34 USC 20127 - Emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing assistance grant program

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 24, 2024

§ 20127.

Emergency and transitional pet shelter and housing assistance grant program

(1)

Grant program

(A)

In general

(B)

Memorandum of understanding

(2)

Application

(A)

In general

An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including—

(i)

a description of the activities for which a grant under this section is sought;

(ii)

such assurances as the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure compliance by the entity with the requirements of this section; and

(iii)

a certification that the entity, before engaging with any individual domestic violence victim, will disclose to the victim any mandatory duty of the entity to report instances of abuse and neglect (including instances of abuse and neglect of pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses).

(B)

Additional requirements

In addition to the requirements of subparagraph (A), each application submitted by an eligible entity under that subparagraph shall—

(i)

not include proposals for any activities that may compromise the safety of a domestic violence victim, including—

(I)

background checks of domestic violence victims; or

(II)

clinical evaluations to determine the eligibility of such a victim for support services;

(ii)

not include proposals that would require mandatory services for victims or that a victim obtain a protective order in order to receive proposed services; and

(iii)

reflect the eligible entity’s understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

(C)

Rules of construction

Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require—

(i)

domestic violence victims to participate in the criminal justice system in order to receive services; or

(ii)

eligible entities receiving a grant under this section to breach client confidentiality.

(3)

Use of funds

Grants awarded under this section may only be used for programs that provide—

(A)

emergency and transitional shelter and housing assistance for domestic violence victims with pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses, including assistance with respect to any construction or operating expenses of newly developed or existing emergency and transitional pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse shelter and housing (regardless of whether such shelter and housing is co-located at a victim service provider or within the community);

(B)

short-term shelter and housing assistance for domestic violence victims with pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses, including assistance with respect to expenses incurred for the temporary shelter, housing, boarding, or fostering of the pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses of domestic violence victims and other expenses that are incidental to securing the safety of such a pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse during the sheltering, housing, or relocation of such victims;

(C)

support services designed to enable a domestic violence victim who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to—

(i)

locate and secure—

(I)

safe housing with the victim’s pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse; or

(II)

safe accommodations for the victim’s pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse; or

(ii)

provide the victim with pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse related services, such as transportation, care services, and other assistance; or

(D)

for the training of relevant stakeholders on—

(i)

the link between domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and the abuse and neglect of pets, service animals, emotional support animals, and horses;

(ii)

the needs of domestic violence victims;

(iii)

best practices for providing support services to such victims;

(iv)

best practices for providing such victims with referrals to victims’ services; and

(v)

the importance of confidentiality.

(4)

Grant conditions

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall, as a condition of such receipt, agree—

(A)

to be bound by the nondisclosure of confidential information requirements of section 12291(b)(2) of this title; and

(B)

that the entity shall not condition the receipt of support, housing, or other benefits provided pursuant to this section on the participation of domestic violence victims in any or all of the support services offered to such victims through a program carried out by the entity using grant funds.

(5)

Duration of assistance provided to victims

(A)

In general

(B)

Extension

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may extend the 24-month period referred to in subparagraph (A) for a period of not more than 6 months in the case of a domestic violence victim who—

(i)

has made a good faith effort to acquire permanent housing for the victim and the victim’s pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse during that 24-month period; and

(ii)

has been unable to acquire such permanent housing within that period.

(6)

Report to the Secretary

Not later than 1 year after the date on which an eligible entity receives a grant under this section and each year thereafter in which the grant funds are used, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a report that contains, with respect to assistance provided by the entity to domestic violence victims with pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses using grant funds received under this section, information on—

(A)

the number of domestic violence victims with pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses provided such assistance; and

(B)

the purpose, amount, type of, and duration of such assistance.

(7)

Report to Congress

(A)

Reporting requirement

(B)

Availability of report

The Secretary shall transmit a copy of the report submitted under subparagraph (A) to—

(i)

the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice;

(ii)

the Office of Community Planning and Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and

(iii)

the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(8)

Authorization of appropriations

(A)

In general

(B)

Limitation

(9)

Definitions

In this section:

(A)

Domestic violence victim defined

(B)

Eligible entity

The term “eligible entity” means—

(i)

a State;

(ii)

a unit of local government;

(iii)

an Indian tribe; or

(iv)

any other organization that has a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (as determined by the Secretary), including—

(I)

a domestic violence and sexual assault victim service provider;

(II)

a domestic violence and sexual assault coalition;

(III)

a community-based and culturally specific organization;

(IV)

any other nonprofit, nongovernmental organization; and

(V)

any organization that works directly with pets, service animals, emotional support animals, or horses and collaborates with any organization referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), including—

(aa)

an animal shelter; and

(bb)

an animal welfare organization.

(C)

Emotional support animal

(D)

Pet

(E)

Service animal

(F)

Other terms

(Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12502(b), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4983.)

cite as: 34 USC 20127