Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Transitional Housing Program Grant

Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Transitional Housing Program Grant is sponsored by Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Provides funding for transitional housing services to victims of crimes, including domestic violence, human trafficking, and forced labor.

1745 - 1001 Transitional Housing 1745 - 1001 Transitional Housing The federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was passed in 1984 for the purpose of compensating and assisting victims of crime and providing funds for training and technical assistance. ICJIA is charged with the administration of the Illinois’ Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program.

This program is supported by fines and penalties levied against criminals convicted of federal crimes and allocated to states by formula by the Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice. In federal fiscal year 2024, Illinois received a VOCA award of $28,385,202 million. VOCA grants must support the provision of direct services to victims of crime.

States are required to allocate a minimum of 10 percent of funds received for services to each of the following: victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and underserved victims of violent crime. VOCA funds may not be used to supplant or replace state and local funds that would otherwise be available for crime victim services and must be used to develop new projects or expand existing projects.

Criminal Justice Info Authority ICJIA works to identify statewide needs through research, examination of state data sources, and collection of feedback from experts in the field.

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to address a significant service gap in Illinois: transitional housing services for victims of violent crime, including intimate partner and other forms of domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, and community violence. This funding opportunity will support transitional housing services for persons whose housing needs arise from or are a cause of their victimization.

Eligible clients include adults (and, when appropriate, their dependent children) and victims of crimes, including, but not limited to, domestic violence (including intimate partner violence), human trafficking, anti-LGBTQ+ violence, and forced labor. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Funding Opportunity Number Agency Opportunity Number Assistance Listings Number https://il. amplifund.

com/Public/Opportunities/Details/2bfc68b5-8f23-45b0-b0b6-8879e49a1aee Federal Or Federal Pass Through Funding Source Description ICJIA is offering approximately $2,830,905 in available VOCA grant funding to support the development or expansion of transitional housing and related support services for crime victims. Individual grant awards will range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $400,000.

See Funding Restrictions Download Expected Number of Awards Indirect Cost Description In order to charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must either have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or elect to use a standard de minimis rate. There are three types of allowable indirect cost rates: a) Federally Negotiated Rate.

Organizations that receive direct federal funding, may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. b) State Negotiated Rate.

The organization may negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate. If an organization has not previously established an indirect cost rate, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted through the State of Illinois’ centralized indirect cost rate system in the GATA Grantee Portal.

If an organization previously established an indirect cost rate, the organization must annually submit a new indirect cost proposal through the GATA Grantee Portal system within the earlier of: six (6) months after the close of the grantee’s fiscal year; and three (3) months of the notice of award. c) De Minimis Rate.

An organization that has never negotiated an indirect cost rate with the Federal Government or the State of Illinois is eligible to elect a de minimis rate of 15% of modified total direct cost (MTDC). Once established, the de minimis Rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de minimis rate.

A recipient of grant funds must register its indirect cost rate election through Indirect Cost Rate Election System (ICRES). It is the organization’s responsibility to ensure that any indirect cost rate utilized is properly registered. Grantees have discretion and can elect to waive payment for indirect costs.

Grantees that elect to waive payments for indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. The organization must record an election to “Waive Indirect Costs” into ICRES. Indirect Cost election must be completed annually, for every state fiscal year.

Restrictions on Indirect Costs Citation Governing Indirect Cost Restriction In-Kind Match Requirement Other Funding Requirement Submission Timeline Additional Information Before applying for any grant, all entities must be registered through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal at https://grants. illinois. gov/portal/ and in Good Standing for all pre-qualification requirements.

During the open application period, a pre-qualification verification is performed in the GATA Implementation Website, this includes checking SAM. gov registration, Illinois Secretary of State standing, and status on Illinois Stop Payment List. The GATA Portal will indicate a “Good Standing” status or state the issue and steps on how to achieve “Good Standing”.

Applicants are also required to complete and submit a Financial and Administrative Risk Assessment, known as the Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ), for the current state fiscal year by November 15, 2025. ICQ approval must be obtained from the applicant's cognizant agency prior to the execution of the grant agreement. Failure to obtain timely ICQ approval will delay the execution of the grant.

Allow Multiple Applications Application Review Start Date / Pre-Qualification Deadline Other Submission Requirements Proposals will not be accepted by email, mail, fax, or in person. AmpliFund will not permit late submissions. Agencies are encouraged to submit their applications 24-72 hours in advance of the deadline to avoid unforeseen technical difficulties.

Technical difficulties with the grant management system should be reported immediately to ICJIA Question Submission Information Question Submission Open Date Question Submission Close Date Question Submission Email Address CJA. VOCA. transitional.

housing@Illinois. gov Question Submission Additional Information All substantive questions and responses will be posted on the ICJIA website at and here. Due to the competitive nature of this solicitation, applicants may not discuss the opportunity directly with any ICJIA employee other than via email .

Technical Assistance Session Technical Assistance Session Conference Info / Registration Link Link will be provided on 10/8/2025 Government Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations Applicant Eligibility Information Represent a public agency and/or nonprofit organization. Programs must be operated by a public agency or nonprofit organization, or a combination of such organizations, and provide direct services to crime victims.

Nonprofit organizations must submit proof of 501(c)(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. More information about eligibility can be found in the NOFO instructions.

Beneficiary Eligibility Information Credentials Documentation Eligibility Information Additional Eligibility Information Applicant Eligibility: Registered agencies in good standing with the State Beneficiary Eligibility: Purposes of compensating and assisting crime victims, funding training and technical assistance, and serving victims of federal crimes.

Credentials Documentation: Registered in the GATA Grantee Portal and in Good Standing with Pre-qualification requirements. Additional Information URL Additional Information URL Description Matching funds will equal 20% of the total cost of the project funded and must be included in the applicant’s budget submission. Federal grant funds requested under this application may not exceed 80% of the total cost of the project.

Match can be made in both cash and/or in-kind contributions. Cash or in-kind resources used as match must be spent in support of the program’s goals and objectives. In-kind match includes volunteered professional or personal services, office materials and equipment, workspace and facilities, and non-program funded victim assistance activities.

Any reduction or discount provided to a sub-recipient shall be valued as the difference between what the sub-recipient paid and what the provider’s nominal or fair market value is for the good or service. The value placed on volunteered services must be consistent with the rate of compensation paid for similar work in the program or the labor market. The value of donated space may not exceed the fair rental value of comparable space.

The value placed on loaned or donated equipment may not exceed its fair rental or market value. Refer to 28 CFR 200. 306 for more information on match types and match requirements.

Total Project Cost $100,000 20 Percent matching funds ($100,000 x . 20) $ 20,000 Federal funds requested ($100,000 x . 80) $ 80,000 Award Administration Information The ICJIA Budget Committee is scheduled to review and approve designations in February 2026.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements In addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the approved project proposal and budget, agencies selected for funding must comply with applicable grant terms and conditions and other legal requirements, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), GATA, and the U.S. Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide.

Additional programmatic and administrative special conditions may be required.

The following documents must be submitted prior to the execution of an agreement: • Fiscal Information Sheet • Audit Information Sheet • Programmatic Risk Assessment • Civil Rights Compliance Questionnaire Recipients must submit periodic financial reports, periodic performance reports, final financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Requirements.

Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. Programs selected for funding will be required to submit quarterly reports on the following objectives and must identify the number of clients they aim to serve during the performance period. In addition to the required ICJIA data submission, the applicant will be required to report on the progress of activity in the OVC Performance Measurement Tool (PMT).

State Awarding Agency Contacts For questions and technical assistance regarding application submission, contact: The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is a state agency dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice.

ICJIA brings together key leaders from the justice system and the public to identify critical issues facing the criminal justice system in Illinois, and to propose and evaluate policies, programs, and legislation that address those issues. The statutory responsibilities of ICJIA fit into four areas: grants administration; research and analysis; policy and planning; and information systems and technology.

Section 7 of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act grants ICJIA authority “to apply for, receive, establish priorities for, allocate, disburse, and spend grants of funds that are made available by and received on or after January 1, 1983 from private sources or from the United States pursuant to the federal Crime Control Act of 1973, as amended, and similar federal legislation, and to enter into agreements with the United States government to further the purposes of this Act, or as may be required as a condition of obtaining federal funds” and “to receive, expend, and account for such funds of the State of Illinois as may be made available to further the purposes of this Act.

” (20 ILCS 3930/7(k), (l)) In addition, distribution of federal funds through the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is authorized by 20 Ill. Admin. Code 1520.

40, stating in pertinent part that [ICJIA] will annually review Section 1404 of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (P. L. 98-473, effective October 12, 1984) and based on the requirements of Section 1404(a) and (b), the need for services to victims and the services available to address that need, as evidenced by oral and written comment and testimony received at public meetings conducted pursuant to the Open Meetings Act (Ill.

Rev. Stat. 1983, ch.

102, par. 41 et seq.) , select program priorities for each federal fiscal year.

” Neither the State of Illinois nor ICJIA are obligated to make any award as a result of this announcement. The ICJIA Executive Director or designee has sole authority to bind ICJIA to the expenditure of funds through the execution of grant agreements. This application is subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Any information that the applicant believes should be exempt under FOIA should clearly highlight the information that is exempt, and the basis of the exemption. Application materials must address all components of this NOFO and demonstrate both a need for the program and an ability to successfully implement the program.

Scoring Criteria Possible Points Summary of the Program: 5pts Provide a clear and comprehensive summary of the proposed program and identify what type of transitional housing will be provided (e.g., scattered site, congregate, family units, etc.)? 5 Statement of the Problem: 20 pts Community and Housing Needs - Describe the local and county-level characteristics and geographics of the proposed community to be served.

Include what specific housing challenges or gaps exist for the population to be served. 10 Program Strategies - How will the program address the needs of clients who face multiple barriers simultaneously (e.g., mental health, substance use, legal issues)? Include how any past initiatives or programs attempted to address this problem, and what were the outcomes.

10 Project Implementation: 15 pts Program History - How long has your organization been providing housing or victim services? Describe your agency’s fiscal experience and ability to manage grants. Include all funding sources that support victim service programming and quantitative (e.g., years of service; number of clients served last year) and qualitative (e.g., description of services provided; client case summaries) descriptions.

*(If applicant does not have a history of providing victim services, please explain how the applicant will build capacity to provide them.) 5 Evaluation, and Sustainability - Explain how you track program success, measure outcomes, and make improvements. Include details for sustaining the transitional housing program after the grant period ends.

5 Complete implementation plan.

5 Program Management: 30 pts Program Details - Describe how the program will operate, including victim screening and eligibility criteria, details of the housing stock (units, types, locations, accessibility), and how housing safety and code compliance will be ensured 10 Partnership info - Describe all collaborative partners involved in the proposed transitional housing program: victim service agencies, landlords, housing advocates, etc. 10 Staffing Plan - Describe your proposed staffing plan for the transitional housing program, including key staff positions, their responsibilities, and any specialized training in trauma-informed care, victim rights, confidentiality, and safety planning.

10 Goals and Performance Metrics: 20 pts Download and complete attached goal and performance metrics document. Upload completed version. 20 Budget Detail: 10 pts Provide budget items which are appropriate and reasonable for suggested program.

5 Narrative is complete for all line items, clearly detailing how the applicant arrived at and calculated the budget amounts. 5 Review and Selection Process Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of ICJIA staff and key stakeholders with expertise in victim services. Proposal selection will be made using the previously described scoring criteria.

If possible, ICJIA will fund the highest scoring applicants based on available funding. Reviewers will score applications based on completeness, clear and detailed responses to program narrative questions, and inclusion of all mandatory program elements as well as past performance history and/or financial standing with ICJIA. The applicant must demonstrate that costs are reasonable, necessary, and allowable.

All applications will be screened for completeness including GATA pre-qualification and ICQ submission for the current state fiscal year. Applications that are not complete will not be reviewed. ICJIA reserves the right to reject incomplete proposals, proposals that include unallowable activities, proposals that do not meet eligibility or program requirements, and proposals that are otherwise unsatisfactory.

ICJIA may invite applicants to answer clarifying questions and modify budgets that include unallowable or unreasonable costs. NOFO application budgets will be reviewed for allowability, completeness, and cost-effectiveness. ICJIA will perform an in-depth budget review of all grants awarded and may require budget modifications that do not materially change the nature of the program.

ICJIA may reduce the awards of successful applicants whose applications contained unallowable or unreasonable costs by the total amount of those costs. Upon applicant acceptance of the grant award, announcement of the grant award shall be published by ICJIA to the GATA portal. Review team recommendations will be forwarded to the ICJIA Budget Committee for approval.

Applicants will be notified of the ICJIA Budget Committee's decision. Unsuccessful applicants may request a formal appeal of the evaluation process. Evaluation scores and funding determinations may not be contested and will not be considered by ICJIA’s Appeals Review Officer.

The appeal must be via email and submitted within 14 calendar days after receipt of a Funding Opportunity Declination Letter from ICJIA. The appeal must include, at a minimum, the following: • Statement indicating a request for a formal appeal • A statement of reason for the appeal The appeal will be sent to: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Once an appeal is received, ICJIA will acknowledge receipt of an appeal.

ICJIA will respond to the appeal, in writing, within 60 days or explain why more time is required. ICJIA will resolve the appeal by a written determination, which will include: • Rationale for the determination. • Standard description of the appeal review process and criteria.

Unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing for feedback to improve future applications. Debriefings include written advice on the strengths and weaknesses of applications using the evaluation and review criteria. Requests for debriefings must be made via email and submitted within seven calendar days after receipt of notice.

Debriefing requests will not be granted if there is an active appeal, administrative action, or court proceeding. The written debriefing requests shall include: • The name and address of the requesting party. • Identification of grant program.

• Reasons for the debrief request. Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority CJA. VOCA.

transitional. housing@Illinois. gov Anticipated Announcement Dates Task Date NOFO posted October 1, 2025 Technical Assistance Recording Available October 8, 2025 Notice of Intent due October 15, 2025 NOFO question submission deadline 5:00 p.

m. CST Thursday, October 23, 2025, Applications due 5:00 p. m.

CST Friday, October 31, 2025 Budget Committee review/approval of recommended designations February 19, 2026 Initial Performance Period March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027