Amata Highlights $500,000 OVW Grant for Efforts in American Samoa

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is highlighting notice of $500,000 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Justice for the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sex Violence for important services.

The grant is from the DOJ's Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) for the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program.

"Thank you to the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence for their work in our community," said Congresswoman Amata. "Thank you to Liliu Mailo for efforts regarding this grant and the availability of these caring services."

Authorization and appropriations for OVW are passed by Congress, and the statutory authority for this grant to American Samoa is 34 U.S.C. 12351. This initial discretionary grant supports a three-year project term.

The program provides transitional housing and support services to aid minors, adults, and their dependents who are homeless (as defined by Congress in 34 U.S.C. § 12473(6)) or in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance as a result of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The program provides assistance to victims for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient. The program supports victim-centered approaches to providing transitional housing, short-term housing assistance, and voluntary support services to assist with locating and securing permanent housing, obtaining employment, and integrating into a community.

American Samoa Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, a non-profit and territory organization in Pago Pago, American Samoa, will implement the Transitional Housing project through the provision of victim-centered approaches to transitional housing needs, in collaboration with Catholic Social Services, Methodist Church Rent and Leases Department, Department of Youth and Women's Affairs, Department of Human and Social Services, and American Samoa Legal Aid.

This continuation project will use funds to provide both housing and supportive services to move survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are homeless or in need of housing assistance to permanent housing.

The range of optional support services from 6 months to two years includes victim advocacy, housing advocacy, financial and employment counseling, individual counseling, group counseling, and legal advocacy. The project will hire one additional staff member to implement the program and provide follow-up services for at least 3 months once permanent housing is secured.

This notice also follows a recent notice of separate OVW grants earlier this month supporting efforts through the STOP Violence Against Women formula and the SASP programs.

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