Family Violence Prevention and Services Act

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 10408(a) and 42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(A)), funds under this program must be used to prevent incidents of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence by providing immediate shelter and supportive services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence (and their dependents), and that may provide prevention services to prevent future incidents of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence.

• Provision, on a regular basis, of immediate shelter and related supportive services to adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their dependents, including paying for the operating and administrative expenses of the facilities for such shelter (42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(A);


• Assistance in developing safety plans and supporting efforts of victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence to make decisions related to their ongoing safety and well-being (42 U.S.C.§ 10408(b)(1)(B));


• Provision of individual and group counseling, peer support groups, and referral to community-based services to assist family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence victims, and their dependents, in recovering from the effects of the violence (42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(C));


• Provision of services, training, technical assistance, and outreach to increase awareness of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence, and increase the accessibility of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence services (42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(D));


• Provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services (42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(E));


• Provision of services for children exposed to family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, including age-appropriate counseling, supportive services, and services for the non- abusing parent that support that parent’s role as a caregiver, which may, as appropriate, include services that work with the non-abusing parent and child together (42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(F));


• Provision of advocacy, case management services, and information and referral services concerning issues related to family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence intervention and prevention, including: 1) assistance in accessing related federal and state financial assistance programs; 2) legal advocacy to assist victims and their dependents; 3) medical advocacy, including provision of referrals for appropriate health care services (including mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment), which does not include reimbursement for any health care services; 4) assistance locating and securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services; 5) provision of transportation, child care, respite care, job training and employment services, financial literacy services and education, financial planning, and related economic empowerment services; and 6) parenting and other educational services for victims and their dependents (42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(G)); and,


• Provision of prevention services, including outreach to underserved populations (42 U.S.C. § 10408(b)(1)(H)).

Personnel, employee benefits, and cost of supplies and travel to perform the following activities are allowable costs:

• Prevention services such as outreach, parenting, employment training, educational services, promotion of good nutrition, disease prevention, and substance abuse prevention.


• Counseling with respect to family violence, counseling or other supportive services provided by peers, either individually or in groups, and referral to community social services.


• Safety plan development and supporting the efforts of victims to make decisions related to their ongoing safety and well-being.


• Culturally and linguistically appropriate services such as interpreters and/or having documents translated into other languages.


• Technical assistance with respect to obtaining financial assistance under Federal and State programs.


• Housing advocacy to assist in locating and securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homeless prevention services.


• Medical advocacy including referrals for healthcare services (including mental health and alcohol and drug abuse treatment), but shall not include reimbursement for any healthcare services.


• Legal advocacy to provide victims with information and assistance through the civil and criminal courts, and legal assistance.


• Children’s counseling and support services, and childcare services for children who are victims of family violence of the dependents of such victims, and children who witness domestic violence.

The following costs are allowable for shelters who provide emergency housing to victims:

• Operating expenses (rent, utilities, etc.) of the facilities for a shelter at a prorated amount.


• Supplies for shelter including clothing and toiletries.

The following costs are allowable for the purpose of preventing future incidence of violence:

• Transportation.


• Temporary refuge for emergency and immediate shelter including safe homes, rental subsidies, and hotel vouchers. This does not include transitional or permanent housing.

The budget items listed below are ineligible and will not be supported by this program’s funding:

• Direct financial assistance to a client such as cash, gift cards, or checks.


• Moving costs for victims.


• Food and beverages except emergency food and beverages for victims.


• Lobbying.


• Fundraising (including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions) and time spent procuring funding including completing federal and state funding applications.


• Purchase of real estate.


• Construction.


• Physical modification to buildings, including minor renovations (such as painting or carpeting).


• Purchase of vehicles.


• Overtime is allowed, but to claim the increased rate, there must be a separate line item in the budget that includes the overtime rate of pay.

To participate in the program, a 20% non-federal match is required. Grants awarded through the FVPSA program are subject to the matching requirements in 42 U.S.C. §10406(c)(4). No grants hall be made to any entity other than a state or tribe unless the entity agrees that, with respect to the cost to be incurred by the entity in carrying out the program or project for which the grant is awarded, the entity will make available (directly or through donations from public or private entities) non-federal contributions in an amount that is not less than $1 for every $5 of federal funds provided under the grant or 20% of the project cost. The non-federal contributions required may be in cash or in kind.

(Total Federal Funds Portion ÷ Federal Percentage) - Federal Funds Portion = Required Match
($12,000 ÷ 80%) - $12,000 = $3,000

All match amounts must be FVPSA allowable and are subject to the same requirements, restrictions, and conditions as the federal FVPSA funds. Subgrantees must maintain records that clearly show the source, the amount, and the period during which the match was allocated. The basis for determining the value of personal services, materials, equipment, and space must be documented.