Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2026 172624

The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), focused on helping survivors who are homeless or who need short- to medium-term housing support due to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (often referred to as VAWA crimes). The core purpose of the program is to fund transitional housing and related supportive services so that victims can move toward safety, stability, and longer-term housing independence. Rather than funding only a roof and a bed, the program is designed to support survivor-centered housing solutions paired with services that address the practical barriers that keep people trapped in unsafe situations, such as financial instability, safety planning needs, and ongoing trauma impacts.

Funding under this opportunity is intended for transitional housing and other housing assistance models that serve victims whose housing instability is directly connected to violence and abuse. The opportunity description emphasizes that supported projects should help victims who are homeless or who otherwise need transitional housing or comparable housing assistance because of the violence they experienced. In practice, this can include short-term transitional units, scattered-site or sponsor-based leasing approaches, rental assistance that bridges a survivor to permanent housing, and supportive services that help participants stay housed and remain safe. The program sits within the broader law, justice, and legal services funding activity category, reflecting OVW's mission to strengthen community responses to gender-based violence while centering survivor safety and autonomy.

Eligible applicants are limited to entities with a documented history of effective work related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The eligible applicant categories include state governments, units of local government (such as counties and cities/townships), federally recognized Tribal governments, and Tribal organizations. Nonprofit organizations are also eligible, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not institutions of higher education). The eligibility language underscores that applicants must be able to demonstrate meaningful experience and effectiveness in serving survivors of VAWA crimes, which signals that OVW is looking for organizations and governments with established capacity, credible partnerships, and survivor-informed approaches rather than start-up concepts without a track record.

This specific opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number O-OVW-2026-172624 and is tied to CFDA number 16.736. OVW anticipates making around 80 awards under this program. Individual awards can be as large as $600,000 (the award ceiling). As with many OVW discretionary programs, the competitive nature and the expected number of awards suggest that applicants will need to present a clear service model, strong implementation plan, and evidence that their proposed housing and service approach is tailored to the needs of victims in their communities, including considerations like confidentiality, safety planning, accessibility, and coordination with victim service providers and other community partners.

Key dates included in the listing show the opportunity was created on 2026-06-03, and the original application closing date is 2026-07-14. Applicants planning to apply should treat that closing date as the operational deadline and should also be prepared for the typical federal grant submission requirements, such as completing registrations and submitting through the designated application portal(s), though those process details are usually spelled out in the full solicitation document released by OVW.

In short, this OVW transitional housing grant is aimed at expanding and strengthening housing pathways for survivors whose victimization has made them housing-insecure, with funding that supports both the housing component and the wraparound services that help victims remain safe and rebuild stability. The program is targeted to governments, Tribes, and experienced nonprofit or community organizations with a proven history of effective work addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and it offers up to $600,000 per award with an estimated 80 awards nationwide under the FY 2026 competition.

  • The Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.736.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-03.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, 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, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.
Apply for O OVW 2026 172624

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FAQs: OVW FY 2026 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants (VAWA)

What is the OVW FY 2026 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants program?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) that funds transitional housing and related supportive services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (often referred to as VAWA crimes).

What is the core purpose of this grant?

The program is designed to help survivors who are homeless or who need short- to medium-term housing support because of violence and abuse. The goal is to support survivor safety, stability, and progress toward longer-term housing independence.

Does the program fund only housing costs?

No. The program emphasizes survivor-centered housing solutions paired with supportive services that address barriers to safety and stability, such as financial instability, safety planning needs, and ongoing trauma impacts.

Who is the program intended to serve?

The intended beneficiaries are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking whose housing instability is directly connected to the violence they experienced, including survivors who are homeless or otherwise need transitional or comparable housing assistance due to that victimization.

What types of housing assistance models may be supported under this opportunity?

The opportunity description indicates funding may support transitional housing and other housing assistance models. Examples mentioned include short-term transitional units, scattered-site or sponsor-based leasing approaches, rental assistance that bridges a survivor to permanent housing, and supportive services that help participants remain housed and safe.

What kinds of supportive services are contemplated by the program?

Supported projects are meant to include services that address practical barriers that can keep survivors trapped in unsafe situations. The description specifically references needs like financial instability, safety planning, and trauma-related impacts, along with services that help participants remain housed and safe.

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

Is this a discretionary or formula grant opportunity?

This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is O-OVW-2026-172624.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The listing identifies CFDA number 16.736.

How much funding can an individual award be?

Individual awards can be as large as $600,000, which is identified as the award ceiling.

How many awards does OVW anticipate making?

OVW anticipates making around 80 awards under this program.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to entities with a documented history of effective work related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The eligible applicant categories listed include state governments, units of local government (such as counties and cities/townships), federally recognized Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education).

Are nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language includes nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, provided they are not institutions of higher education.

Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply as nonprofits?

No. The eligibility description specifies that eligible nonprofit organizations include those with or without 501(c)(3) status, so long as they are not institutions of higher education.

What does OVW mean by a "documented history of effective work"?

The opportunity states that eligibility is limited to entities that can demonstrate meaningful experience and effectiveness in serving survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This signals OVW is looking for established capacity, credible partnerships, and survivor-informed approaches rather than start-up concepts without a track record.

What activity area or category does this opportunity fall under?

The program is described as sitting within the broader law, justice, and legal services funding activity category, reflecting OVW's mission to strengthen community responses to gender-based violence while centering survivor safety and autonomy.

What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?

The listing states the opportunity was created on 2026-06-03 and the original application closing date is 2026-07-14.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date listed is 2026-07-14.

How competitive is this grant expected to be?

It is described as a discretionary OVW program with an anticipated 80 awards nationwide and an award ceiling of $600,000. The description indicates applicants should present a clear service model, a strong implementation plan, and evidence the approach is tailored to victim needs in the community.

What elements does the opportunity highlight as important in project design?

The description highlights the importance of a clear service model and implementation plan, and tailoring services to community needs. It also calls out considerations such as confidentiality, safety planning, accessibility, and coordination with victim service providers and other community partners.

Does the program emphasize survivor-centered approaches?

Yes. The program is described as supporting survivor-centered housing solutions and services that center survivor safety and autonomy.

Is this funding intended only for people already experiencing homelessness?

No. The description includes victims who are homeless as well as victims who otherwise need short- to medium-term transitional or comparable housing assistance because of the violence they experienced.

What is the overall goal for participants supported by this program?

The program aims to help participants move toward safety and stability and ultimately toward longer-term housing independence.

Where are the detailed federal submission steps and portal instructions found?

The description notes that applicants should be prepared for typical federal grant submission requirements and that these process details are usually spelled out in the full solicitation document released by OVW.

What should applicants treat as the operational deadline based on the listing?

Applicants are advised to treat the listed closing date (2026-07-14) as the operational deadline.

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