HUD – Specialized Housing and Services for Victims of Human Trafficking (2019)

By NLADA on July 3, 2019

Applications Due: October 30, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (for technical assistance, by August 30, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.)

Description
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS), in conjunction with the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Victim Crimes (OVC), will make a $13,500,000 available for grants to eligible organizations to implement and provide housing and trauma-informed, victim-centered services to victims of human trafficking. There is an additional $1,000,000 award for technical assistance.

Goals and Objectives
The purpose of this NOFA is to provide funds for crisis housing, host homes, and rapid re-housing to organizations that prioritize housing and trauma-informed, victim-centered services to victims of human trafficking. Organizations awarded program funds through this NOFA must work with other organizations (e.g. homeless) throughout the CoC’s geographic area to train on how to identify victims of human trafficking and to connect these victims to appropriate housing and services while ensuring confidentiality and safety. When a victim of human trafficking presents at a coordinated entry location, emergency shelter, or other location that assists persons defined as homeless, those locations or organizations should be able to properly assess immediate safety needs and connect the victim to appropriate housing and services.

Housing, particularly rapid rehousing, is the primary focus of this NOFA. The following types of housing can be funded through this demonstration program: crisis housing, host homes, and rapid rehousing. Under this NOFA, applicants must be able to demonstrate their experience and any intended subrecipient(s) experience in providing housing options that result in victims of human trafficking obtaining and maintaining long-term housing.

Funding Title: Specialized Housing and Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

Agency Name: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Planning and Development

Funding Opportunity Number: FR-6300-N-45

Funding Instrument Type: Federal Grant or Cooperative Agreement as specified in Section II.E

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes! HUD strongly encourages projects to leverage those supportive services that may already exist in the community, including services for trafficking victims funded by other federal agencies.
These services must be trauma-informed, victim-centered and used in conjunction with shelter or housing to assist program participants in obtaining and maintaining housing while overcoming the trauma of human trafficking. The services offered and provided must also be tailored to address not only adults, but children and youth as well, who are victims of human trafficking and should include a plan for family reunification, where appropriate.

Pages 18-20 list examples of these supportive services, which includes legal services:

“Eligible fees charged by qualified legal service organizations for advice and representation in matters that interfere with program participant’s ability to obtain and remain in housing. Legal services provided should be comprehensive and holistic, addressing the range of legal issues associated with victimization and should include, but are not limited to:

(a) immigrant assistance (e.g., obtaining a T visa);
(b) assistance with civil legal remedies such as family law (e.g., custody, child support, emancipation);
(c) protective orders;
(d) employment laws (e.g., wage and hour claims);
(e) public benefits access;
(f) enforcement of crime victims’ rights;
(g) counseling on vacatur or expungement of any conviction for a non-violent crime that is a direct result of being a trafficking victim; and
(h) general advocacy and assistance on matters that arise as a result of the human trafficking victimization.” (p. 18-19).

Target Population: Victims of human trafficking defined as a person who has been subjected to a severe form of trafficking in person, as defined in 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).

Expected Number of Awards: 20 organizations, and an additional organization to receive a $1,000,000 grant for technical assistance

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes. Federal funds awarded under this NOFA may not cover more than 75 percent of total costs

Estimated Total Program Funding: $13,500,000 for 20 recipients and an additional $1,000,000 for one recipient for technical assistance

Award Ceiling: $1,000,000

Award Floor: $500,000

How to Apply: Applicants must register in, and submit applications through Grants.gov, a primary source to find federal funding opportunities and apply for funding. Find complete instructions on how to register and submit an application at http://www.Grants.gov. Applicants that experience technical difficulties during this process should call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, processing delays may occur, and it can take several weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password.

All applicants must have an approved Code of Conduct and appear on HUD’s Code of Conduct page on the HUD website, https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/spm/gmomgmt/grantsinfo/conductgrants. If an application’s organization is not listed, it must submit its Code of Conduct, ensuring it meets all requirements with its application and submitted via grants.gov

HUD strongly recommends applications be submitted at least 48 hours before the deadline and during regular business hours to allow enough time to correct errors or overcome other problems.

Current Closing Date for Applications: by October 30, 2019 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time (for technical assistance, by August 30, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.)

Eligible Applicants: State governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, private institutions of higher education, for profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses.
If the applicant chooses to include subrecipients, the subrecipients must meet the same eligibility requirements as the applicant.

Link to Full Announcement: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=317918

Contact Information: For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.govCustomer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726, 606–545–5035, at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html, or at support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.

Questions regarding specific program requirements for this NOFA should be directed to the point of contact listed below:
Sherri L. Boyd
Sherri.L.Boyd@hud.gov

Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Please note that HUD staff cannot assist applicants in preparing their applications.