OVC FY 2026 Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime is offering the Housing Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking funding opportunity to support organizations that provide housing and associated support services to victims of human trafficking as defined by federal law. The program primarily focuses on rapid rehousing through transitional housing and supportive services that help victims move as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieve stability. Transitional housing assistance must provide temporary housing for at least 6 months and no more than 24 months. Short-term housing assistance may provide rental assistance or other financial assistance, such as security deposits, utility assistance, and relocation costs, for at least 6 months and no more than 24 months. Projects may support transitional housing, including operating expenses for newly developed or existing transitional housing programs, and short-term housing assistance, including rental or utility payments, security deposits, and costs incidental to relocation. Projects must also provide support services designed to help victims and eligible dependents locate and secure permanent housing, secure employment, and integrate into a community. Supportive services may include case management, mental health and substance use treatment, employment and education services, transportation, counseling, and childcare. Participation in support services is voluntary. The majority of project funds must be allocated to housing services. Emergency shelter or crisis housing may be used on a limited basis when necessary to facilitate access to sustainable housing, but applications focused primarily on emergency shelter or crisis housing are outside the scope of the program. Other funding restrictions include holding empty beds when other victims need them, cash or non-cash incentives for service participation except certain necessary noncash assistance, savings accounts for victims, support to maintain victims in privately owned residences, direct cash assistance, construction or property purchases, vehicle purchases, and primary prevention activities. Applicable restrictions concerning prostitution and certain legal services also apply. Approximately 16,800,000 dollars in total funding is expected to support 17 grants, with an anticipated award amount of up to 1,200,000 dollars and a 36-month performance period beginning January 1, 2027. Cost sharing is mandatory. Federal funds may cover no more than 75 percent of total project costs, and recipients must provide at least 25 percent of total project costs through cash and/or in-kind contributions. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments, Native American Tribal governments other than federally recognized governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, public housing authorities, Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, and other units of local government such as towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, and other general purpose political subdivisions of a state. Nonprofit organizations holding money in offshore accounts to avoid the tax described in 26 U.S.C. Section 511(a) are not eligible. Applications use a two-step federal submission process. Applicants must first complete and submit the required SF-424 through Grants.gov by September 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants must then submit the full application through JustGrants by October 5, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required application components include Standard Applicant Information, the Proposal Narrative, and the Budget in addition to the SF-424. The Proposal Narrative must be submitted as an attachment, be double-spaced in a standard 12-point font, use margins of at least 1 inch, have numbered pages, and not exceed 8 pages. The proposal abstract is limited to 2,000 characters. Other application materials include the Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire, Agency Funding Priorities Inventory, applicable budget and financial attachments, letters of intent or memoranda of understanding, applicable Tribal Authorizing Resolution, curricula vitae or resumes, a project timeline, disclosures, and assurances. The Proposal Narrative addresses Description of the Need, worth 5 percent of the application score; Project Goals and Objectives, worth 15 percent; Project Design and Implementation, worth 35 percent; and Capabilities and Competencies, worth 30 percent. The required Budget accounts for the remaining 15 percent. Applicants should document the housing service need with multiple data sources, explain current efforts and existing service levels, demonstrate sustained victim service rates, caseloads, and expenses that align with the requested funding, and show that the project will not duplicate current efforts. Applicants must explain activities, implementation, staffing, beneficiaries, housing arrangements, client eligibility, housing rules, and the transition to permanent housing. Organizations without documented experience serving victims of human trafficking must include a victim service provider as a required partner through a letter of intent or memorandum of understanding and demonstrate significant involvement of that provider in project design and development. Recipients must comply with applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements, ensure that staff and service providers working with trafficking victims are licensed and trained, participate in required grantee orientations, and provide appropriate referrals when victims transition to permanent housing. OJP expects recipients to submit regular performance reports describing progress toward the program goals and objectives. No additional program-specific deliverables are required beyond standard post-award items. OJP may give priority consideration to qualifying projects that directly support law enforcement operations, combat violent crime, support services to American citizens, protect American children, or support American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, although priority consideration does not guarantee an award. The NOFO was released August 19, 2026. Applicants are advised to begin SAM.gov registration or renewal as soon as possible and no later than September 14, 2026, although registration is not a pre-application gating step. The Grants.gov deadline is September 28, 2026, and the final JustGrants deadline is October 5, 2026. The anticipated 36-month award period begins January 1, 2027. The source does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another regular schedule. Program questions may be directed to the OJP Response Center at OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov or 800-851-3420. Grants.gov technical support is available at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726, and JustGrants technical support is available at JustGrants.Support@usdoj.gov or 833-872-5175.

Use multiple data sources beyond hotline data to demonstrate need and cite those sources; document prior service levels and both sex and labor trafficking populations served; demonstrate sustained victim service rates, caseloads, and expenses that align with the requested funding; explain why the project does not duplicate current housing efforts; show how the project enhances the community response to labor trafficking; clearly explain housing type, location, client eligibility, rules, and transition to permanent housing; align the project with the NOFO goals and objectives; ensure the majority of funds support housing services; include the required cash or in-kind match; keep the requested amount within the award ceiling; follow the 8-page narrative limit and formatting requirements; applicants without documented trafficking victim service experience must include a significantly involved victim service provider partner