Request for Proposals

Calling All Advocates

COVID-19 has intensified the danger level and needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Are you a Tribal or Native organization struggling to meet the needs of survivors? NIWRC has a funding opportunity that includes a high level of technical assistance, training, and support.

We periodically will release RFP's on this page. If you have questions, please reach out to the respective contact listed for the request for proposal.

Request for Proposals

STTARS Indigenous Safe Housing Center is requesting proposals from Native gender-based violence programs and/or culturally rooted organizations addressing housing insecurity/homelessness to subgrant funds from ARP Support for Housing and COVID-19. This request also invites urban Indian and LGBTQ2S+ organizations focused on gender-based violence services and/or housing insecurity/homelessness services to submit proposals. Subgrantees will receive technical assistance and training from STTARS and our partner organizations with expertise in Indian Country and issues related to gender-based violence, COVID-19, and housing insecurity/homelessness.

 

STTARS Reponse Due Date: Proposals may be submitted on a rolling basis, and applicants may be eligible for multiple grants within a single fiscal year.

Submit Proposal

This funding to gender-based violence programs, culturally rooted organizations addressing housing insecurity/homelessness, urban Indian organizations, and LGBTQ2S+ organizations may be used for the following:

Possible Uses

 Relation to Housing/Covid-19 Mitigation

Housing Application Fees/First and Last Month’s Rent/Utility Deposits/Rental Assistance for Housing Subsidies

Can be used for application fees, to cover first/last month’s rent, to cover utility deposits or for rental assistance for housing subsidies for homeless prevention, which creates better  public health outcomes (as keeping individuals housed is a strong mitigating factor related to Covid-19). 

The unhoused/those at risk for homelessness are at a heightened risk for pandemic related complications including, but not limited to, increased risk of contraction and lack of  appropriate medical care.

Test Kits/PPE

Can be used to purchase test kits and PPE for staff/individuals your program works with. Access to adequate testing and PPE materials are essential Covid-19 mitigation tools. Having  access to both increases health outcomes and reduces risk of contraction in housing/shelter.

Transportation Vouchers

Can be used for transportation vouchers as a Covid-19 mitigation tool. Provides increased ability to access services (and even to assist with transportation to employment), such as  housing, which decrease risk of contraction and increase support/care and access to healthcare during Covid-19 times.

Hotel/Motel Vouchers

Can be used as a form of quarantine or during times of reduced capacity (beds/space) due to Covid-19 concerns and as a way to mitigate Covid-19 impacts.

Emergency Food Support/Water

Can be used during periods of quarantine or food insecurity. Could be used to limit exposure, especially for those who are vulnerable to the pandemic. Potable water is an essential  Covid-19 mitigation resource.

Care Kits for the Unhoused/those in Shelter

Can include traditional medicines, thermometers, testing kits, PPE, essential oils, cleaning supplies, clothing, masks, hygienic supplies, medication, gloves, hand sanitizer, Covid keys,  etc.

Ceremony/Healing/Mental Health Services (Pandemic Related)

Can be used to facilitate access to ceremony/traditional healing or for therapy-related expenses (for staff or clients experiencing pandemic related mental health stresses).

Cleaning Supplies/Air Purifiers

Cleaning supplies are essential for Covid-19 mitigation. Can include Lysol/disinfectants/wipes/bleach/brooms/mops/sponges/trash bags/air-purifiers.

Technology to Assist with Remote Work/Case Management as required by Pandemic

To address Covid-19 (both to make sure services are uninterrupted and to reduce staff/client risk of contraction) many organizations needed to adjust to remote work. This placed an  undue burden on organizations without funding to provide staff with laptops/routers/tablets/cell phones/internet connections and related costs/licenses for video conferencing, etc.

Wellness Activities

To address pandemic related fatigue, sub-awardees may consider utilizing these funds for wellness activities with their staff and the relatives (individuals) they work with.

Emergency Funds

To address pandemic related depletions of employee/staff time-off requests, these funds can be utilized to cover an employee who is facing unpaid leave for covid-19 illness (or family  illness).

Salary Support for Staff

Fund staffing increases, workforce supports for employees/advocates, workforce capacity building, and any related costs to retain, reward, or recruit staff to ensure the continuity of  care.

 

Please note these are merely examples of how you may use these funds, we welcome other uses not listed. Please ensure your proposed use of funds include services and/or support for victims survivors of gender-based violence, individuals and/or families experiencing hardships due to COVID-19, and individuals and/or families experiencing housing insecurity/homelessness.

To complete your proposal, please use the platform Submittable using this link or use this button.

Submit Proposal 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a Tribal organization or Native non-profit whose primary purpose is advocacy focused on gender-based violence and/or housing insecurity/homelessness. It may be in urban areas or reservation/Tribal lands.
  • Must be engaging in COVID-19 mitigation and response activities.
  • Must provide or are building capacity to provide advocacy, resources, and direct services to victims survivors of gender-based violence and/or housing insecurity/homelessness.

Project Period & Budget

These funds should be utilized by September 30, 2024, and subgrantees will have the opportunity to apply for allocations for the fiscal years 2025 through 2026, contingent upon the availability of funding.

Reporting
Sub-recipients will be required to provide STTARS with monthly financial reports and an end of year progress report September 30, 2024. If you need proposal submission and budget assistance, please contact our STTARS ARP Coordinator and Specialist, Paloma Sánchez, at psanchez@niwrc.org.

Request for Proposals

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center is requesting proposals from Native domestic violence and /or sexual violence programs to subgrant funds from ARP Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault from the Culturally Specific Populations Grant Program. This request also invites urban Indian and LGBTQ2S+ organizations focused on domestic and/or sexual violence advocacy and services to submit proposals.  Subgrantees will receive technical assistance and training from NIWRC and our partner organizations with expertise in Indian Country and issues related to domestic and/or sexual violence and pandemic responses. 

Response Due Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. MDT

Submit Proposal

This funding to culturally specific sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, LGBTQ2S+ organizations, and urban Indian organizations may be used for the following:

Prevention Activities: Virtual services, supportive services, temporary housing assistance, mobile advocacy services, and supplies to reduce exposure to and risk of contracting COVID-19.

  • Outreach and education about strategies that reduce COVID-19 transmission. 
  • Disseminate educational materials and resources on precautions to prevent, contain, or mitigate COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. 
  • Virtual services, temporary housing options, and supportive services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, including paying for the operating, staffing, and administrative expenses of the facilities for rape crisis/sexual assault programs. 
  • Temporary refuge in conjunction with supportive services and in compliance with applicable state or Tribal law or regulations, including: 
    • Housing provision includes assistance locating and securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services. 
    • Rental subsidies and rental assistance.
    • Temporary refuge or lodging in individual units such as apartments (not required to be owned, operated, or leased by the program). 
    • Safe homes
    • Hotel or motel vouchers 
  • Prevention services, including outreach to increase access to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services and reduce exposure to and risk of contracting COVID-19. 
  • Strengthen partnerships with local and state public health authorities, local/state health departments, emergency services managers, health care providers, culturally specific community-based organizations, Tribes, urban Indian organizations, LGBTQ2S+ organizations, domestic violence programs, and rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs to improve emergency operations throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

Please note that grantees are expected to use materials from federal agencies and/or local/state public health departments.

Preparation Activities and Technical Assistance: Culturally specific sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, LGBTQ2S+ organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

  • Assess the capacity to provide continuity of sexual assault services, including emergency operations plans and plans to address increasing service demands, remote services operational capacity, potential provider closures, and staff absenteeism. 
  • Training to review, update, and/or implement emergency operations plans and plans to address increasing service demands, remote services operational capacity, potential provider closures, and staff absenteeism. 
    • Training, information, and assistance for ensuring the continuity of services to support survivors in making decisions related to their ongoing safety and well-being during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 
    • Training, information, and assistance to ensure continuity and maintain the capacity to provide services, including age-appropriate counseling, supportive services, and culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

The provision of remote services, virtual services, and mobile advocacy are allowable activities.

Response Activities and Technical Assistance: Ensure the continuity of services. 

  • Fund staffing increases, workforce supports for employees/advocates, workforce capacity building, and any related costs to retain, reward, or recruit staff to ensure the continuity of sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, LGBTQ2S+ organizations, and urban Indian organizations for survivors and their dependents. 
  • Provide services, training, technical assistance, and outreach to increase access to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services. 
  • Provide advocacy, case management services, and information and referral services related to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services, including:
    • Assistance in accessing related federal and state financial assistance programs.
    • Legal advocacy to assist survivors and their dependents. 
    • Medical advocacy, including referrals for appropriate health care services (including mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment) (No reimbursement for any health care services). 
  • Assist to locate and secure safe, affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services. 
  • Transportation, childcare, respite care, job training, employment services, financial literacy and education, financial planning, and economic empowerment services. 
  • Parenting and other educational services for victims and their dependents. 
  • Direct crisis intervention, including counseling, mobile advocacy, telehealth, peer support, and in-person assistance. Mobile advocacy allows advocates to work out in the community to support sexual assault survivors wherever it is safe and convenient for the survivor. 

Staffing enhancements, workforce support, and workforce capacity building are allowable activities. 

Workforce Expansions, Capacity Building, and Reimbursement Support: Cover the costs of contractors. 

  • Planning for implementation of culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services: COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; language access planning; or virtual/remote services implementation. 
  • Training providers and staff on COVID-19 mitigation activities: implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation. 
  • Hiring providers and staff to carry out culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services; COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation.
  • Reporting data to HHS on culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services, COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation; and 
  • Expenses to secure and maintain adequate personnel to carry out culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services; COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation. Such expenses may include:
    • Hiring bonuses and retention payments
    • Childcare
    • Transportation subsidies
    • Other fringe or personal benefits authorized by HHS regulations.

To complete your proposal, please use the platform Submittable using this link or use the button above. 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a Tribal organization or Native non-profit whose primary purpose is advocacy focused on domestic violence and/or sexual violence and/or trafficking. It may be in urban areas or reservation/Tribal lands.
  • Must be engaging in Covid mitigation and response activities.
  • Must provide or are building capacity to provide advocacy, resources, and direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and trafficking 24/7/365.

Project Period & Budget

The project period for this sub-award is for year 2, with a start day of October 1, 2023, and an end date of September 30, 2024, with an option to submit a proposal for year 3 of the awarding period through September 30, 2025. NIWRC anticipates a total funding range between an estimated $50,000 - $200,000 each per year. 

Reporting

Sub-recipients will be required to provide NIWRC with monthly financial and programmatic reports. If you need proposal submission and budget assistance in Submittable, please contact our Grants Management Specialist, Carolyn Gresham, at cgresham@niwrc.org. 

For any other questions, contact Tara Azure at tazure@niwrc.org.