Schumer Announces Over $200,000 Coming To The Catholic Family Center In Rochester

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Catholic Family Center, of Catholic Charities of Rochester, has received $207,786 from the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women from their Transitional Housing Grant Program. The funds will be used to support comprehensive, victimcentered transitional housing services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault.

"We need to send an unequivocal message that violence against women is unacceptable," Schumer said "Battered women should never have to think twice about whether or not to report their abusers and should always have a place to go. This grant will provide needed services for victims in the Rochester area, so that they are able to heal, move forward and build a healthy life for themselves and their loved ones."

The Catholic Family Center will use these federal funds to support comprehensive, victimcentered transitional housing services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking or sexual assault.

The Transitional Housing Grant Program implements certain provisions of the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003 and the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005. The primary purpose of the program is to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking who are homeless, or in need of transitional housing, shortterm housing assistance, and related support services. They also aid those for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient. All efforts funding by the program support holistic, victimcentered transitional housing services that move individuals to permanent housing. Transitional Housing Program grantees provide a broad range of individualized services such as transportation, counseling, child care services, case management, employment counseling, and other assistance.

In 2005, Schumer fought to reauthorize the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Schumer supported efforts to strengthen the VAWA by expanding grant programs, supporting rural areas, and protecting victims. The original VAWA bill was authored by Schumer in the House of Representatives.