The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid victims…

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $400,000 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) to Latinas Unidas POR Un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A.), a non-profit organization in Des Moines, Iowa. This 2-year Project Grant will enable L.U.N.A. to establish a comprehensive legal services program within a holistic advocacy setting to provide culturally-specific and victim-centered legal assistance to Latinx immigrant survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking throughout the state of Iowa. The grant will fund direct legal representation, advocacy, and assistance in matters such as family law, immigration, housing, protection orders, employment, and criminal justice proceedings for this underserved population. This initiative aims to address barriers faced by Latinx immigrants in accessing critical support services and enhance victim safety, autonomy, and community integration.

The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid victims (ages 11 and older) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Legal assistance includes assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in: a) family, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing matters, campus administrative, or protection or stay away order proceedings, and other similar matters; b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victims safety and privacy; c) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy; and d) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, tribal, or territorial court where the conviction of a victim is related to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or SEX trafficking. 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(24)(c). The LAV grant programs expanding legal services initiative (elsi) is intended to enable eligible organizations that do not currently offer legal services to establish a program that provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Through this new legal assistance for victims expanding legal services initiative project, latinas unidas POR UN nuevo amanacer (luna) will plan and implement a comprehensive legal services program within a holistic advocacy setting to provide culturally-specific and victim-centered legal assistance to latinx immigrant survivors throughout the state of iowa. The project will address the priority area of advancing equity by addressing the barriers of limited financial resources, language access, and attorney availability for latinx immigrants.