Getting Financial Resources

Adequate funding to cover costs associated with providing Safe Haven assistance to victims is essential to the success of the outreach. Although many people committed to the work of the coalition may be able to volunteer their services, others will need to be paid. At a minimum, there will be costs associated with volunteers' expenses, meals, and other services, as well as necessary costs associated with the facilities, even if rent is not required.

One of the most important roles of the site coordinator is to estimate the cost of providing this community service and identify funding possibilities.

Funding Sources

A number of grants and other potential sources of funding should be considered:

• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants.
• Local, state, district, county, and victim program funding.
• Foundation grants.
• National victim funds specifically designated for a particular group of victims.
• Special appropriations from Congress.

Non-Cash Contributions

Contributions in the form of equipment, supplies, meals and snacks, furniture, and other needed materials, called in-kind donations, may be solicited if the coalition determines this is appropriate. This may be especially useful if the budget falls short of anticipated expenses, or if the project is proceeding on a limited basis, with a nonprofit organization providing major support.

A staffing option to consider—particularly for key personnel—is making a request for a "loaned" employee from a member organization of the coalition. In this situation the employee is paid as usual by his or her organization, but works on special assignment—in this case, the trial project. To avoid confusion, it is important to establish an understanding that the loaned employee is not working on behalf of the loaning organization, but on behalf of the coalition.