Grant Proposal Plan for Emergency Hotel Stays for Survivors with Safe Stays

Click here to access and download.

1. Identify Funding Sources

Research government grants (e.g., VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funds, OVW (Office on Violence Against Women) grants, local state grants).
Look into foundation and corporate grants (e.g., The Allstate Foundation, NoVo Foundation, local community foundations).
Review the eligibility criteria and deadlines.

2. Develop a Letter of Intent (LOI)

Purpose: A brief, compelling letter to introduce the project to the funder.
Key Components:
- Organization introduction (mission, history, expertise).
- Statement of need (data on domestic violence/sexual assault survivors needing emergency stays).
- Proposed solution (emergency hotel program details).
- Impact statement (how funding will directly support survivors).
- Request for funding consideration.
Length: Typically 1-2 pages.

3. Write the Grant Narrative

The main body of the grant proposal should include:

A. Executive Summary

Brief overview of the organization.
Summary of the project and funding request.
Expected impact and alignment with the funder’s priorities.

B. Statement of Need

Explain the problem: Lack of emergency shelter options for survivors.
Use data & statistics:
- Number of survivors needing emergency stays annually.
- Challenges with current shelter capacity.
  - How many have been turned away due to capacity?
Share survivor stories or case studies (confidentially).

C. Project Description

Program overview: How the hotel stay program works. (Safe Stays)
How survivors access support: Referral process, eligibility, services provided.
Partnerships: Safe Stays, law enforcement, social services.
Length of stays and funding limits per survivor.

D. Goals & Objectives

Example Goal: Increase immediate safety for survivors by providing temporary housing.
Example Objective: Provide 100 emergency hotel stays in the next year.

E. Implementation Plan

Staffing & Responsibilities: Who will coordinate hotel stays?
Safe Stays Account: OA with ReloShare
Support Services: Case management, transportation, legal aid referrals.

F. Evaluation Plan

How will success be measured?
- Number of survivors housed.
- Percentage who transition to stable housing.
- Client feedback surveys.

4. Develop a Budget

Personnel Costs:
- Case managers handling referrals.
- Advocates supporting survivors.
Direct Assistance:
- Hotel room costs (average cost per night x projected nights needed).
- Transportation costs (e.g., Uber, Lyft, bus vouchers).
Other Costs:
- Emergency food vouchers.
- Essential hygiene kits.

Budget Justification

Explain why each cost is necessary.
Break down projected costs based on prior data.

5. Assemble Required Attachments

501(c)(3) verification (if applicable).
Letters of Support (from community partners, local hotels).
MOUs with partner agencies (domestic violence shelters, law enforcement).
Board of Directors list.
Organizational financials (if required).

6. Submit and Follow Up

Review for accuracy & completeness.
Submit before the deadline.
Follow up: Send a thank-you note and be ready for potential funder questions.

2a. Letter of Intent (LOI) Template

[Your Organization’s Letterhead]
[Date]

[Grant Funder’s Name]
[Title]
[Foundation/Agency Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip]

Subject: Letter of Intent for [Grant Name]

Dear [Funder’s Name],

I am writing on behalf of [Your Organization Name], a nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. We respectfully submit this Letter of Intent to apply for funding through [Grant Name] to support our Emergency Hotel Stay Program, which provides immediate, safe shelter for survivors who have no other housing options.

Each year, [Your Organization] serves [Number] survivors, many of whom face barriers in accessing emergency shelter due to capacity issues or safety concerns. By using Safe Stays by ReloShare, we provide survivors with short-term hotel accommodations while connecting them with case management, transportation, and long-term housing solutions.

We are seeking [Amount Requested] to cover emergency hotel stays, support services, and administrative costs associated with operating this program. This funding will allow us to serve approximately [Estimated Number] survivors over the next [Grant Period].

We appreciate your commitment to supporting survivors and would welcome the opportunity to submit a full proposal. Please let us know if additional information is required. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Organization Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]

3a. Grant Narrative Template

Safe Stays Emergency Housing Program Proposal

A. Executive Summary

Our organization is committed to providing immediate, flexible, and trauma-informed emergency housing for survivors of domestic violence across our state. We are seeking funding to support the Safe Stays Program, an innovative hotel-based emergency housing initiative in partnership with ReloShare. This program enables survivors to access anonymous, secure hotel accommodations when traditional shelter options are unavailable or unsuitable due to capacity, family composition, or other barriers. Through Safe Stays, we aim to serve 2,500 survivor households annually, providing safe, accessible housing along with mobile advocacy and essential support services. This initiative aligns with your priorities of ensuring survivor safety, promoting autonomy, and delivering trauma-informed, community-based solutions.

B. Statement of Need

Domestic violence remains a leading cause of homelessness and housing instability across our state. Each year, approximately 2,500 households urgently seek emergency shelter due to domestic violence. However, due to limited shelter capacity, nearly 40% of these households are routinely denied immediate access. Traditional shelters often cannot accommodate survivors with pets, multigenerational families, or those needing to stay near employment, schools, or critical services.

For instance, a recent survivor who fled violence with her elderly mother and two young children was turned away because no shelter could accommodate multigenerational families. Another survivor remained in an abusive home out of fear of being separated from her pet, her primary source of emotional support. These cases illustrate the need for flexible, survivor-centered emergency housing solutions that remove unnecessary barriers to safety.

C. Project Description

The Safe Stays Program leverages ReloShare’s secure hotel booking platform to provide survivors with immediate access to hotel accommodations, ensuring their safety and autonomy. The program will offer up to 30 days of hotel stays per household at an average cost of $140 per night.

Program Components:

Secure Hotel Placements: Advocates will use Safe Stays to book alias hotel stays when shelter space is unavailable or inappropriate.
Trauma-Informed Mobile Advocacy: A trained mobile advocacy team will provide direct, ongoing case management and support services to survivors during their hotel stays.
Supportive Resources: The program will offer transportation assistance (rideshare credits), food gift cards, and pet-friendly accommodations to eliminate common barriers to accessing emergency housing.

This program will provide flexible, trauma-informed housing to an estimated 2,500 survivor households per year.

D. Goals & Objectives

Goal 1: Increase immediate safety and stability for domestic violence survivors.

Objective 1: Provide Safe Stays hotel placements to 2,500 survivor households annually.
Objective 2: Offer hotel stays of up to 30 days per household when shelter is unavailable or unsuitable.
Objective 3: Ensure hotel accommodations can support pets and multigenerational families.

Goal 2: Deliver holistic, trauma-informed support services alongside emergency housing.

Objective 1: Provide mobile advocacy and case management services to all survivor households utilizing Safe Stays.
Objective 2: Supply transportation and food resources to reduce barriers to safe housing.

E. Implementation Plan

The Safe Stays Program will be led by an experienced Program Coordinator responsible for overseeing daily operations, managing the Safe Stays partnership, and coordinating staff and services. The program team will include trauma-informed advocates trained in mobile advocacy to support survivors throughout their hotel stays.

We will maintain partnerships with law enforcement, social service agencies, and community-based organizations to facilitate streamlined referrals. Our comprehensive referral network ensures that survivors in crisis can quickly and safely access hotel accommodations.

Budget Overview:

Hotel Stays: $140 per night, up to 30 days per household
Mobile Advocacy Staffing & Case Management
Transportation Assistance: Rideshare credits
Food Support: Grocery and restaurant gift cards

F. Evaluation Plan

The Safe Stays Program’s success will be evaluated using the following key metrics:

Number of survivor households served annually (target: 2,500 households)
Percentage of survivors who transition from hotel stays to longer-term stable housing
Survivor feedback collected through anonymous satisfaction surveys assessing safety, program quality, and overall experience

Quarterly program reviews will assess progress, address barriers, and inform continuous program improvement to ensure effective, responsive, and survivor-centered service delivery.

4a. Budget Template

Budget Category	Description	Amount Requested
Hotel Stays	Cost of [X] nights at an average rate of [$X] per night for [Number] survivors	$XX,XXX
Transportation Assistance	Bus passes, rideshare vouchers, emergency travel funds	$X,XXX
Case Management Staff	Salary for staff coordinating housing, safety planning	$XX,XXX
Administrative Costs	Software, tracking, staff training	$X,XXX
Hygiene & Emergency Kits	Essential supplies for survivors (toiletries, clothing)	$X,XXX
Total Amount Requested		$XX,XXX

Budget Justification:

Hotel costs are based on an estimated [X] survivors needing an average of [Y] nights.
Transportation support is necessary to help survivors reach safe locations.
Case management ensures survivors receive support beyond the hotel stay.

Letter of Support Template

[Organization’s Letterhead]
[Date]

[Grant Funder’s Name]
[Title]
[Foundation/Agency Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip]

Subject: Letter of Support for [Your Organization’s] Emergency Hotel Stay Program

Dear [Funder’s Name],

On behalf of [Partner Organization Name], I am pleased to provide this letter in support of [Your Organization Name]’s grant application for funding their Emergency Hotel Stay Program. Our agency has worked closely with [Your Organization] for [X] years, and we have witnessed firsthand the urgent need for temporary housing for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Through this program, survivors who would otherwise be left without shelter are given a safe place to stay while receiving support services. [Partner Organization Name] collaborates with [Your Organization] by [describe the role of the partner, e.g., providing referrals, assisting with transportation, offering case management].

We strongly support this funding request, as it will allow [Your Organization] to expand its impact and ensure more survivors receive life-saving assistance. We look forward to continuing our partnership to support those in need.

Sincerely,
[Name]
[Title]
[Partner Organization Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]