By Christina Trinchero
June 2, 2022
FRANKLIN COUNTY – The Salasin Project, a program of the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium, recently received a $127,000 grant from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Survivor Trust Fund to expand its work with Franklin and Hampshire County residents who have experienced the multiple and complex issues related to domestic violence.
Through partnerships with area social service agencies, the grant funding will be used to implement a support group in Spanish and to hire an advocate to increase access to housing and economic empowerment for individuals experiencing domestic violence.
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The Salasin Project will collaborate with Alianza DV Services, a domestic violence program in Holyoke, to support Hampden County participants interested in moving to Hampshire or Franklin counties.
“Searching for housing can be overwhelming,” says Alianza executive director Carmen Nieves, “especially when someone has experienced violence.” The programs will join forces to help survivors relocate.
“With this funding, we will be able to hire a full-time housing advocate who can work with participants to find safe housing and move,” Lockwood says, noting the lack of affordable housing can be a “significant barrier” to someone leaving an abusive relationship. […]