Relocati<strong>on</strong> Rental AssistanceRelocati<strong>on</strong> Rental Assistance is <strong>on</strong>ly available tovictims of Domestic <strong>Violence</strong> (regardless of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>locati<strong>on</strong> where <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime occurred) or SexualAssault (that occurred in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> home of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim).Relocati<strong>on</strong> benefits are designed to help victimsovercome financial barriers to accessing safe andsecure housing.Relocati<strong>on</strong> expenses include security deposit;applicati<strong>on</strong> fee; c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> fees for electricity, gas,or ph<strong>on</strong>e services; movers or moving truck rental;pers<strong>on</strong>al vehicle mileage for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> move; and up tothree m<strong>on</strong>ths of storage of pers<strong>on</strong>al bel<strong>on</strong>gings.Relocati<strong>on</strong> expenses are paid up to $2000.Rental Assistance is available to assist with threem<strong>on</strong>ths rent or $1800 (whichever is less).Relocati<strong>on</strong> Rental Assistance benefits can be paiddirectly to or reimbursed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim. Landlordsmay be paid directly if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victims submit a“Payment Affirmati<strong>on</strong>” form, available <strong>on</strong>line.If <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim does not have a Social Security numberor Tax ID number (ITIN), benefits must be paiddirectly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> landlord, as no checks will be issueddirectly to victims without a Social Security numberor ITIN.To request Relocati<strong>on</strong> Rental Assistance, a victimmust submit a completed Relocati<strong>on</strong> Packet(available <strong>on</strong>line) and verificati<strong>on</strong> of costs.Dental CareCVC pays certain benefits for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment ofdental injuries related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime. Services mustbe related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victimizati<strong>on</strong>, necessary, andreas<strong>on</strong>able.Dental providers should communicate with CVCprior to providing treatment for pre-authorizati<strong>on</strong>.CVC will <strong>on</strong>ly pay expenses that are not covered byo<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r insurance or benefit programs, such asprivate medical insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, orCHIP.Available BenefitsMental Health CounselingCVC provides financial assistance to crime victims wh<strong>on</strong>eed mental health treatment as an integral part of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>irrecovery. Services must be related to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victimizati<strong>on</strong>,necessary, and reas<strong>on</strong>able.Eligible providers must be: Psychiatrist or o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r M.D. Clinical Psychologist Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Professi<strong>on</strong>al Counselor (LPC) Licensed Marriage and <strong>Family</strong> Therapist (LMFT)Maximum benefit of $3000 per individual victim orclaimant.Psychiatric medicati<strong>on</strong> can also be reimbursed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>victim or claimant for up to <strong>on</strong>e year or until counselingservices are terminated (whichever is so<strong>on</strong>er). Medicati<strong>on</strong>costs do not count toward <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> $3000 benefit limit.CVC will <strong>on</strong>ly pay expenses that are not covered by o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rinsurance or benefit programs, such as private medicalinsurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP.Child Care/ Dependent CareVictims or claimants may qualify for child or dependentcare benefits if <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> needs for childcare is a result of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>crime.Childcare expenses may be paid for up to three m<strong>on</strong>ths.Benefits are paid after services are provided and may bepaid directly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provider or reimbursed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim orclaimant.Dependent care benefits may also be paid for adult victimswho became disabled and in need of care as a result of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>crime.Medical CareCVC pays for crime-related medical expenses.Covered expenses may include, but are not limited to:Medical Services: Hospitalizati<strong>on</strong> Surgery Physician care (including Psychiatric andMental Health) Ambulance Transportati<strong>on</strong> Chiropractic care Dental Care Physical Therapy Prescripti<strong>on</strong>sMedically-Necessary Items that were lost, stolen, broken,or became necessary as a result of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime, including: Eyeglasses Hearing Aids Dentures Pros<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>tic DevicesPhysical Therapy (Up to six m<strong>on</strong>ths)Benefits may be paid directly to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> provider orreimbursed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> victim with proof of payment.CVC will <strong>on</strong>ly pay expenses that are not covered by o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rinsurance or benefit programs, such as private medicalinsurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP.Loss of IncomeCVC may be able to reimburse victims or claimants forsome amount of income lost due to work missed as aresult of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> crime.Loss of SupportCVC may be able to make a <strong>on</strong>e-time support payment tovictims to compensate for financial support lost due to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>crime.For more specific informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se benefits and to access forms, please visit https://www.oag.state.tx.us/victims.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE54 | P a g e
Chapter 7: C<strong>on</strong>necting Survivors toCommunity ResourcesIn this chapter you will: Identify comm<strong>on</strong> resources. Explore resources in your community.“Caminante, no hay puentes, se hace puentes al andar.”“Voyager, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are no bridges, <strong>on</strong>e builds <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m as <strong>on</strong>e walks.” – Gloria AnzalduaSurvivors will have individual needs and goals. It is vital to familiarize yourself with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> agencies,organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and programs available in your area that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> survivors you are working with will comm<strong>on</strong>lyaccess.The more knowledgeable you are about resources, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> systems and protocols; <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> more capable youare to help survivors feel prepared and c<strong>on</strong>fident about accessing those resources.Helping survivors bridge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> gap between <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir unmet needs and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> appropriate community resources is<strong>on</strong>e of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> most important tasks for an advocate. Every step survivors take to build independent supportnetworks is beneficial to l<strong>on</strong>g-term safety and aut<strong>on</strong>omy.In order to find and c<strong>on</strong>nect with resources in your community, you may want to start by:Reviewing your agencies community resource list.Discussing comm<strong>on</strong>ly used resources at staffing sessi<strong>on</strong>s or with colleagues.Reviewing resource lists or resource manuals <strong>on</strong> hand at your agencies.Visiting www.211texas.org and c<strong>on</strong>ducting a search by your city or zip code.Visiting local offices, agencies and organizati<strong>on</strong>s and talking with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir staff about <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> servicesavailable.Developing relati<strong>on</strong>ships and working cohesively with o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r professi<strong>on</strong>als.The following list identifies agencies, organizati<strong>on</strong>s and programs that you may need to access. Whilesome programs are local resources set up by <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> city or county, or even churches and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r communitypartners, o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rs are governmental programs.Hyperlinks are included for your general search of local resources and to help build your understanding of<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resource, but speaking with colleagues about local resources will be a great deal of help as you buildyour own resource c<strong>on</strong>tact list.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE55 | P a g e
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