Congressman Neguse Announces Federal Grant to Fund Rehousing Project for Victims of Domestic Abuse

Washington, D.C.— This week, Congressman Neguse announced that Crossroads Safehouse in Fort Collins has been awarded nearly $450,000 from the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The three-year grant will help fund a new Road to Rapid Rehousing program that will provide victims of domestic violence who are exiting emergency shelter with financial, rental, and housing-search assistance to help them find and maintain permanent housing, free from the threat of violence and abuse. Crossroads Safehouse will partner with seven community agencies to provide wrap-around supportive services for the Road to Home program, including City of Fort Collins Social Sustainability Department; Colorado Health Network; Connections; Free Our Girls; the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care; Northern Colorado CAHPS; Project Self-Sufficiency; and the Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Center.

“I applaud the Department of Justice for allotting money to an extremely worthy cause and thank Crossroads Safehouse for their continued work to protect families from senseless violence,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “I hope that our federal government will continue to support organizations that help victims throughout our communities.”

In February, Congressman Neguse wrote a letter of support for the Crossroads Safehouse’s application to the Office on Violence Against Women’s Transitional Housing Assistance for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program.

“Homeless victims in this area face many barriers to self-sufficiency, most notably a lack of affordable housing,” wrote Neguse in the letter. “The US Census Bureau reports that the average housing cost in Larimer County is 34% higher than the national average, and the waiting list for Section 8 Affordable Housing Vouchers has been closed for more than two years. Individuals looking to escape violence often seek emergency shelter at Crossroads, but the community lacks resources for assisting them in securing permanent, independent housing.”

Read the letter of support here.

Planning for the Road to Home program began October 1, 2019 and will be fully operational beginning spring 2020. Once the program launches, participants of the Road to Home program will be able to access a wide range of financial assistance and supportive services. This assistance may include, as needed, short-term and medium-term rental assistance, rental arrears, rental application fees, security deposits, utility assistance, and moving costs. Participants will also be able to access case management to help with the housing search and leasing up process, as well as support in attaining other self-sufficiency goals for staying stably housed in the long term.