Access Family Services Inc

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 PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING 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 THEIR VICTIMIZATION, 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 THAT MOVE INDIVIDUALS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND HELP THEM SECURE EMPLOYMENT AND INTEGRATE INTO A COMMUNITY. ACCESS FAMILY SERVICES IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AN URBAN REGION OF THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE 9 CLUSTERED RESIDENCES FOR 9 SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PRIVATE LANDLORD HOUSING UNITS. ACCESS FAMILY SERVICES WILL COLLABORATE WITH ITS PARTNER, COMMUNITY ASSET PRESERVATION CORPORATION, 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. 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, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY, LIFE SKILL TRAINING, COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS AND HOUSING ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL RETAIN CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED.

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

THE GRANTS TO ENHANCE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. § 20124. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE MAINTENANCE AND REPLICATION OF EXISTING SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS WHO FACE OBSTACLES TO USING MORE TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS.  CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES MEANS COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES THAT INCLUDE CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND LINGUISTICALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES WHICH ARE STATUTORILY DEFINED AS “AMERICAN INDIANS (INCLUDING ALASKA NATIVES, ESKIMOS, AND ALEUTS); ASIAN AMERICANS; NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDERS; BLACKS; AND HISPANICS.”  PROJECTS MUST: 1) WORK WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC VICTIM SERVICES ; 2) INCREASE COMMUNITIES’ CAPACITY TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES; 3) STRENGTHEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTIONS BY PROVIDING TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTION, COURTS, PROBATION, AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ON CULTURALLY SPECIFIC RESPONSES; 4) ENHANCE TRADITIONAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF CULTURALLY SPECIFIC VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAMS ; 5) WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES HIGHLIGHTING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ISSUES AND RESOURCES; 6) PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; 7) PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SAFETY, ECONOMIC, HOUSING, AND WORKPLACE NEEDS OF VICTIMS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE; AND/OR 8) EXAMINE THE DYNAMICS OF CULTURE AND ITS IMPACT ON VICTIMIZATION AND HEALING.