A new funding opportunity, Countywide Gender-Based Violence and Trafficking Prevention (HL 10), is available from the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) to develop and implement in-depth, multi-level, coordinated gender-based violence and trafficking prevention and community engagement strategies tailored to geographically and culturally diverse communities across King County.
Gender-based violence affects millions of people in the United States each year. Nearly 1 in 4 adult women (23%) and approximately 1 in 7 men (14%) in the U.S. report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Additionally, 16% of women and 7% of men have experienced contact sexual violence from an intimate partner.
While gender-based violence impacts all communities, it disproportionately affects impacted communities, exacerbating existing inequities and vulnerabilities. Women, particularly those from marginalized ethnic groups, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals, and people with disabilities, often face intersecting forms of discrimination and violence due to systemic oppression and social exclusion. Systemic barriers such as lack of access to support services further compounds the challenges faced by impacted individuals in seeking safety.
Addressing gender-based violence in impacted communities requires comprehensive strategies that address underlying social, economic, and political factors while centering the voices and needs of those most affected. Prevention is one crucial component for addressing Gender-Based violence. The objective is to reduce instances of Gender-Based violence, human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual violence, therefore reducing impacts on individuals, families, and communities.
Funding overview
This opportunity will fund community-based entities to develop and implement programming and initiatives designed to prevent all forms of gender-based violence and human trafficking including, but not limited to, domestic violence, sexual assault, and commercial sexual exploitation. This opportunity builds upon the learnings from the pilot program funded through the previous iteration of the VSHSL (2018-2023) to serve communities impacted by Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Human Trafficking. Funding from this opportunity will strengthen prevention programs that are designed to build community bridges through responsive care networks. This opportunity seeks a unified effort to develop and implement prevention and community engagement strategies tailored to geographically and culturally diverse communities across King County. Funded services may include, but are not limited to, prevention awareness and education and survivor-centered advocacy for social change.
Funded entities must demonstrate that their programs will:
- Address the root causes of Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Human Trafficking with a focus on those most disproportionately impacted such as Black, Indigenous, Immigrant, and other communities of color.
- Demonstrate an approach to prevention that understands how racism intersects with sexism and other forms of oppression.
- Provide information and services that are linguistically and culturally appropriate and low barrier.
Application details
Available funding: Up to $5,457,508 in Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy funds
Investment period: October 1, 2024 – December 31, 2027 (subject to change)
Questions: Contact Bianca Davis at bidavis@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-4123
Applications due: June 11, 2024 by 2:00pm Pacific Time
Join the information session to learn more
A virtual information session to discuss questions related to this RFP will be held on May 14, 2024, 1:30 – 3:00pm.
Join by Zoom:
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/86413645628
The information session will be recorded and posted at https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/VSHSL_HL10.
This will be a remote session with speech to text captioning provided. For accommodations to participate, please contact Bianca Davis by May 10, 2024.
About the VSHSL
The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), administered by the King County Department of Community and Human Services Adult Services Division, promotes healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, housing stability and service system access for veterans, seniors, and resilient communities.