FAIRMONT – Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin recently announced nearly one million dollars in funding to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. The West Virginia Foundation for Rape and Information Services will fund the Rural Program Grant.
In turn, it is helping programs like HOPE Inc., which serves five local counties.
"I believe that domestic violence and sexual assault are truly a life and death situation. So if HOPE was not around to provide the resources and the services we would probably find more women and children and men being abused with nowhere to go and no help to receive," said Harriet Sutton, executive director of HOPE Inc.
Without this funding, Sutton said they would only be able to provide basic services, but this grant specifically helps the sexual assault victims advocate at HOPE Inc.
"It's estimated that 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted and once that happens it's like taking away from that women,” said Alisha Vincent, the Sexual Assault Victims Advocate for HOPE Inc. “It's taking a part of who she is and without that support I don't think that they would be able to rebuild themselves."
Alisha Vincent is on call to help victims at the hospital after an assault. She also assists with legal services, counseling and setting goals for the future.
"Sexual assault is a traumatic experience,” Vincent said. “Oftentimes they need someone there with them so they know their rights and so that they have support through the process."
HOPE Inc. also provides shelter for victims because Sutton said many times, they do not know what their next move will be when they leave home.
"We provide that safe place where they can have food, clothing and shelter and also other services such as legal services; anything that they need to try to find a life free from violence," Sutton said.
Sutton and Vincent said they want victims to know they are there to help and there is a system of support in HOPE Inc.