Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2012

SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $497K DEPT. OF JUSTICE INVESTMENT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES; FUNDING PROVIDE LEGAL COUNCIL TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT & VIOLENCE

DOJ Funding Through the Schumer Sponsored Violence Against Women Act Will Support Neighborhood Legal Services’ Work to Counsel Victims of Domestic Violence, Stalking, Abuse

Schumer: We Must Do All We Can to Prevent Violence and Help Keep Women Safe from Predators and Abusers

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Neighborhood Legal Services will receive a grant totaling $497,847 from the Department of Justice Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program. Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS), in collaboration with Haven House and the Erie County Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyers Project, will continue to provide legal and social services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking in the Buffalo metropolitan area. NLS will support four attorneys to provide direct legal services for victims. Haven House will refer clients to NLS for legal services. The Erie County Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyers Project will provide immigration legal services for clients and provide training for Family Court staff on the immigration implications of family law proceedings. NLS legal staff will conduct workshops for human service providers on the civil legal services and options available for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.

"Protecting women from abusers and predators is an enormous priority, and this investment will help keep Buffalo residents safe by improving response to violence and assault, and by supporting victims and prosecuting offenders” said Schumer. “I am pleased such an important federal investment is being made with the Neighborhood Legal Services and that our community programs will have the funding they need to help keep women safe.”

The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program implements certain provisions of the Violence Against Women Act, of which Senator Schumer was an original sponsor. The program is designed to strengthen civil and criminal legal assistance programs for adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, nongovernmental legal services organizations; nonprofit, nongovernmental victim service agencies; public entities operating in their nongovernmental capacity; and Indian tribal governments. OVW funds projects that provide comprehensive legal services either through direct representation and/or victim advocacy which enhances victims' safety and strengthens their economic security. OVW has a particular interest in programs that provide holistic legal services, focused solely or primarily on providing a broad range of representation and legal advocacy to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

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