CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced Thursday that more than $700,000 in grant funding has been awarded to strengthen services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking in rural communities across West Virginia.
The state is providing $701,410 through the West Virginia Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program to help organizations expand victim advocacy, crisis intervention, housing assistance, court accompaniment, community outreach and coordinated local response efforts in rural areas.
“Every West Virginian deserves to live free from violence and abuse, regardless of where they call home,” said Governor Morrisey.
“These grants help ensure victims in our rural communities have access to advocacy, shelter, crisis intervention, and other critical services when they need them most. Supporting victims and holding offenders accountable remains an important priority for our administration.”
The grants are administered by the Justice and Community Services Section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services.
The largest grant, totaling $186,670, was awarded to the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Inc. to continue services provided by co-located advocates serving victims of domestic violence in rural communities across the state.
Women’s Aid in Crisis Inc. received $150,612 to support advocacy, crisis intervention, housing assistance, referrals and court accompaniment for victims in Barbour, Randolph and Tucker counties.
The Family Refuge Center was awarded $136,897 to provide victim advocacy, crisis intervention, housing assistance, referrals and court accompaniment for survivors in Greenbrier County.
The Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center received $132,283 to support a Rural Domestic Violence Specialist serving the Eastern Panhandle through victim advocacy, housing assistance, community referrals and coordinated response efforts.
Branches Domestic Violence Shelter in Huntington was awarded $94,948 to support a Domestic Violence Specialist serving Mason County by providing victim advocacy, referrals to community resources, housing assistance and coordination with local response teams.
