34 U.S.C. § 12351 (CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT)
§ 12351. Transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
(a) In general
The Attorney General, acting in consultation with the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Health and Human Services, shall award grants under this section to States, units of local government, Indian tribes, and other organizations, including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service providers, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, population-specific organizations, or community-based and culturally specific organizations, that have a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (referred to in this section as the “recipient”) to carry out programs to provide assistance to minors, adults, and their dependents—
(1) who are homeless, or in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance, as a result of a situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and
(2) for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient.
(b) Grants
Grants awarded under this section may be used for programs that provide—
(1) transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of newly developed or existing transitional housing.1
(2) short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities payments assistance and assistance with related expenses such as payment of security deposits and other costs incidental to relocation to transitional housing for persons described in subsection (a); and
(3) support services designed to enable a minor, an adult, or a dependent of such minor or adult, who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to—
(A) locate and secure permanent housing;
(B) secure employment, including obtaining employment counseling, occupational training, job retention counseling, and counseling concerning re-entry in to 2 the workforce; and
(C) integrate into a community by providing that minor, adult, or dependent with services, such as transportation, counseling, child care services, case management, and other assistance. Participation in the support services shall be voluntary. Receipt of the benefits of the housing assistance described in paragraph (2) shall not be conditioned upon the participation of the youth, adults, or their dependents in any or all of the support services offered them.
(c) Duration
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), a minor, an adult, or a dependent, who receives assistance under this section shall receive that assistance for not more than 24 months.
(2) Waiver
The recipient of a grant under this section may waive the restriction under paragraph (1) for not more than an additional 6 month period with respect to any minor, adult, or dependent, who—
(A) has made a good-faith effort to acquire permanent housing; and
(B) has been unable to acquire permanent housing.
(d) Application
(1) In general
Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.
(2) Contents
Each application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall—
(A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought;
(B) provide assurances that any supportive services offered to participants in programs developed under subsection (b)(3) are voluntary and that refusal to receive such services shall not be grounds for termination from the program or eviction from the victim’s housing; and
(C) provide such additional assurances as the Attorney General determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section.
(3) Application
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require—
(A) victims to participate in the criminal justice system in order to receive services; or
(B) domestic violence advocates to breach client confidentiality.
(e) Report to the Attorney General
(1) In general
A recipient of a grant under this section shall annually prepare and submit to the Attorney General a report describing—
(A) the number of minors, adults, and dependents assisted under this section; and
(B) the types of housing assistance and support services provided under this section.
(2) Contents
Each report prepared and submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include information regarding—
(A) the purpose and amount of housing assistance provided to each minor, adult, or dependent, assisted under this section and the reason for that assistance;
(B) the number of months each minor, adult, or dependent, received assistance under this section;
(C) the number of minors, adults, and dependents who—
(i) were eligible to receive assistance under this section; and
(ii) were not provided with assistance under this section solely due to a lack of available housing;
(D) the type of support services provided to each minor, adult, or dependent, assisted under this section; and
(E) the client population served and the number of individuals requesting services that the transitional housing program is unable to serve as a result of a lack of resources.
(f) Report to Congress
(1) Reporting requirement
The Attorney General, with the Director of the Violence Against Women Office, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report that contains a compilation of the information contained in the report submitted under subsection (e) of this section not later than 1 month after the end of each even-numbered fiscal year.
(2) Availability of report
In order to coordinate efforts to assist the victims of domestic violence, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Director of the Violence Against Women Office, shall transmit a copy of the report submitted under paragraph (1) to—
(A) the Office of Community Planning and Development at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
(B) the Office of Women’s Health at the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
(2) Minimum amount
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), unless all qualified applications submitted by any States, units of local government, Indian tribes, or organizations within a State for a grant under this section have been funded, that State, together with the grantees within the State (other than Indian tribes), shall be allocated in each fiscal year, not less than 0.75 percent of the total amount appropriated in the fiscal year for grants pursuant to this section.
(B) Exception
The United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands shall each be allocated not less than 0.5 percent of the total amount appropriated in the fiscal year for grants pursuant to this section.
(C) Underserved populations
(i) Indian tribes.—
(I) In general.—
Not less than 10 percent of the total amount available under this section for each fiscal year shall be available for grants under the program authorized by section 10452 of this title.
(II) Applicability of part.—
3 The requirements of this section shall not apply to funds allocated for the program described in subclause (I).
(ii) Priority shall be given to projects developed under subsection (b) that primarily serve underserved populations.
(D) Qualified application defined
In this paragraph, the term “qualified application” means an application that—
(i) has been submitted by an eligible applicant;
(ii) does not propose any activities that may compromise victim safety, including—
(I) background checks of victims; or
(II) clinical evaluations to determine eligibility for services;
(iii) reflects an understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and
(iv) does not propose prohibited activities, including mandatory services for victims.
(Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, § 40299, as added Pub. L. 108–21, title VI, § 611, Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 693; amended Pub. L. 109–162, § 3(b)(4), title VI, § 602(a), title IX, § 906(e), formerly § 906(f), title XI, § 1135(e), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 2971, 3038, 3081, 3109, renumbered § 906(e), Pub. L. 109–271, § 7(b)(2)(B), Aug. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 109–271, §§ 2(d), 7(c)(1), 8(b), Aug. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 752, 764–766; Pub. L. 113–4, title VI, § 602(2), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 109; Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title VI, § 604, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 886.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 13975 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Some section numbers or references in amendment notes below reflect the classification of such sections or references prior to editorial reclassification.
heading: Amendments
text: 2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–103, § 604(1), in introductory provisions, substituted “the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women” for “the Director of the Violence Against Women Office” and inserted “, population-specific organizations” after “, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations”.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 117–103, § 604(2)(A), substituted “2023 through 2027” for “2014 through 2018”.
Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 117–103, § 604(2)(B), (C), redesignated par. (3) as (2) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text of par. (2) read as follows: “Of the amount made available to carry out this section in any fiscal year, up to 5 percent may be used by the Attorney General for evaluation, monitoring, technical assistance, salaries and administrative expenses.”
Subsec. (g)(2)(B). Pub. L. 117–103, § 604(2)(D), substituted “0.5 percent” for “0.25 percent”.
Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 117–103, § 604(2)(C), redesignated par. (3) as (2).
2013—Pub. L. 113–4, § 602(2)(A), substituted “victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking” for “child victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–4, § 602(2)(B), struck out “fleeing” before “a situation”.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 113–4, § 602(2)(C), added subpar. (B), redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C), and, in subpar. (C), struck out “employment counseling,” after “case management,”.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 113–4, § 602(2)(D)(i), which directed substitution of “$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018” for “$40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011”, was executed by making the substitution for “$40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (g)(3)(A). Pub. L. 113–4, § 602(2)(D)(ii)(I), substituted “qualified” for “eligible”.
Subsec. (g)(3)(D). Pub. L. 113–4, § 602(2)(D)(ii)(II), added subpar. (D).
2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(1)(A), (B), in introductory provisions, inserted “the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Health and Human Services,” after “Department of Justice,” and “, including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service providers, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, or community-based and culturally specific organizations, that have a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking” after “other organizations”.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(1)(C), inserted “, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking” after “domestic violence”.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(2)(C), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2).
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(2)(A), redesignated par. (1) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(2)(A), (B), redesignated par. (2) as (3) and inserted “, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking” after “violence” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(2)(D), inserted “Participation in the support services shall be voluntary. Receipt of the benefits of the housing assistance described in paragraph (2) shall not be conditioned upon the participation of the youth, adults, or their dependents in any or all of the support services offered them.” at end.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(3), substituted “24 months” for “18 months”.
Subsec. (d)(2)(B), (C). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(4), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).
Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(5)(A), inserted “purpose and” before “amount”.
Subsec. (e)(2)(E). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(5)(B)–(D), added subpar. (E).
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 109–162, § 1135(e), which directed an amendment substantially identical to that made by Pub. L. 109–162, § 3(b)(4), was repealed by Pub. L. 109–271, §§ 2(d) and 8(b).
Pub. L. 109–162, § 3(b)(4), substituted “shall prepare and submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report that contains a compilation of the information contained in the report submitted under subsection (e) of this section not later than 1 month after the end of each even-numbered fiscal year.” for “shall annually prepare and submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report that contains a compilation of the information contained in the report submitted under subsection (e) of this section.”
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(6)(A)–(C), substituted “$40,000,000” for “$30,000,000”, “2007” for “2004”, and “2011” for “2008”.
Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(6)(D), (E), substituted “up to 5 percent” for “not more than 3 percent” and inserted “evaluation, monitoring, technical assistance,” before “salaries”.
Subsec. (g)(3)(C). Pub. L. 109–162, § 602(a)(6)(F), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (g)(3)(C)(i). Pub. L. 109–271, § 7(c)(1)(A), added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “A minimum of 7 percent of the total amount appropriated in any fiscal year shall be allocated to tribal organizations serving adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and their dependents.”
Subsec. (g)(4). Pub. L. 109–271, § 7(c)(1)(B), struck out par. (4) which read as follows: “Not less than 10 percent of the total amount available under this section for each fiscal year shall be available for grants under the program authorized in section 3796gg–10 of this title. The requirements of this paragraph shall not apply to funds allocated for such program.”
Pub. L. 109–162, § 906(e), formerly § 906(f), as renumbered by Pub. L. 109–271, § 7(b)(2)(B), added par. (4).
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 117–103 not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after Mar. 15, 2022, see section 4(a) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6851 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
heading: Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 113–4 not effective until the beginning of the fiscal year following Mar. 7, 2013, see section 4 of Pub. L. 113–4, set out as a note under section 2261 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
heading: Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
text: Amendment by sections 602(a) and 906(e) of Pub. L. 109–162 not effective until the beginning of fiscal year 2007, see section 4 of Pub. L. 109–162, set out as a note under section 10261 of this title.
heading: Transfer of Functions
text: Functions of Office on Women’s Health of the Public Health Service exercised prior to Mar. 23, 2010, transferred to Office on Women’s Health established under section 237a of this title, see section 3509(a)(2) of Pub. L. 111–148, set out as a note under section 237a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.