Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2022 171026
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Fiscal Year 2022 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program Solicitation is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice designed to expand access to meaningful legal help for victims of interpersonal violence. Authorized under 34 U.S.C. 20121 and administered under CFDA 16.524, the program focuses on improving the availability of both civil and criminal legal assistance for adult and youth victims (ages 11 and older) affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The core idea is straightforward: victims often face urgent legal problems directly connected to abuse, and having strong, attorney-led legal representation can be the difference between safety and continued harm, stability and homelessness, or financial recovery and long-term economic damage.
This solicitation emphasizes that the funded work must provide comprehensive direct legal services, not just information, hotline support, intake, or referrals. Under the statutory definition referenced (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(19)), intake or referral alone does not count as legal assistance for purposes of this program. Instead, projects are expected to deliver actual legal representation by a licensed attorney and to address the broad range of legal issues victims typically encounter as a result of violence. OVW frames this as a comprehensive response, meaning legal help should not be limited to a single court appearance or a narrow case type when the victim is dealing with multiple interconnected legal threats at the same time.
The types of legal matters supported under LAV are broad and include both civil and criminal justice related work that affects a victim's safety, privacy, and stability. On the civil side, the solicitation highlights representation in protection order proceedings (including emergency and non-emergency hearings) and related stay-away order processes. It also explicitly includes family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and child support, which are often central to a victim's ability to separate safely from an abuser. Beyond family court, LAV recognizes that violence frequently triggers housing and consumer problems, so eligible services can cover housing issues (such as eviction defense, lease termination, or safety-related relocation concerns), consumer matters, credit repair or restoration, and other legal steps that help victims regain economic independence. The program also recognizes legal needs in tribal and territorial matters, immigration cases, employment disputes, administrative agency proceedings, and campus administrative processes, reflecting how abuse can spill into nearly every part of a victim's life.
On the criminal justice side, the program allows legal assistance connected to investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters that impact the victim's safety and privacy. That can include helping victims understand and assert their rights during a case, addressing privacy protections, and supporting victims through sentencing and post-conviction stages such as parole and probation where safety concerns can remain high. The solicitation frames this work as victim-centered legal support that helps ensure the system does not unintentionally expose victims to further risk or retaliation.
In terms of who can apply, OVW lists a range of eligible applicants, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they meet the program's eligibility rules), and other entities as clarified in the solicitation's additional eligibility text. This mix reflects OVW's intent to fund legal service providers and partner organizations that can deliver specialized, trauma-informed legal representation, including services tailored to campus settings, tribal communities, and culturally specific needs.
Key funding details in the notice include an award ceiling of $800,000 per award, with an anticipated 56 awards. The opportunity number is OVW 2022-171026, and it was posted on January 25, 2022, with an original closing date of March 10, 2022. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, consistent with OVW's broader Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) implementation strategy.
Finally, the solicitation points applicants to OVW program materials and performance measurement resources, including OVW's Grants and Programs webpage and the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative. This signals that grantees are expected to track and report outcomes tied to OVW performance measures, showing how funded services contribute to program goals such as improved victim safety, increased access to justice, and longer-term stability and economic independence. The notice also references examples of successful projects discussed in OVW's report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs, reinforcing that the LAV program is meant to fund proven, hands-on legal representation models that directly change outcomes for victims rather than simply expanding general information or referral capacity.Apply for O OVW 2022 171026
- The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2022 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program Solicitation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.524.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 25, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 10, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 56 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: OVW Fiscal Year 2022 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program
What is the OVW Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program?
The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is designed to expand access to meaningful, attorney-led legal help for victims of interpersonal violence by improving the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program aims to support comprehensive, direct legal representation that helps victims address urgent legal problems connected to abuse. OVW emphasizes that strong legal representation can directly affect safety, stability, and long-term economic outcomes for victims.
Which forms of violence does the LAV program address?
The solicitation focuses on legal needs arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Who can receive legal assistance supported by this grant?
The program serves adult and youth victims ages 11 and older who are affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Does the program fund general legal information, hotline support, intake, or referrals?
No. The solicitation is clear that funded work must provide comprehensive direct legal services. Under the statutory definition referenced in the solicitation (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(19)), intake or referral alone does not count as legal assistance for this program.
What does OVW mean by "direct legal services" under LAV?
Direct legal services under LAV are expected to involve actual legal representation by a licensed attorney. The emphasis is on hands-on legal work that addresses victims' legal issues connected to violence, rather than only offering brief advice, basic information, or routing people elsewhere.
Does OVW expect services to be comprehensive, or can projects focus on one narrow legal issue?
OVW frames the approach as a comprehensive response. The solicitation indicates legal help should not be limited to a single court appearance or a narrow case type when a victim is facing multiple interconnected legal threats at the same time.
What civil legal matters can be supported with LAV funding?
The solicitation identifies a broad set of civil legal issues, including protection order proceedings (emergency and non-emergency) and related stay-away order processes. It also highlights family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and child support, along with housing issues (including eviction defense, lease termination, and safety-related relocation concerns), consumer matters, and credit repair or restoration to support economic independence.
Are protection orders specifically included as an eligible area of representation?
Yes. Representation in protection order proceedings is specifically highlighted, including both emergency and non-emergency hearings and related stay-away order processes.
Does the program support legal help for family law matters like divorce and custody?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly includes family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and child support as eligible legal issues that can be addressed with LAV-funded legal assistance.
Can LAV-funded services include housing-related legal representation?
Yes. The solicitation states that eligible services can cover housing issues such as eviction defense, lease termination, and safety-related relocation concerns.
Are consumer and credit-related legal issues eligible under this program?
Yes. The solicitation includes consumer matters and credit repair or restoration among the types of legal steps that can help victims regain economic independence.
Does the solicitation recognize legal needs beyond traditional courts?
Yes. It references legal needs that may arise in administrative agency proceedings and campus administrative processes, reflecting that abuse can affect many parts of a victim's life.
Are tribal and territorial legal matters included?
Yes. The solicitation notes legal needs in tribal and territorial matters, indicating the program is intended to support services in a range of jurisdictions and settings.
Can the grant support immigration-related legal assistance?
Yes. Immigration cases are listed among the recognized areas of legal need in the solicitation.
Can the grant support employment-related legal disputes?
Yes. Employment disputes are included among the matters the solicitation recognizes as part of the broader legal needs victims may face.
What criminal justice-related legal assistance is supported?
The program allows legal assistance connected to investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters that affect a victim's safety and privacy. This can include helping victims understand and assert their rights during a case, addressing privacy protections, and supporting victims through sentencing and post-conviction stages such as parole and probation where safety concerns may remain high.
Does LAV funding cover post-conviction stages like parole and probation?
Yes. The solicitation specifically mentions post-conviction stages such as parole and probation as areas where victims may still have serious safety concerns and may need legal support.
Who is eligible to apply for the LAV grant?
Eligible applicants listed by OVW include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they meet the program's eligibility rules), as well as other entities as clarified in the solicitation's additional eligibility text.
Can institutions of higher education apply?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations are included as eligible applicants.
Do applicants have to be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to be eligible?
No. The solicitation states that nonprofits may be eligible with or without 501(c)(3) status, provided they meet the program's eligibility rules.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The solicitation lists the program under CFDA 16.524.
What statutory authority is referenced for this program?
The solicitation notes the program is authorized under 34 U.S.C. 20121.
What is the opportunity number for this solicitation?
The opportunity number provided is OVW 2022-171026.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $800,000 per award, as stated in the notice.
How many awards does OVW anticipate making?
The notice states an anticipated 56 awards.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What activity category does OVW list for this opportunity?
The activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The notice indicates it was posted on January 25, 2022, with an original closing date of March 10, 2022.
What does OVW emphasize about the quality and model of services to be funded?
OVW emphasizes proven, hands-on legal representation models that directly change outcomes for victims. The solicitation highlights that LAV is not meant to simply expand general information or referral capacity, but to fund attorney-led, victim-centered legal representation that addresses real legal consequences of violence.
Are grantees expected to track and report performance outcomes?
Yes. The solicitation points applicants to OVW performance measurement resources, including the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative, signaling that grantees are expected to track and report outcomes tied to OVW performance measures.
Where does OVW direct applicants for program materials and measurement resources?
The solicitation references OVW program materials and performance measurement resources including OVW's Grants and Programs webpage and the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative.
Why does the solicitation reference a report to Congress?
The notice references examples of successful projects discussed in OVW's report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs to reinforce that the LAV program is intended to fund effective, direct legal representation approaches that improve victim outcomes.
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