LAET receives grant funding for Women In Crisis Project

CHATTANOOGA (August 9, 2013) – Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) has been awarded a $20,000 grant by the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.  The grant will fund the Women in Crisis Project, which screens, advises, and assists victims of domestic violence in obtaining public benefits for which they are eligible.  The goal of “Women in Crisis” is to break the cycle of domestic violence by creating financial independence for women who are trapped in abusive situations.

“Grants, especially private foundation grants, dealing with public benefits are exceedingly rare,” said Russell Fowler, Associate Director of Legal Aid of East Tennessee.  “The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga should be commended for their foresight in recognizing the link between domestic violence and a victim’s financial dependence on their abuser.”

The Women in Crisis Project will be administered through Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s Chattanooga office.  Implementation of the program begins September 1, 2013.

For more information on this program, contact LAET’s Chattanooga office at (423) 756-4013.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s mission is to ensure justice for elderly, abused, and low-income people by providing a broad scope of civil legal assistance and advocacy.  LAET serves eligible persons in 26 counties through offices in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Johnson City, Maryville, and Morristown.