Schoharie County’s Domestic Violence Program, administered through Catholic Charities of Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie Counties, has been chosen to receive a five-year grant award to provide attorney services to victims of domestic violence.
The funding was awarded by the New York State Office of Victim Services.
Catholic Charities of Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie Counties will subcontract with the Legal Aid Society of Northeast New York to provide Schoharie County domestic violence victims with quality legal representation.
Building on their already successful collaborative partnership, the agencies will be able to provide a full-time attorney for people that cannot afford legal representation for their domestic violence related court issues.
Legal services will be provided for court users involved in Family Court with family offense, child custody, and child support matters, as well as divorce.
In addition, legal services will be provided for domestic violence victims that are experiencing employment and housing related issues related to their status as a victim of family violence.
“This funding is enabling our programs to address crucial unmet needs in our area related to Family Court and divorce issues, as well as employment and housing.
The availability of quality legal services for domestic violence victims and their children living in Schoharie County will be life-changing for many people,” said Angela Smith, Schoharie County Domestic Violence Program director.