Creating safe housing paths for survivors of violence
Domestic Violence Bonus Project (DV Bonus)
Domestic Violence Bonus projects are dedicated to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking who need safe housing support. These projects must be designed around safety, confidentiality, trauma-informed services, and survivor choice. They are not general homelessness projects with a small survivor set-aside.
What problem does this solve?
Survivors may face homelessness because staying housed is unsafe, because they need confidential services, or because violence has disrupted income, documents, credit, or family stability. DV Bonus projects address the need for housing help that is built around safety and survivor choice.
This may be a good fit if...
Your organization serves survivors or has a strong partnership with a survivor-serving agency.
You can protect confidentiality and use a comparable database when required.
You can provide trauma-informed housing support and safety planning.
You can explain why this must be a survivor-dedicated project.
This may not be the best fit if...
Your project is a general homelessness project that may serve some survivors but is not survivor-dedicated.
You do not have survivor-service expertise or a committed partner.
You cannot meet confidentiality and data protection requirements.
You have not selected an eligible project component.
What would the program actually do?
A survivor connects through a confidential referral, hotline, advocate, shelter, or coordinated entry process.
Staff focus first on safety, choice, confidentiality, and immediate housing needs.
The project helps the household access safe housing and survivor-centered services.
Advocates support benefits, legal needs, safety planning, landlord communication, and stabilization.
The survivor moves toward safe, stable housing on a timeline that respects safety and choice.
What can funding usually support?
Eligible TH, RRH, or SSO-CE costs depending on the approved component.
Supportive services and survivor-centered housing support.
Comparable database costs where required.
Project administration.
What should you have ready?
Is the project dedicated to survivors and their families?
Do you have survivor-service expertise or a formal partner?
Can you protect confidentiality and use a comparable database when required?
Can you provide trauma-informed services and safety planning?
Can you document need and outcomes without compromising safety?
Think this might fit?
Start with a Letter of Intent
If your organization or partnership can provide safe, survivor-centered housing support, submit a Letter of Intent and describe the survivor-dedicated model.