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 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Legal Assistance for Victims (CFDA 16.524) program will enable Northern Virginia Family Service, Inc. (NVFS), in partnership with Doorways, the Women's Center, and LAWS Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, to provide immigration legal services to low-income immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault living in Northern Virginia. The project aims to address barriers faced by these underserved populations by delivering comprehensive civil and criminal legal assistance related to family, immigration, employment, housing, and other matters arising from the experiences of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The three-year grant period runs 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 new legal assistance for victims (LAV) project, nvfs, in partnership with doorways, the womens center, and laws domestic violence and sexual assault services, will provide immigration legal services to low-income immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault who live in northern virginia. The project will address the following priority area: advance equity and tribal sovereignty by addressing the barriers faced by immigrant and low-income survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.