U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says $600,000 in federal funding for The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York will benefit St. Lawrence and several other counties.

The funding was allocated through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program.

Specifically, the Albany-based legal aid organization will use these funds to provide legal representation to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking in 13 primarily rural counties in northeastern New York.

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York will provide services in Columbia, Greene, Fulton, Schoharie, Montgomery, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Essex and St. Lawrence Counties.

“This critical federal funding will help the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York develop and facilitate a wide range of programs to better assist domestic violence survivors,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “Domestic violence is a serious problem and we need to work towards creating a safe environment for all survivors and their families.

By increasing access to legal services we can help provide New Yorkers with the support they need.”

“The Legal Aid Society is eager to continue its successful partnership with ten local domestic violence service providers and our gifted and passionate domestic violence advocates to address the need for a broad range of high quality civil legal services for survivors of domestic violence in rural Northeastern. We are grateful for the unwavering support of Sen. Gillibrand and the Department of Justice,” said Lillian M. Moy, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society.

The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program is designed to strengthen civil and criminal legal assistance programs for adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence.