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…

This $750,000 federal Project Grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524), will fund comprehensive immigration legal services for immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Los Angeles County. The primary awardee, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, will provide wraparound immigration legal assistance, including representation for U-Visas, T-Visas, VAWA relief, work authorization, and adjustment of status filings. These services will be focused on serving low-income, hard-to-reach, and underserved populations in the San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley, and San Gabriel Valley regions. The grant period runs from October 2024 to September 2027.

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) and (d). Through this new legal assistance for victims project, neighborhood legal services of LOS angeles county will provide wraparound immigration legal services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. These legal services will include representation of u-visas, t-visas, vawa relief, and ancillary filings such as work authorization and adjustment of status. Services will be available throughout LOS angeles county, with an emphasis on serving the low-income, hard-to-reach, and underserved populations in the SAN fernando valley, antelope valley, and SAN gabriel valley regions. The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty.