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Temporary assistance for domestic violence survivors - Program summary
Effective July 1, 1999, a new program called "Temporary Assistance for Domestic
Violence Survivors" TA-DVS) started. This program replaces the domestic violence
piece of the current Emergency Assistance (EA)
Program.
The program intent is to provide temporary financial assistance and support services to families impacted by domestic violence during crisis or emergent situations. Most often this is when the domestic violence survivor and the children are fleeing domestic violence or at risk of returning to a battering situation.
- Program benefits include housing related payments (rent, mortgage payments, utilities); payments related to setting up a household (furniture, household items, etc.); payments to increase safety (locks, P.O. Box, etc.) and payments to replace personal items (clothes for survivor and children, etc.) that had to be left behind when fleeing abuse, if such items are not available from other sources.
Up to $1200.00 is available to meet the needs of families fleeing abuse or to assist families in remaining free from abuse.
- The program is opened for 90 days to allow time for the domestic violence survivor and
the children to stabilize their living situation and address immediate safety concerns.
- Participants may receive services more than once a year based upon current safety issues.
- Payments are generally made directly to landlords or for specific services.
A case plan or safety plan is written with each participant and payments can be made for child care; transportation; etc. to support completion of the plan.
To be eligible a person must be pregnant or have a child.
There is an income standard, but in many situations we may not have to count all the income, so please
refer clients to AFS for eligibility determination.
Many other TA-DVS and TANF eligibility requirements may be waived if they put a person at risk of
harm by domestic violence. This includes citizenship requirements for battered immigrant women.
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