Summary of the Project

With support from the the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the Vera Institute of Justice’s Center on Victimization and Safety (Vera), a national non-profit organization working to end abuse of people with disabilities, is soliciting application letters from local communities to participate in a pilot project to improve access to healing services and justice options for survivors of sexual violence who have disabilities. Vera will work with the selected applicants to bring together key stakeholders in their community, which must include a local rape crisis center and disability service provider, with the goal of improving responses to survivors of sexual assault with disabilities; identifying gaps and barriers to healing services and justice options for survivors with disabilities; and creating better pathways to healing for these survivors. We will select two communities to participate in this pilot project. To apply, prospective communities must submit a brief application letter and at least two (2) letters of support. 

Over a 9-month period, we will provide tailored support and training in the form of consultations, in person meetings, and virtual convenings to the selected communities to support their efforts to identify needs and close service gaps for survivors with disabilities. We will also work with local partners to devise a funding strategy to sustain the work and vision of their learning community once the 9-month project period ends.

Eligibility

The applicant organization can be a rape crisis center, a disability services organization, a law enforcement agency, or a government entity, such as a coordinated community response team, a task force, a mayoral office, or other intermediary that brings together service providers. Applicants should be able to describe the need for improved access to healing services and justice options for survivors with disabilities in their community and a demonstrated track record of successfully working with other organizations to improve services in their local jurisdiction (neighborhood, city, or county). Applicants must also be able to demonstrate the ability the ability to bring other organizations in their jurisdiction into this project by providing letters of support. 

Organizations that are currently receiving Federal funds through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women’s Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program are not eligible to apply to this project.  

Completing the Application

Applications are due by 11:59 pm ET on August, 23, 2019. To complete this application, you are using an online management platform called Submittable. Here are some important points to note about this system to help you successfully complete and submit your application:

• Creating an Account: Creating an account is simple with Submittable. To create an account simply click the "Create Account" button at the bottom of this page. You will be prompted to enter your email and a password, as well as your first and last name. 
• Logging In and Out: At any point during your application process you may log in and out of the system. Once logged out, you will be asked to enter your email and password to return to your homepage. 
• Auto-Save Feature: The application has an auto-save feature, meaning as you work to complete the application, your progress will be saved automatically.

Please remember that to complete your application, you will need to submit the following components:

• Applicant Profile
• Application Letter
• Two (2) Letters of Support 

Once you have created an account, you will be able to view an overview of the application process and further detail about the project. 

If you have any further questions about Submittable, please contact Ashley Brompton at abrompton@vera.org.  

If you prefer to submit your application materials via mail, please send to: 

Improving Access for Survivors with Disabilities

Center on Victimization and Safety, Vera Institute of Justice

233 Broadway, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10279

Thank you again for your interest, and best of luck in completing your application!