the purposes of this solicitation as private nonprofit or tribal organizations whose primary purpose as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to racial and ethnic groups, including, among others, Black people, Hispanic and Latino people, Native American and other Indigenous peoples of North America (including Alaska Native, Eskimo, and Aleut), Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and/or Pacific Islanders.

Note: Addressing these priority areas is one of many factors that OJP considers in making funding decisions. Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas does not guarantee an award.

Federal Award Information Solicitation Categories

Competition ID Category * Number of Awards

Dollar Amount for Award

Performance Start Date

Performance Duration (Months)

C-OVC-2023-00022-PROD

Purpose Area 1: Developing Capacity to Serve Human Trafficking Victims

5 $600,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

C-OVC-2023-00023-PROD

Purpose Area 2: Enhancing Scope of Housing Services for Human Trafficking Victims

10 $1,200,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

C-OVC-2023-00024-PROD

Purpose Area 3: Housing Training and Technical Assistance

1 $2,000,000 10/1/23

12:00 AM 36

Awards, Amounts and Durations

Anticipated Number of Awards

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards See Purpose Areas

Period of Performance Start Date 10/1/23

Period of Performance Duration (Months)

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation $17,000,000

Continuation Funding Intent

OVC may, in certain cases, provide additional funding in future years to awards made under this solicitation through continuation awards.