According to the Oregonian, Attorney General John Kroger announced today that the Oregon Department of Justice has been awarded a $1.9 million stimulus grant by the federal Office on Violence Against Women.
The grant's purposes are to provide funds to nonprofits so they can hire new staff or keep hired victim service workers, and to fund efforts by local law enforcement agencies and courts to prosecute those who commit violence against women. The job creation element aligns with one of the key objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Given recent patterns of violence and sexual assault against women on Portland's streets (see Street Roots' "Sending Out an S.O.S" for in-depth coverage), news of the federal funding should come as a timely relief to local agencies working to combat violence against women.
The Department of Justice will decide how to use the funds based on the requests it receives from agencies who apply for the grant funding. For more information on the application process and to apply, visithttp://www.doj.state.or.us/about/grants.shtml.
Posted by Rebecca Robinson