Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVC 2023 171610
The OVC FY 2023 Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), intended to help domestic violence survivors and related victims access safe shelter and transitional housing without having to abandon their companion animals. The program reflects the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (OJP) priorities around civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, strengthening community safety, supporting victims of crime, and building trust between communities and the justice system. The central idea is practical: survivors often delay leaving unsafe situations because shelters or temporary housing cannot accommodate animals, and abusers may threaten or harm pets as a way to control victims. By funding pet-inclusive emergency shelter and transitional housing options, the program aims to remove a major barrier to safety and stability.
Funding is structured across three distinct purpose areas. Purpose Area 1 supports Training and Technical Assistance (TTA), with the goal of helping up to 23 existing and prospective grantees meet their project objectives. This typically means providing guidance, resources, and problem-solving support to organizations implementing pet-friendly housing solutions, so they can strengthen policies, procedures, partnerships, and implementation practices over time. Purpose Area 2 provides Large Awards of up to $400,000 for organizations that need more substantial support to build, expand, or operate sheltering and transitional housing options that can accommodate victims and their animals. Purpose Area 3 offers Small Awards of up to $100,000, designed for agencies that may not need a major program buildout but do need targeted funds for smaller-scale purchases or upgrades that make co-sheltering possible, such as kennels, cages, crates, pet beds, pet supplies, and similar equipment necessary to house victims and companion animals together safely.
The solicitation uses a broad definition of who qualifies as a domestic violence victim for purposes of this program. The term includes victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, consistent with Public Law 115-334. It also clearly defines what counts as a companion animal under the program, explicitly including pets, service animals, emotional support animals, and horses. The definition of "pet" covers common domesticated animals kept for pleasure rather than commercial purposes, such as dogs, cats, birds, rodents, fish, turtles, and similar animals. "Service animal" is defined by reference to the applicable federal regulation (28 C.F.R. section 36.104, or a successor regulation). "Emotional support animal" is defined as an animal covered by the exclusion specified in 24 C.F.R. section 5.303 (or a successor regulation) that is not a service animal. Other terms generally follow the definitions used in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)), unless the solicitation states otherwise.
Eligible applicants include state governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The funding opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 16.582, and it falls under the broader funding activity category of Income Security and Social Services. The grant is administered by DOJ OVC under OJP, and the opportunity anticipated approximately 14 awards, with an overall award ceiling listed as $500,000. The opportunity number is O-OVC-2023-171610, it was created February 17, 2023, and the original application closing date was April 10, 2023.
In practical terms, the program is meant to help victim service providers and their partners create safer, more workable housing pathways where survivors do not have to choose between personal safety and the safety of an animal they care for or rely on. Depending on the purpose area, funds can support planning and coordination, direct shelter or transitional housing accommodations that allow animals, and the tangible supplies and infrastructure that make co-housing feasible and humane for both people and animals.Apply for O OVC 2023 171610
- The Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 2023 Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program" 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 Feb 17, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 2023. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the OVC FY 2023 Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). It is designed to help domestic violence survivors and related victims access safe emergency shelter and transitional housing without having to abandon their companion animals.
What problem is this grant program trying to solve?
The program addresses a common barrier to safety: survivors may delay leaving an unsafe situation because shelters or temporary housing cannot accommodate animals. It also recognizes that abusers may threaten or harm pets to control victims. By supporting pet-inclusive shelter and housing options, the program aims to remove a major obstacle to leaving and achieving stability.
Which DOJ priorities does the program reflect?
The solicitation states that it aligns with DOJ Office of Justice Programs (OJP) priorities that include civil rights and racial equity, improving access to justice, strengthening community safety, supporting victims of crime, and building trust between communities and the justice system.
How is the funding structured?
Funding is organized into three distinct purpose areas: (1) Training and Technical Assistance (TTA), (2) Large Awards, and (3) Small Awards. Each purpose area supports different types and scales of work related to pet-inclusive emergency shelter and transitional housing.
What is Purpose Area 1 (Training and Technical Assistance) intended to support?
Purpose Area 1 supports Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) with the goal of helping up to 23 existing and prospective grantees meet their project objectives. This generally includes guidance, resources, and problem-solving support to strengthen policies, procedures, partnerships, and implementation practices for pet-friendly sheltering and housing solutions.
What is Purpose Area 2 and what is the maximum award amount?
Purpose Area 2 provides Large Awards of up to $400,000. These awards are meant for organizations needing more substantial support to build, expand, or operate emergency sheltering and transitional housing options that accommodate victims and their animals.
What is Purpose Area 3 and what is the maximum award amount?
Purpose Area 3 offers Small Awards of up to $100,000. These awards are designed for agencies that need targeted funds for smaller-scale purchases or upgrades that make co-sheltering possible.
What are examples of costs Purpose Area 3 funds can cover?
The solicitation provides examples such as kennels, cages, crates, pet beds, pet supplies, and similar equipment needed to safely house victims and companion animals together.
Who is considered a "victim" under this program?
The solicitation uses a broad definition consistent with Public Law 115-334. For purposes of this program, the term includes victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
What animals are considered "companion animals" under this program?
The program explicitly includes pets, service animals, emotional support animals, and horses as companion animals.
What does the solicitation mean by "pet"?
"Pet" covers common domesticated animals kept for pleasure rather than commercial purposes. Examples listed include dogs, cats, birds, rodents, fish, turtles, and similar animals.
How does the program define "service animal"?
"Service animal" is defined by reference to the applicable federal regulation at 28 C.F.R. section 36.104 (or a successor regulation).
How does the program define "emotional support animal"?
"Emotional support animal" is defined as an animal covered by the exclusion specified in 24 C.F.R. section 5.303 (or a successor regulation) that is not a service animal.
Are there other key definitions the program relies on?
Unless the solicitation states otherwise, other terms generally follow the definitions used in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status). The solicitation specifies that eligible nonprofits may not be institutions of higher education.
Which federal office administers this grant?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), under the Office of Justice Programs (OJP).
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 16.582.
What is the broader funding activity category?
The solicitation places the opportunity under the broader funding activity category of Income Security and Social Services.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated approximately 14 awards.
What is the overall award ceiling listed for the opportunity?
The overall award ceiling listed is $500,000.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is O-OVC-2023-171610.
When was the opportunity created, and when did it originally close?
The opportunity was created on February 17, 2023, and the original application closing date was April 10, 2023.
What types of projects is the program meant to support in practical terms?
In practical terms, the program is meant to help victim service providers and their partners create safer, workable housing pathways where survivors do not have to choose between personal safety and the safety of an animal. Depending on the purpose area, funds may support planning and coordination, pet-inclusive shelter or transitional housing accommodations, and supplies or infrastructure needed to make co-housing feasible and humane.
Does the program focus on emergency shelter only, or transitional housing too?
It focuses on both emergency shelter and transitional housing, with the overarching goal of enabling victims and their companion animals to remain together while accessing safety and stability.
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