Social Services Block Grant Program

The Social Services Block Grant program administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is designed to support emergency shelter operations for survivors of domestic violence and their dependents. The program operates as part of a broader federal framework that includes the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and complementary state funding through the Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment program. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute serves as the state-level administering agency responsible for distributing these federal funds to qualified service providers within Indiana. The primary purpose of this program is to offset operational costs associated with providing emergency shelter services to victims of domestic violence. Funding is intended to support essential needs such as housing, food, clothing, and transportation, thereby enabling shelters to maintain stable operations and potentially expand services in response to community needs. The program emphasizes flexibility, allowing recipients to allocate resources toward maintaining high-quality residential services while adhering to established standards of care and compliance. Allowable uses of funds are specifically tied to the provision of emergency shelter services, including the use of a defined unit rate for shelter or bed nights, with a maximum reimbursement of one hundred dollars per night per client. This funding is unique in that it is exclusively dedicated to shelter operations among the funding streams managed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Recipients are required to comply with federal and state regulations, including confidentiality requirements and best practice standards for domestic violence service provision. Eligibility is limited to local public agencies and nonprofit private organizations, including faith-based and community-based entities, that provide residential services to victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence. Applicants must demonstrate a documented history of effective service delivery in this area. The program prioritizes organizations that operate shelters and provide comprehensive support services, including counseling, advocacy, and self-help resources for survivors and their dependents. The application process is competitive and requires submission through the IntelliGrants system. Applicants must include required attachments such as a sustainability plan, project timeline, and letters of endorsement demonstrating community support. Additional documentation may be required depending on the specific proposal. Applications are evaluated based on completeness, alignment with program objectives, eligibility, compliance with applicable laws, financial integrity, and organizational capacity, including the ability to pass various state and federal clearance checks. The award period for the referenced grant cycle runs from July 1, 2026 through August 31, 2026, with strict requirements for project initiation within sixty days of the start date. Final fiscal reporting is required within thirty days after the end of the award period, and all expenses must be paid within this timeframe to be eligible for reimbursement. Recipients must submit quarterly programmatic and fiscal reports documenting performance metrics and financial expenditures. All awarded projects are subject to ongoing monitoring by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute through desk reviews and site visits. Compliance with reporting requirements and program standards is critical, as failure to meet these obligations may result in disqualification from future funding opportunities. Technical assistance is available through the ICJI Helpdesk during standard business hours to support applicants throughout the submission process.

Ensure full compliance with federal and state regulations provide complete documentation and demonstrate operational readiness and financial accountability