Applications for Violence Against Women Act grant open Aug. 1

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 26, 2023) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that beginning Aug. 1, more than $2 million in Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant funding will be available to help stop sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

The Governor said Kentucky’s state and local victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecution agencies and court systems can apply.

“Victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking have been through trauma that many of us cannot begin to imagine,” said Gov. Beshear. “With this funding, Kentucky will continue to help survivors get their lives back.”

On June 30, the Beshear-Coleman administration released the first statewide data report on domestic violence to assist the state in combating crime and seeking justice for survivors. The report provides data on domestic violence fatalities, domestic violence shelter use and reports of child abuse. The state’s allotment of VAWA funding is essential to helping create a safer Kentucky for survivors of domestic violence.

The federal VAWA Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (STOP) Formula Grant Program requires administrating agencies to allocate funding for law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services and state and local courts. It also allows for discretionary distribution and encourages a focus on projects that serve adults and youth (ages 11-17 years) who are victims of intimate partner violence.

“By working with community partners, we are able to provide important resources to victims who seek assistance,” Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey said. “This annual grant funding allows the state to continue to improve the quality of and access to services which creates a safer Kentucky.”

Applications must be submitted online by Friday, Sept.15, 2023 at 6 p.m. ET via Intelligrants 10.0 (IGX), the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s electronic grants management system. Assistance with the application process may be obtained by contacting Grants Management staff at JUSIGX@ky.gov.

As Attorney General, Gov. Beshear was dedicated to assisting victims of crime and intimate partner violence, and he brought this dedication into the Governor’s Office.

In June, Gov. Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams celebrated Senate Bill 79 becoming law. The bipartisan effort creates the Safe at Home Program, which will protect the residential address of survivors of domestic violence and other sexual crimes as well as the addresses of those who reside in the same household as the victim. To gain this protection, the victim or the individual residing in the victim's home must apply to the secretary of state's office to have the address protected.

The Beshear-Coleman administration has also awarded more than $104 million in grant funding to victim service agencies across the commonwealth and another $27 million is expected to be awarded this year, increasing the ability for more Kentuckians to get the support and assistance they need.

In April, the Governor signed Senate Bill 282, which doubled the weekly amount available for crime victims for lost wages to $300 per week from $150 per week; increased the amount available for funeral expenses to $7,500 from $5,000 and increased the overall total award available to $30,000 from $25,000.

On March 27, Gov. Beshear signed into law three bills to protect all Kentuckians from heinous crimes, such as incest, as well as protect children against those who have committed these crimes.

In December, the Beshear-Coleman administration awarded more than $2 million in VAWA STOP grant funding to 33 agencies to stop sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, as well as to enhance victim services.​

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