Page 916

916 Chapter 5:Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence Survivors (TA-DVS) Program • Section 8: Payments (07/2026)

Š Domestic violence shelters (in the area or outside of the area)

Š Other community shelters where appropriate (i.e., sober living, safe home, etc.), community programs that provide motel/hotel vouchers

Š Staying with family or friends

Š Bus or train tickets to family and friends out of town. Any funds the survivor has available are to be used prior to ODHS agreeing to pay for a motel. When approving a motel stay, the TA-DVS Motel Use Agreement (ODHS 1543M) must be completed and reviewed with the survivor. The 1543M must include the need for motel and the expected length of stay. The 1543M can be completed via phone or in person. A signature can be captured as a hard copy or verbally agreed upon and documented in case notes. A verbal signature does not have to be recorded in call center software. Remember: • Approvals are to be limited to the minimum necessary nights to keep someone safe. Typically this is a 1-3 night stay and then the situation is readdressed at the end of stay. If a survivor has additional safety concerns, related to the DV situation, such as the abuser locating them, further nights can be approved. • The survivor must actively seek permanent safe housing. If this does not occur, a continued motel stay request should be denied. • No person except the survivor and their children should be staying overnight in the motel room. • The survivor is responsible for following the motel rules and for any fees or additional charges such as smoking fees, pet fees, damage to the room or theft of motel property. If TA-DVS funds are still available, a branch can decide to use the remaining TA-DVS funds to pay for repairs or minor damage in order to maintain good relationships. If there are concerns with a local motel partnership around incurred fees that cannot be paid with TA-DVS funds, please reach out to TA-DVS Policy for support. If the survivor has applied for and received TA-DVS in the past 12 months and the funds were used for a motel, further motel stays should not be made except in an emergency situation, such as the abuser locating them or abuser/abuser’s family or friends are actively seeking them out. If additional motel is approved, payments are for minimum necessary nights. It is recommended these payments be staffed with a manager, lead worker, or TA-DVS Policy. Methods of travel ODHS can authorize payments for relocation costs, including but not limited to: • Train tickets • Bus tickets • Gas money for relocation • Air travel and baggage costs. For support with planning for travel, see the Travel Checklist on ODHS Self-Sufficiency Domestic Violence Staff Tools.