VSSN_Cash_Assistance_Overview.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- 2025-RFP-CNH-304
- Issued by
- New Haven County, Connecticut
About this file
This is a guidelines document for the Victim Support Services Network (VSSN) Cash Assistance program in Connecticut, detailing the distribution of flex funds to victims and families affected by gun violence and community violence. The program operates without a formal application process, instead utilizing staff assessment to distribute funds based on severity of need and available community resources. Eligible recipients must be 18 years or older or legally emancipated minors and must be referred to VSSN with agreement to receive services; family members of referred individuals are also eligible. Approved uses for flex funding include basic needs such as food, clothing, diapers, and household supplies; transitional or temporary housing assistance including hotel stays, moving costs, rent deposits, and utilities; environmental modifications such as repairs and security installations; funeral costs; transportation expenses; childcare costs; and other miscellaneous expenses considered on a case-by-case basis.
VSSN distributes flex funding with an assumed average expenditure not to exceed $1,000 per individual or family, with all spending tracked and reported quarterly to the Department of Community Resilience. In cases requiring financial support beyond the standard amount, staff coordinates with other community agencies to access additional flex funds or specialized assistance programs to reduce financial barriers and optimize community resources. Expenditures exceeding $1,000 per individual or family require documented justification provided to the Department of Community Resilience on a case-by-case basis. Prior to any funding distribution, referred individuals and family members must complete a comprehensive assessment with the VSSN team to identify critical needs and determine whether financial barriers exist to health, safety, and healing.
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Text version
VSSN Cash Assistance to Meet Essential Needs - Guidelines
Cash Assistance Overview
• Cash assistance to meet essential needs is provided with maximum flexibility in line with the goal of supporting individuals, families, and communities in the wake of community violence and tragedy. VSSN funding is provided to victims and families of gun violence to meet basic needs and support healing.
• There is no formal application process. Flex funds are distributed based on staff assessment of severity of individual/family need and access to and availability of other community resources. Staff and partners work closely with community partners to coordinate and maximize funding allocation for individuals and families.
• All flex funding spending is tracked and reported to the Department of Community Resilience quarterly.
• In all cases where funding may be utilized, the referred individual or family member completes a full assessment with the VSSN team to identify critical needs and whether there are financial barriers to health, safety, and healing.
Eligibility to receive VSSN flex funding:
• Be age 18 or older or be a legally emancipated minor
• Referred to VSSN and agrees to receive VSSN services. Family members of a referred individual are also eligible.
Eligible flex funding uses:
• Basic Needs (food, clothing, diapers, household supplies)
• Transitional or Temporary Housing (hotel stays, moving costs, rent deposits, utilities)
• Environmental Modifications (repairs, ring doorbell, door locks)
• Funeral costs
• Transportation costs (parking, bus passes, gas)
• Childcare costs
• Other miscellaneous expenses may be considered for flex fund usage on a case-by-case basis
Expenditure Amounts
• VSSN distributes flex funding under the assumption that the average per individual/family expenditure will not exceed $1000.00.
• In cases where families may require additional financial support, staff coordinates closely with other community agencies who have access to additional flex funds or can cover specific costs (e.g. utility bill assistance, security deposit assistance) to reduce financial barriers and maximize community resources.
• VSSN may distribute funds exceeding $1000.00 per individual/family and provide a reason to the Department of Community Resilience on a case-by-case basis.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .