Tester Secures Grant to Support Assault Survivors in Butte

$490,773 to Combat Violence Against Women, Hold Criminals Accountable

(Kalispell, Mont.) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured a grant to help combat sexual and domestic violence in Butte.

The $490,773 grant will benefit Safe Space and Montana Legal Services Association, enabling them to advocate for and provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking across southwest Montana.

“Making our communities safer is one of my top priorities,” Tester said. “The grant will help survivors of these awful crimes find the support they need, and it will help officials hold the criminals who commit such crimes accountable.”

“This grant will support the on-going mission of Safe Space to provide emergent residential and non-residential services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Catherine Beaunae, Ph.D., Executive Director of Safe Space. “Additionally, it stipulates that Safe Space in collaboration with Montana Legal Services Association, will have its own attorney in Butte. This will be a huge benefit to the community and the clients of Safe Space.”

“Survivors of Domestic Violence often struggle to access the legal services they need to escape abusive situations and live independently,” said Alison Paul, Executive Director of Montana Legal Services Association. “We’re excited to be able to provide a full-time local Domestic Violence attorney in partnership with Safe Space serving the Butte area.”

The grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, will support a victims advocate, hire and train a legal services attorney, and provide for community presentations on services available to victims in Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson, Powell, and Silver Bow counties.

Tester has made standing up for women a priority – he recently secured over half a million dollars to combat violence against women in Bozeman, and he helped pass the 2018 budget agreement which provided $492 million for DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women, which provided for this grant.