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 Project Grant award, provided 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 enable Lone Star Legal Aid, a non-profit organization in Houston, Texas, to deliver $750,000 in comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to victims (ages 11 and older) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in a 10-county region of eastern Texas. The funding will support direct legal representation, advocacy, and assistance for victims in matters related to or arising from the abuse or violence, including family law, immigration, housing, employment, protection orders, and criminal justice proceedings. Lone Star Legal Aid will partner with several community organizations, including Montgomery County Women's Center, Family Services of Southeast Texas, and Texas Familias Council, to enhance service delivery and address the priority area of advancing equity and tribal sovereignty. This award is a continuation of the organization's previous legal assistance project and will span the period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 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 continuation legal assistance for victims project, lone star legal aid, in partnership with montgomery county womens center, family services of southeast texas, family time crisis and counseling center, saafe house, and texas familias council, will provide civil legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. The projects geographic service area will be 10 counties in the eastern region of texas (montgomery, walker, waller, polk, SAN jacinto, trinity, liberty, jefferson, orange, and hardin counties). The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty. This award is a continuation of 15JOVW-21-GG-00392-lega.