A new funding opportunity is available from the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) to fund community-based survivor-centered network of mobile advocates equipped with flexible emergency financial assistance for adult survivors of Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
In recent years, King County has seen an unprecedented increase in requests to assist those in crisis due to domestic violence. Homicides resulting from domestic violence in King County increased nearly four times during 2021 compared to 2019. The needs of individual survivors vary considerably, requiring unique, individualized combinations of housing, health, legal, financial, and emotional support.
Mobile Advocacy creates the conditions for culturally responsive care and the ability of organizations to respond to the unique needs of individuals and communities. Mobile Advocacy is especially critical to “meet” survivors where they are at and for survivors who face geographic and cultural barriers due to systemic racism including survivors from culturally specific communities, immigrant and/or refugee communities, Native and Indigenous survivors living on tribal land and from rural and more geographically isolated areas.
Mobile Advocacy is survivor-driven, trauma-informed advocacy that supports survivors to rebuild control over their lives. Survivors lead the process, choose their own goals, and define what is most safe for them. Mobile Advocacy is not a crisis response but rather a mid- to long-term support designed to follow survivors across a wide range of needs.
Funding overview
Funded organizations and advocates will serve survivors throughout King County and identify participants through outreach, referral, and self-referral. Efforts will target four key areas of need experienced by victims/survivors of Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, and Commercial Exploitation. These are substance use treatment, housing stability, employment and assessment, and treatment for complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health diagnoses.
Funded entities must demonstrate that their programs will:
- Specialize in serving adults who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, or exploitation.
- Implement comprehensive strategies that address underlying social, economic, political causes while centering the voices and needs of those most affected.
- Provide robust survivor-centered advocacy that address the impacts of Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, and exploitation.
- Provide flexible emergency financial assistance to support survivors with the services and resources they need to create stability.
Application details
Available funding: Up to $15,725,132 in Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy funds
Investment period: November 1, 2024 – December 31, 2029 (subject to change)
Questions: Contact Jaimee English at jenglish@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4358
Applications due: August 8, 2024 by 2:00pm Pacific Time
Join the information session to learn more about the funding opportunity
A virtual information session to discuss questions related to this RFP will be held on July 9, 2024, 1:00 – 3:00pm.
Join by Zoom:
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/84864848885
Meeting ID: 848 6484 8885
Passcode: 602343
Join by phone:
1 253 215 8782
The information session will be recorded and posted here.
This will be a remote session with speech to text captioning provided. For accommodations to participate, please contact Jaimee English by July 3, 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.