CONGRESSMAN RUBÉN HINOJOSA ANNOUNCES FEDERAL GRANT OF $288,750 FOR ASSISTANCE FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX-15) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice Office, through its Violence Against Women program, has awarded the Migrant Health Program of Weslaco, Texas a grant of $288,750 to be used towards direct intervention and assistance for victims of sexual assault.

The Migrant Health Program will partner with Women Together/Mujeres Unidas (WT/MU) to implement Una Nueva Mañana (A New Tomorrow) a program that provides cultural and linguistic outreach on sexual assault issues and services to underserved and low-income, Hispanic residents of Hidalgo County, including immigrant residents of the county.

"Sometimes victims of these horrendous crimes do not know who or where to turn to because they believe no one will understand them or that reporting a crime could bring them more harm," said U.S. Rep. Hinojosa. "That is why it is imperative that organizations which deal directly with our low-income and primarily Spanish speaking population have the resources to provide these victims of crime help and comfort so that they, and those affected by crime, will fully recover."

The Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. The overall purpose of the SASP is to provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment (accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, police departments, etc.), support services, and related assistance for adult, youth and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims and those collaterally affected by sexual assault.

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