Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced two grants worth a total of $684,569 for Lifespan of Greater Rochester and the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County to support efforts to protect women and children from domestic violence. The competitive federal grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice to support a comprehensive strategy against domestic violence in all forms.
“There are few crimes more repugnant than domestic violence targeted against women and children, and this grant dedicates resource to help local organizations stanch violence against women,” said Senator Schumer. “This investment will help women, children and seniors transition into safe housing and, through law enforcement trainings, help prevent future cases of domestic violence. When it comes to protecting our citizens, we must be tough and smart, and these community partnerships between Lifespan, the YWCA and local law enforcement will do just that.”
“This is a key investment for the YWCA, Lifespan and the Greater Rochester area,” Senator Gillibrand said. “When we do more to protect families from domestic violence, we can give victims a sense of justice, help put their lives back together, and keep more New Yorkers safe.”
Lifespan of Greater Rochester Vice President for Program, Paul Caccamise, said, “We are thrilled to be able to work with law enforcement to combat elder abuse and protect elders who are vulnerable form abuse in Monroe County. There are two parts to this. It will be used for intensive training for law enforcement, judges, and prosecutor’s offices to handle abuse cases. In addition develop a plan to enhance community services for elders who have been abused.”
Lifespan of Greater Rochester is set to receive $384,560, which will be used to collaborate with Monroe County to provide enhanced training and services to end violence against women and the abuse of women later in life. The funding is from the Department of Justice’s Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women in Later Life program. The program’s purpose is to increase and strengthen training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; provide or enhance services for older victims; create or support multidisciplinary collaborative community responses to older victims; and conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving older victims.
The YWCA of Greater Rochester is set to receive $300,000, which will be used to support programs that provide transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of existing transitional housing; provide short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities payments assistance; and provide support services designed to help individuals who are fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to locate and secure permanent housing and integrate into a community by providing transportation, counseling, child care services, case management, employment counseling, and other assistance.