OVW FY 2018 Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program Solicitation | OVW 2018 13829

Opportunity Information: Apply for OVW 2018 13829

The OVW FY 2018 Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program Solicitation is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), aimed at improving how rural communities prevent and respond to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The core idea behind the program is that rural victims often face a different and more difficult set of obstacles than victims in urban areas, and those obstacles can make it harder to get safe, timely, and effective help. OVW is looking to fund projects that strengthen victim services and improve the local response systems in rural jurisdictions so survivors can access meaningful support and offenders can be held accountable.

The solicitation emphasizes the unique realities of rural life that can intensify risk and limit options for victims. Geographic isolation can mean survivors live far from shelters, hospitals, advocacy organizations, and courts, and may have little privacy when trying to seek help. Transportation barriers are often a major problem, especially in places without public transit or where a victim does not control a vehicle. Economic factors also matter, including limited employment opportunities, reliance on a partner for income, and a lack of affordable housing that would allow someone to leave an abusive situation. The solicitation also highlights strong social and cultural pressures that can be especially intense in small communities, where everyone knows each other, confidentiality is harder to maintain, and victims may fear retaliation, stigma, or not being believed. At the same time, rural areas may have fewer specialized services, fewer culturally specific resources, and less capacity overall, which can leave victims with little more than law enforcement or informal community networks to turn to.

On the systems side, OVW notes that these same conditions can complicate criminal justice responses. Law enforcement may need to cover large geographic areas with limited staffing, making rapid response and thorough investigation harder. Prosecutors and courts may have fewer resources, less access to specialized training, and less availability of coordinated victim support, which can affect case outcomes. Service providers also face challenges identifying victims and reaching them safely, especially when victims are isolated, lack reliable communication, or are hesitant to disclose because of community pressures. The program is designed to address these barriers by supporting coordinated, practical, community-based strategies that fit rural conditions rather than assuming an urban service model will work everywhere.

From a funding standpoint, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number OVW 2018 13829 and CFDA 16.589. The award ceiling is $750,000, with an anticipated 45 awards. The original application closing date was January 31, 2018, and the opportunity was created on December 15, 2017. OVW categorizes the activity areas broadly across housing, humanities/cultural affairs-related work, and law, justice, and legal services, reflecting the reality that addressing interpersonal violence in rural areas often involves both criminal justice improvements and victim-centered supports like emergency housing and community-based advocacy.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). In practice, this eligibility structure allows rural communities to apply through different types of lead entities, including governmental bodies, tribal entities, colleges and universities, and nonprofit victim service organizations, depending on what makes the most sense locally.

Overall, the FY 2018 OVW Rural Program solicitation is focused on closing service gaps and strengthening rural community capacity to prevent violence and support survivors. It is grounded in the view that rural survivors face compounding barriers such as distance, limited services, economic constraints, and tight-knit community dynamics, and that effective solutions in rural jurisdictions often require targeted funding to build partnerships, expand access to victim services, and improve the investigation and prosecution of these crimes in ways that prioritize safety, confidentiality, and long-term community change.

• The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the housing, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW FY 2018 Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program Solicitation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.589.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 15, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 31, 2018. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 45 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for OVW 2018 13829

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