© 2024 KMUW
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wichita-Area Organizations Receive Federal Grants To Aid Victims Of Crime

Courtesy Wichita Children's Home
The Wichita Children's Home was one of 17 local organizations to receive federal grant funding to help crime victims.

More than $4 million worth of federal grants have been awarded to organizations in the Wichita area that support crime victims.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced last week that 17 Wichita area organizations were awarded Federal Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance grants.

Kelly says the grants will help fund services like crisis intervention, legal support and transitional housing for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

According to a news release from Kelly’s office, the grant funds are generated by federal fines and other financial penalties — no taxpayer money goes toward the grant.

Mary Stolz is director of Survivor Services at the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, which received funding. She says the grant helps keep the organization’s services free for clients.

The organization offers a 24-hour crisis line, medical and legal advocacy, and counseling services.

"Everything we do, every service provided is free,” Stolz says. “We really are here for everyone, no matter what their economic status is.

“And in order to keep all of our services free, we rely on these grant fundings to help sexual assault survivors in our community.”

Catholic Charities in Wichita also received grant funding. Joyce Mahoney, senior director of programs, says the grant helps support the Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter.

“A small portion of the grant money is earmarked for bus passes so clients can get to and from their appointments,'' Mahoney says. “If the shelter is full, we use grant money to provide hotel rooms for clients in immediate need of a place to stay.”

The organizations in Butler, Harvey, and Sedgwick County that were awarded grants include:

Butler

  • Butler County Attorney’s Office $38,497
  • Family Life Center $92,000
  • Sunlight Child Advocacy Center $214,845
  • Tri-County CASA $56,169

Harvey

  • CASA $50,569
  • Harvey Co. Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force $813,597
  • Heart to Heart $93,097

Sedgwick

  • CAC of Sedgwick County $715,965
  • Catholic Charities, Harbor House $399,096
  • Wichita Police Department $171,398
  • City of Wichita Prosecutor’s Office $120,649
  • Roots & Wings CASA $87,310
  • Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office $70,926
  • StepStone $222,511
  • Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center $647,676
  • Wichita Children’s Home $396,022
  • Wichita Family Crisis Center $704,650

Mya Acosta is an intern in the KMUW News Lab.