August 6, 2020 | Sojourner House Newsletter
Sojourner House, a comprehensive anti-violence agency serving Rhode Island, announced today that it received a $499,998 grant from the US Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to provide transitional housing and supportive services to victims of human trafficking in Rhode Island. The funding will be provided over a three-year period, and the project is expected to begin in the fall of 2020. Sojourner House is the only agency in Rhode Island to receive this grant, and it is one of 73 organizations nationwide receiving OVC funding that totals more than $35 million to support housing programs for victims of trafficking. This is the first time that an agency in Rhode Island has received trafficking funds from OVC.
As a part of the project, Sojourner House will create five transitional housing units for victims of human trafficking. Transitional housing provides victims an apartment for up to 24 months. The rent is subsidized based on the victim’s income and staff will work with victims to address their needs, including securing permanent housing, accessing workforce training programs, and receiving treatment for mental health or substance use issues. Sojourner House will also provide trauma-informed supportive services designed to help victims overcome abuse and move toward achieving self-sufficiency. Click here to read more…