A new funding opportunity is available from the King County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fund organizations to support people experiencing domestic and sexual violence through Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) assistance, legal services, and education.
The COVID-19 pandemic and related public health orders have led to increased stress, isolation, and financial instability worldwide. As a result, people experiencing domestic and sexual violence have reduced access to support and resources. In King County, gender-based violence service providers reported an increase in the frequency and severity of violence disclosed to them by survivors during the pandemic. In addition, domestic violence homicides and felony referrals have dramatically increased in King County in 2020 and 2021 compared to previous years. In the first months of 2020, approximately 50% of the needs and requested services of callers from Washington state to the National Domestic Violence Hotline were for legal representation, legal advocacy, or assistance filing a protection order. At the same time, existing resources to assist people experiencing domestic and sexual violence have been strained and overwhelmed during the pandemic.
Funding for Domestic Violence Protection Order Legal Services
The King County Department of Community and Human Services is pleased to be accepting applications to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence in King County.
The selected organization(s) will provide civil legal services including but not limited to education, advice, assistance and/or representation in DVPO cases, other family law cases or civil legal needs of survivors, using staff with the training and resources to increase the self-determination, safety, health, and stability of people experiencing domestic and sexual violence.
This funding may be allocated to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence in King County through:
- Assistance with navigating, accessing, and filing DVPO’s and/or representing survivors throughout the DVPO process.
- Accessing other civil legal remedies connected to domestic or sexual violence, such as: parenting plans, divorces, nonparent custody orders, relocating with children, custodial interference, modification of final family law orders, and other family law remedies.
- Domestic violence-informed, quality, affordable, supervised visitation, and exchange services.
- Technology support for survivors to access civil legal remedies.
- Flexible Financial Assistance (FFA) for survivors.
- Other legal services for survivors, such as: housing/tenant issues, employment, immigration, privacy, contempt defense, benefits, consumer/credit issues.
Application details
Available funding: Up to $480,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
Investment period: November 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023 (subject to change)
Questions: Contact Maria Pintar at mpintar@kingcounty.gov
Applications due: September 26, 2022 by 5pm Pacific Time
Join the Bidders Conference for more information
A virtual information session to discuss questions related to this funding opportunity will be held:
September 7, 2022, 10am – 12pm
Register with Zoom:
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtdeCurD8iHdUwyLUCptzlWeQWz9x6B1Ce
The bidders conference will be recorded and posted here: https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/ARPADVPOLegalServices
For more information and to apply visit: https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/ARPADVPOLegalServices
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