How the TANF Flex Funds Support Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence and Their Families in Colorado

Imagine being forced to flee a situation of domestic violence and arriving with your child at an emergency shelter, terrified and completely unprepared for independent life. Or consider the shock of discovering that your partner, who has been engaging in financial abuse, took the rent money, leaving you and your family on the edge of homelessness.

These are the kinds of immediate, overwhelming crises that survivors of domestic and sexual violence often face as they work to rebuild their lives. When resources aren’t available, emergencies like these can put the safety and stability of survivors and their children at risk.

With the support of legislators and Governor Jared Polis, in 2024, Colorado passed the Stable Housing for Survivors of Abuse Bill, a new way to respond to vulnerable families. The bill makes available new, flexible funds that can help survivors of domestic and sexual violence navigate complex, immediate safety concerns as well as housing insecurity.

About the DVP TANF Flex Funds Project Works

The new law directs the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to work with community-based advocacy organizations to distribute flexible financial assistance to survivors.

Two CDHS teams, the Division of Economic and Workforce Support (DEWS) and the Domestic Violence Program (DVP), partnered with the community and counties to develop this new program, with the goal of quickly addressing the most urgent housing and safety needs of survivors and their families.

DEWS oversees Colorado Works which is Colorado’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program that provides temporary cash assistance to families in financial need. DVP partners with community-based advocacy organizations that already provide no-cost, 24/7 confidential services to survivors.

Community-based advocacy organizations understand survivors’ immediate needs and are positioned to respond quickly, offering community resources for ongoing support as needed.

Counties are also fundamental to this project because they manage Colorado Works at a local level, offer an array of longer-term support and can refer survivors to community-based advocacy programs.

“This early, flexible support empowers survivors and their families to change cycles of poverty. It provides critical early interventions that are known to positively reduce the likelihood of entering other systems, like child welfare,” said Ian McMahon, Director of DEWS at CDHS.

Colorado has committed to funding the DVP TANF Flex Funds Project for the next four (4) years, with $2 million allocated annually.

Financial Support That Helps Survivors and Their Families be Safe and Stable

Kaya and Ava are courageous survivors who have lived the terrifying consequences of domestic violence firsthand.

For Kaya, the DVP TANF Flex Funds came at exactly the right time.

As a survivor of domestic violence, Kaya’s domestic violence advocate helped her apply for the DVP TANF Flex Funds as she was searching for safe and stable housing for herself and her 5-year-old son. When Kaya was 18, she moved out and was living with an abusive partner. For safety reasons, she and her son went into a domestic violence shelter at a nearby community-based organization. The advocate there helped her access DVP TANF Flex Funds, which covered the security deposit for her new apartment. “For the first time in my life, I finally feel safe, independent and confident,” Kaya shared.

Ava found help when she reached out to a community-based advocacy organization for support. Through them, she was able to obtain rental assistance through the DVP TANF Flex Funds. Ava’s family found housing stability, an important step toward creating lasting healing, well-being and a secure future. “Thank you for keeping me and my kids in the house,” Ava said.

A Growing Impact Across Colorado

Since the project launched in July 2025, it has helped over 240 survivors and more than 500 of their dependents, including children and other family members.

“When a person is experiencing domestic or sexual violence, there’s a disruption to their safety and their children’s safety,” said Beth Collins, DVP Director at the Office of Children, Youth and Families. “Ensuring that survivors and their kids have access to safe and stable housing is crucial to heal and move forward in a healthy way.”

This project provides hope and stability when survivors and their families need it most, reinforcing that safe housing is the foundation for healing and a healthier future.

Together, the state and community-based advocacy organizations are building a stronger safety net for survivors and their families. By offering flexible, rapid support at critical moments, Colorado is helping families stay housed, stay safe and stay connected to the resources they need to heal. Colorado stands with survivors and their families, always!

If You Need Help

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or sexual violence, help is available. Please visit violencefreecolorado.org to find free and confidential support in your area.

If you are concerned about the safety or well-being of a child or youth, call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 844-CO-4-Kids (844-264-5437).

If you are in need of resources, contact your county. Counties oversee the implementation of Colorado Works. When a person joins the program, they can get help with a monthly cash payment, schooling, training, jobs and much more. To learn more or to apply, visit PEAK Colorado.