The grants to enhance culturally specific services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20124

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $400,000 Project Grant under the Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program (CFDA 16.016) to the South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency (SAHARA), a non-profit organization in Artesia, CA. Through this 3-year grant starting on October 1, 2024, SAHARA will provide culturally and linguistically specific services to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking within South Asian communities in Southern California. Key services include direct services such as safety, confidential transitional shelter, case management, mental health support, life skills education, employment resources, and emergency assistance. SAHARA will also conduct outreach at local community events and deliver holistic community education and advocacy programs. This grant funding enables SAHARA to maintain and replicate its existing successful community-based program and develop innovative strategies to enhance access to services for South Asian victims facing obstacles to traditional support systems.

This program supports the maintenance and replication of existing successful community-based programs providing culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as the development of innovative culturally specific strategies to enhance access to services and resources for victims who face obstacles to using more traditional programs. Culturally specific services means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities which are statutorily defined as american indians (including alaska natives, eskimos, and aleuts); asian americans; native hawaiians and other pacific islanders; blacks; and hispanics. Projects must address at least one of the programs statutory purpose areas. Through this continuation culturally specific services program project, south asian helpline and referral agency will implement a project addressing purpose areas : purpose area 4 - enhancing traditional services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through the leadership of culturally specific programs offering services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and purpose area 7 - providing culturally specific resources and services that address the safety, economic, housing, and workplace needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including emergency assistance for survivors and their families from india, nepal, pakistan, bangladesh, SRI lanka, bhutan, and afghanistan living in southern california counties. Specific activities will include: 1) direct services, including, safety, confidential transitional shelter, case management, mental health, life skills education, employment resources, and emergency assistance; 2) outreach at local community events; and 3) holistic community education and advocacy programs.