SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $1.2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP NEW YORK VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Department of Justice Grants Awarded to New York Asian Women’s Center & Restore NYC; Will Provide Advocacy, Legal Assistance & Transitional Housing to Victims of Human Trafficking
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,197,064 in federal Department of Justice (DOJ) funding for programs that help New York survivors of human trafficking. Specifically, the Senators announced $597,064 in funds for New York Asian Women’s Center to assist Asian trafficking victims through legal advocacy, immigration assistance and support services. The Senators also announced $600,000 in funds for Restore NYC, Inc. to assist female trafficking victims through a transitional housing program and economic empowerment services in the New York metro-area. The funding has been allocated through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) FY16 Specialized Services for Victims of Human Trafficking program.
“With this critical federal funding, these organizations will be able to continue their important work and serve the survivors of human trafficking in New York,” said Senator Schumer. “It is important that we work to both eliminate human trafficking through prosecution and help survivors obtain the comprehensive services—like legal assistance and transitional housing—they need and deserve.”
“Increased public awareness through a strong and coordinated community response is crucial to fighting human trafficking and domestic violence,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These federal funds would allow the New York Asian Women’s Center and Restore NYC, Inc. to continue their life-saving services and care for some of the most vulnerable members of our community in New York. This grant will provide additional resources necessary to identify and provide essential support services to help survivors.”
“The New York Asian Women’s Center is pleased to be awarded a renewal grant from the US Office of Victims of Crimes. With this grant we will help pan-Asian survivors of both labor and sex trafficking. Our culturally responsive counseling focuses on healing through relationships -- between the counselor and survivor, between the survivor and other survivors -- while utilizing Asian wellness practices to facilitate recovery and renewal,” said Larry Lee, Executive Director, New York Asian Women’s Center.
"This funding will not only ensure that brave survivors have access to specialized housing, but also concrete opportunities for economic security,” said Jimmy Lee, Executive Director, Restore NYC.
The New York Asian Women’s Center will use this funding to better its interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities in order to expand local communities’ abilities to respond and aid victims of human trafficking. The organization will also work with local, state, and federal resources to provide case management, advocacy, immigration legal assistance, and other support services for Asian victims of human trafficking within the metro New York area.
Restore NYC, Inc. will use this funding to better its interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities in order to expand local communities’ abilities to respond and aid victims of human trafficking. The organization will also work with local, state, and federal resources to provide transitional housing programs, with an emphasis on economic empowerment services, for foreign-national female victims of human trafficking within the metro New York area.
###
