The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has awarded nearly $8 million to Western Washington tribal nations, nonprofits and government programs to provide services for victims of domestic violence, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced Thursday.
The grants are paid out over multi-year periods.
“These federal dollars support the strong work done in our state to protect the vulnerable,” said Gorman. “Native American women suffer domestic violence at a higher rate than other communities, so I am pleased to see the impactful programs our tribal partners are supporting with this funding.”
The tribes awarded funding are:
• Both the Quileute Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation were awarded $650,000 for victim services such as housing, transportation, advocacy and legal assistance. The Chehalis will also provide education and training to 75 young people on dating violence and healthy relationships.
• The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in Kitsap County was awarded $1 million for its program that provides advocacy, legal services, housing and safety planning for victims of domestic violence.