LAET Receives $500,000 DOJ Grant

KNOXVILLE – Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) has received a $500,000, three-year grant

to expand assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual assault,

and human trafficking. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on

Violence Against Women.

The funding allows LAET to provide comprehensive civil legal services, including legal

advocacy, education, and direct representation. Three attorneys and two paralegals will work

directly under this grant to help one thousand East Tennessee clients over a three-year period.

“There is a critical need for holistic civil legal services in East Tennessee for low-income victims

of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” says Debra House, Associate

Director of LAET’s Central and Northern Regions. “LAET and our project partners will

continue to expand cooperative efforts in providing services that promote integrity and selfsufficiency,

improve victim access to resources, and counsel victims about their options for

seeking safety from perpetrator violence.”

Civil legal services will be available to domestic violence victims in any of the twenty-six

counties served by LAET. For more information on this program, contact LAET’s Johnson City

office at (800) 821-1312, Knoxville office at (865) 637-0484, Chattanooga office at (800) 572-

7457, or Spanish Hotline at (866) 408-6573. Anyone needing civil legal services may also visit

www.laet.org and click on “Begin Online Intake.”

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.