Texas U.S. Attorneys Announce $18 Million in Domestic Violence Funding

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The Justice Department’s Office of Violence Against Women will direct more than $18 million in grant funding to Texas to support efforts to curb domestic violence throughout the state, announced U.S. Attorneys Erin Nealy Cox, Ryan K. Patrick, John F. Bash, and Stephen J. Cox, on Friday

According to Cox, as the state grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, reports indicate that many cities – including Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio – may be experiencing surges in domestic violence. Because of the virus, many domestic violence victims feel they’re safest inside their homes, but that may or may not be the case.

Research shows that intimate partner homicides are common. According to the CDC, roughly 1 in 6 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. Tragically, Texas accounts for 10 percent of the nation’s domestic violence homicides.

“Putting an end to domestic violence requires effort from everyone in a community and OVW is proud to support the work being done in Texas,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Laura L. Rogers. “Our funding supports law enforcement, prosecutors and brings people together to work for a common cause. These strong partnerships lead to creative solutions to prevent violence.”

Among the $18 million in awards that will be issued to organizations and government agencies in Texas are:

· More than $11.8 million in formula funds to the state to support law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services providers, and courts in working collaboratively to respond to domestic and sexual violence.

· $1.76 million to cities and counties across Texas to improve the criminal justice response to domestic and sexual violence: $1,000,000 to the City of Austin, $400,000 to Webb County, and $355,573 to Bastrop County.

· $2.85 million to domestic violence organizations to provide legal service to victims: $600,000 to SafeHaven of Tarrant County, $600,000 to the Women’s Center of Tarrant County, $600,000 to the Houston Area Women’s Center, $650,000 to the SAFE Alliance in Austin, and $404,486 to the Bastrop County Women’s Shelter.

· $1.54 million to advocacy groups to help underserved populations, including disabled victims and minority victims of domestic violence: $588,297 to Saheli, Inc., $500,000 to Brownsville Friendship of Women, Inc., $450,000 to the SAFE Alliance in Austin.

· More than half a million to domestic violence shelters to provide transitional housing and therapy services: $515,000 to SafeHaven of Tarrant County.

· $152,345 to the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault plus $91,274 to the Texas Council on Family Violence, two statewide organizations working to address violence against women.