Protecting Women and Girls through Founding and Replication of Existing Long-Term Safe Homes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and its Office on Women’s Health, has announced a funding opportunity focused on addressing sexual exploitation, trafficking, and abuse among women and girls. This initiative seeks to expand the availability of long-term, trauma-informed residential safe homes that provide comprehensive care. The program is grounded in federal public health authority and aligns with broader national priorities to improve health outcomes, safety, and long-term stability for vulnerable populations. The funding is intended to strengthen the continuum of care by supporting both the creation of new residential programs and the replication of proven models. The purpose of this opportunity is to address the critical shortage of long-term residential facilities that serve victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. Unlike short-term shelters, the program emphasizes stable, therapeutic environments where residents can remain for extended periods, often months or years. These homes must provide multidisciplinary services that address physical health, mental health, emotional recovery, social reintegration, and educational or vocational development. The initiative also prioritizes partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and law enforcement to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care delivery. Funding under this opportunity may be used for a range of allowable activities directly tied to establishing and operating these residential programs. This includes staffing, therapeutic services, training, licensing and compliance, operational expenses, and supportive services for residents. The program explicitly excludes construction costs but allows for facility-related operational support. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers to entry for eligible applicants. The total available funding is approximately 1.9 million dollars, with one to two awards anticipated. Eligible applicants include a broad range of public and private entities located within the United States and its territories. This includes state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, tribal organizations, and institutions of higher education. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to deliver trauma-informed, residential care and meet strict programmatic requirements, including staffing stability, comprehensive service delivery, and adherence to safety and confidentiality standards. Programs must exclusively serve women and/or girls who are victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, or abuse. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and include several required components. These include a project narrative, appendices such as work plans and partnership agreements, and a detailed budget package. The narrative must clearly outline the need for services, organizational capacity, program design, operational plans, partnerships, and evaluation methods. Applications are subject to a multi-stage review process, including eligibility screening, responsiveness review, and merit-based evaluation by an independent panel. Evaluation criteria emphasize program design, organizational capacity, feasibility, partnerships, outcomes, and sustainability. The application deadline for this opportunity is July 19, 2026. A technical assistance webinar is scheduled for June 29, 2026, to provide additional guidance to applicants. Awards are anticipated to be made by September 30, 2026, with project start dates aligned accordingly. The period of performance is expected to last 24 months, with an optional third year based on performance and funding availability. Funding is distributed in annual increments, and recipients must submit continuation applications for subsequent budget periods. Overall, this grant represents a significant federal investment in addressing the long-term needs of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. By focusing on sustainable, high-quality residential care models and requiring comprehensive service delivery, the program aims to improve long-term recovery outcomes, reduce re-victimization, and enhance the overall well-being and self-sufficiency of women and girls served through these initiatives.

Strong applications clearly demonstrate trauma-informed residential care models, staffing stability, and comprehensive multidisciplinary services; emphasize partnerships and measurable outcomes aligned with long-term recovery goals