SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, MAFFEI ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $350,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CAYUGA/SENECA COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INC.

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Dan Maffei today announced that the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, Inc. in Auburn has been awarded $352,416 through the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. The Agency will use this funding to provide transitional housing assistance for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

"This money is absolutely critical to better protect victims of sexual violence," said Senator Schumer. "People who have been in abusive relationships don't just need a safe place to stay, they need comprehensive services that can help them get back on their feet and move forward with confidence. Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, Inc. will help these people by providing safe, supportive services to survivors of domestic violence. I have long fought for this kind of funding and will continue to do so in the future."

"When we do more to protect families from domestic violence, we can give survivors a sense of justice and help put their lives back together," said Senator Gillibrand. "This funding for the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency will help keep more New Yorkers safe by providing quality housing for survivors of sexual and domestic violence who are looking for a way out."

"It so important to ensure that survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual violence have the lifesaving support they need after fleeing an abusive situation," said Rep. Maffei. "This funding will help Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, Inc. continue its work to provide survivors with safe, affordable shortterm housing in our region. I strongly support this grant program and am proud to partner with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to bring these critical resources home to Central New York."

"We are extremely excited to continue receiving this funding to provide the temporary housing services that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Cayuga County need to get back on their feet," said Laurie Piccolo, Executive Director of Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency, Inc. "We thank Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Dan Maffei for their strong support of this grant and the Violence Against Women Act that helps local organizations like ours have the resources we need to provide essential support to victims of domestic abuse."

Authorization of funding for the Office of Violence Against Women was included in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act in 2013. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Rep. Maffei were cosponsors of this legislation.

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