Housing Opportunities for Trafficking Survivors

The goal of the FY 2020 Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking Program is to support housing assistance for victims of all forms of human trafficking throughout the United States, as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, as amended. Funding through this solicitation supports programs that provide 6 to 24 months of transitional housing with support services to victims of human trafficking who are in need of housing as a result of human trafficking. Funding will be provided over a three-year project period. Free Our Girls’ (FOG) program will provide affordable, short-term housing options to victims of human trafficking and their children located in Weld and Larimer County, Colorado for up to 12 months. FOG is adopting the Housing First model using scattered-site housing through which participants will select an open market unit and hold the lease in their name. This will allow each survivor to build their rental history and remain in the unit upon exiting the program. The program will begin with a rapid re-housing approach in which FOG will subsidize 100 percent of each participant’s rent for 60 days to avoid or minimize exposure to homelessness. After 60 days, FOG will incorporate a permanent supportive housing model in which participants will make rent payments equal to 30% of their gross income. FOG will hold these rent payments in a savings account until the participant exits the program. Upon exit, participants will receive the total sum of the rent paid during their time in the program. Support services include a job training program through which participants can engage in paid employment in FOG’s boutiques while receiving workforce readiness education. FOG will pay for 100% of childcare for 60 days to allow participants to begin working while state childcare assistance applications are processed. Participants will have the option of participating in no-cost financial literacy education and individual and group therapy. FOG will employ a peer navigator with shared, lived experience as a trafficking survivor to assist participants. CA/NCF