WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) today announced that the Department of Justice awarded a $100,000 grant to Sanctuary for Families’ Brooklyn Family Reunification Project.  The program seeks to keep domestic violence victims together with their children.  In addition, the project works to reunite families separated by custody disputes, foster care, or kidnapping by abusers and their families, and foster healthy family relationships in the wake of violence.

Sanctuary for Families is New York State’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of domestic violence victims and their children.  Rep. Towns supported funding for the Brooklyn Family Reunification Project in the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.  The grant was allocated through the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Congressionally Selected Awards Program.    

“As a former social worker, I saw the challenges women and families face when they are affected by domestic violence.  I also experienced the hard work involved in assisting those families,” Rep. Towns said. “I proudly support the Brooklyn Family Reunification Project and the critical work its staff provides to help families in our community cope with the harsh realities of domestic violence.”  

Sanctuary currently provides services in nine office and shelter locations throughout New York City.  Last year, Sanctuary provided services to more than 10,000 domestic violence victims and their children including safety planning, shelter, counseling, legal representation, and economic stability services.   This includes 2,912 at-risk Brooklyn residents served by Sanctuary attorneys and counselors at the New York City Family Justice Center, Brooklyn (BKFJC).

 “We are grateful to Congressman Towns for providing this generous funding in support of some of the most vulnerable domestic violence victims in Brooklyn – women who have been separated from their children, often due to a kidnapping by the abuser,” said Laurel W. Eisner, Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families. “This project will give these families a chance to heal, and the children a chance to thrive.”

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