Houlton Band of Maliseets Receive Funding to Address Domestic Violence and Assault

The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will receive nearly $900,000 over three years from the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice.

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced the funding, saying, “Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence deserve every possible resource to report and prevent these crimes.”

The project’s primary objective is to ensure that victims of domestic violence and sexual assault receive appropriate, culturally specific, and easily accessible confidential responses.

The comprehensive victim services include advocacy, emergency shelter, transitional housing assistance, legal assistance, support group, a 24-hour crisis line, referrals, education, outreach, hospital accompaniment. The project will also provide for education and a coordinated community response.

The senators said, “We welcome this investment, which will bolster the Tribal Government’s efforts to stop violence against women and increase safety in the Maliseet community.”