OVC FY 16 Vision 21: Enhancing Access and Attitudinal Changes in Domestic Violence Shelters for Individuals with Disabilities | OVC 2016 9372

Opportunity Information: Apply for OVC 2016 9372

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) FY 16 Vision 21 grant opportunity, titled "Enhancing Access and Attitudinal Changes in Domestic Violence Shelters for Individuals with Disabilities," is a discretionary funding program designed to improve how domestic violence shelters serve survivors with disabilities. The central idea is that access is not only about ramps and door widths; it is also about the day-to-day practices, communication methods, and staff attitudes that can either welcome or unintentionally exclude survivors with disabilities. Through this solicitation, OVC planned to fund work that helps shelters remove barriers, build practical capacity, and create a more consistently inclusive shelter environment.

OVC intended to make two awards using cooperative agreements, which generally means the agency expects to have an ongoing, collaborative role during the project rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. The awards were aimed at state and regional domestic violence coalitions, reflecting OVC's strategy of creating systems-level change by working through coalition networks that can influence and support multiple local member programs. Coalitions would be expected to encourage and assist their member organizations in implementing both physical improvements and operational changes. Examples mentioned include creating accessible bathrooms, arranging interpreter services, using plain-language forms, and developing action plans that guide accessibility and inclusion efforts over time. In parallel, the program emphasizes attitudinal change, meaning shelters would be supported in building staff understanding and competence through training and mentorship so that policies and interactions become more welcoming, respectful, and effective for individuals with disabilities.

A key feature of the opportunity is the built-in expectation of evaluation through a research partner. OVC anticipated that funded projects would include an evaluator to assess implementation and outcomes, with the goal of identifying what is working well enough to inform evidence-based practice. The evaluation component is also meant to surface gaps in services and resources, helping the field understand what barriers still remain and what tools or supports shelters need to make lasting improvements. In other words, the funding is structured not just to improve access in participating shelters, but also to generate learning that can be shared more broadly across the domestic violence and victim services community.

Eligibility was limited to state and regional domestic violence coalitions. OVC also explicitly welcomed collaborative applications involving two or more entities, as long as one eligible coalition served as the lead applicant and the others were included as subrecipients. The lead applicant would hold primary responsibility for administering the award, managing the overall project, and ensuring partners meet requirements. The solicitation limited submissions to one application per lead applicant, though an organization could participate as a subrecipient on multiple proposals. This structure encourages coordination and reduces duplication among coalitions while still allowing partners, including specialized disability-access experts or evaluation organizations, to contribute across efforts.

Administratively, the opportunity was listed under funding opportunity number OVC 2016 9372, CFDA 16.582, and aligned with program areas including income security and social services as well as law, justice, and legal services. The original application closing date was June 20, 2016, and the award ceiling was $2,400,000, with two awards expected. The solicitation also noted that OVC could choose to make awards from applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal years, depending on application quality and the availability of appropriations, which is a common clause that gives the agency flexibility if funding or timelines shift.

Overall, the program can be understood as a coordinated effort to move domestic violence shelters toward fuller accessibility and inclusion for survivors with disabilities by combining concrete facility and practice changes with culture change, training, mentorship, and rigorous evaluation that can help define effective approaches and highlight remaining needs.

• The Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services, law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 16 Vision 21: Enhancing Access and Attitudinal Changes in Domestic Violence Shelters for Individuals with Disabilities" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.582.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-05-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-06-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for OVC 2016 9372

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