SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $400K IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR VERA HOUSE, INC. TO PROTECT SENIORS FROM ABUSE
Funding Will Be Used To Train Community Leaders To Respond To Senior Abuse in Onondaga County
Washington, DC – U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $400,000 in federal funding for Vera House, Inc. in Syracuse. The funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women’s Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program and will be used to support senior survivors of abuse in Onondaga County. Specifically, Vera House, Inc. will collaborate with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, and the Onondaga County Department of Adult & Long Term Care Services to develop programming and training to mitigate the neglect, exploitation, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking of seniors aged 50 and older.
“This federal funding will provide invaluable services to senior victims of domestic violence and abuse in Onondaga County, as well as help prevent future incidents. We must send an unequivocal message that domestic violence and violence against women will not be tolerated,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased that the Department of Justice has provided this funding to the Vera House, and will continue fighting to ensure that all victims of domestic violence and sexual assault have the services and support they need.”
“Sexual assault, domestic violence, and abuse are devastating problems, and we must do everything we can to prevent them. This critical funding will help Vera House, Inc. protect seniors who are survivors by training community leaders to recognize the signs of abuse and by offering services to survivors,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It is important that we support the survivors of abuse as they seek assistance. I will continue fighting in the Senate for the resources that help protect survivors and their families.”
“We are thrilled to learn that we have received funding to continue our efforts to address abuse in later life. We are very grateful to the Office on Violence Against Women for their faithful support,” said Randi Bregman, Executive Director, Vera House, Inc.
This funding was allocated through the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women’s Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program. This program aims to increase and strengthen training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual assault against seniors. The program also supports cross-training for survivor service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving senior survivors.
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