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 Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $748,720 Project Grant under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) to Hope's Door, Inc. This 3-year grant, running from October 2024 to September 2027, will provide comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to immigrant and undocumented victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence in Westchester County, New York.

Hope's Door, Inc. will partner with the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, Make the Road New York, and Victim Assistance Services to deliver trauma-informed and culturally competent legal representation and advocacy. The services will cover a range of legal matters, including family, matrimonial, and immigration cases, as well as support in criminal justice proceedings. The project aims to advance equity and address the critical legal needs of underserved populations impacted by gender-based violence.

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, hopes door, INC., in partnership with westchester county district attorneys office (wcdao), make the road new york (MTR) and victim assistance services (VAS) of the department of the westchester community opportunity program, will provide trauma informed and culturally competent civil legal representation on family, matrimonial and immigration cases and advocacy on criminal cases to immigrant and undocumented victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence in westchester county, new york. The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty. The following products will be developed during the project period: outreach materials.