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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a national observance that allows us to highlight our work helping domestic violence victims.
The VCGCB will participate in the Californians Uniting to End Domestic Violence 3rd Annual Statewide Day of Awareness event at the State Capitol on Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to noon. The Day of Awareness is sponsored by the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV). Participants will include VCGCB and other members of the California State Domestic Violence Interagency Collaborative.
At the Day of Awareness, we will stand alongside domestic violence survivors, advocates, service providers, judicial and legislative officials at this event dedicated to ending violence against women and children.
Helping victims of domestic violence is a priority for the Victim Compensation Program. The program helps thousands of domestic violence victims every year with compensation for relocation, medical and mental-health expenses that are incurred as a result of violent crime. Last fiscal year, the VCP paid approximately $81 million to victims of violent crime. Typically, one quarter of the approximately 50,000 applications received annually by the VCP are for claims related to domestic violence.
To highlight available resources, the VCGCB has published an information sheet titled “Relocation, Housing and Shelter Resources for Victims of Domestic Violence and Other Violent Crimes” (En Español) that provides information on program relocation benefits, but also on a variety of additional federal, state and local assistance. It also features safety tips for crime victims who are relocating.
Victims of domestic violence can go to the CPEDV website at www.cpedv.org for more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month and resources for victims. If a victim needs emergency help, they should call 911. For other assistance, they can call a local shelter or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799- SAFE (7233). For help with applying to the Victim Compensation Program for relocation or other assistance, victims can contact their local Victim Witness Assistance Center or contact the program directly.
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