Department of Justice awards more than $2 million to local non-profits to provide services to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking

Seattle - The Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women has awarded more than $2 million to various non-profits to elevate their success in supporting survivors of human trafficking and victims of intimate violence and stalking.

"These federal resources recognize the good work being done in Western Washington to assist vulnerable victims of domestic violence or human trafficking," said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. "By providing housing assistance to these survivors, these non-profits help to break the cycle of domestic violence and human trafficking."

YouthCare, a Seattle-based non-profit has been awarded over $730,000 to their new project titled "YouthCare's Family Engagement Services for Minor Survivors of Human Trafficking". This project aims to provide a multitude of services to young victims including connections to therapists on-site, providing bi-weekly case management, and referrals for supportive services such as substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, medical care, and housing assistance. YouthCare will also collaborate with local partners such as King County's Juvenile Court Services and other non-profits.

Our Sisters' House, a Tacoma-based non-profit was awarded $475,000 to their Culturally Specific Services Program, which aims to enhance the accessibility of resources to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This increased accessibility entails enhancing culturally relevant and linguistically specific resources to victims and exposed children within these affected communities. This award will also fund domestic violence prevention efforts through the program with support groups, a teen dating violence prevention program, crisis intervention, court support, and referrals.

Silent Taskforce of Seattle was also awarded $475,000 to support the maintenance and replication of existing community-based programs providing culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Silent Taskforce will also be providing culturally specific resources addressing the safety, economic, housing, and workplace needs of victims. This award will also fund domestic violence prevention efforts through non-traditional healing methods such as meditation, photography, music, painting, and poetry, as well as financial assistance, crisis intervention, educational support, and referrals for further support.

Lifewire, a Bellevue-based non-profit was awarded $500,000 to support their efforts to provide housing assistance and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Through private landlord housing units, Lifewire will collaborate with partners to provide a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to traditional housing needs to survivors and their families. They also provide services such as rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, legal advocacy, support groups, mental health therapy, financial empowerment, educational support, connections to community-based resources and housing advocacy.