Boston hearing on $145,687.72 VAWA STOP grant focuses on Spanish‑language advocate and coverage gaps

Boston City Councilors heard testimony Feb. 26 on a city message (Docket 0293) authorizing acceptance of $145,687.72 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), passed through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, to fund one full‑time civilian domestic violence advocate and overtime for citywide advocates.

The grant, officials said, will pay salary, fringe and overtime costs for one OVW‑funded advocate who is Spanish‑speaking and assigned to cover Jamaica Plain and East Boston; it also underwrites overtime to provide coverage in districts that lack a dedicated advocate. The matter was sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and was referred to the committee on Jan. 29.

Why it matters: Committee Chair Erin Murphy said the grant supports survivors’ access to services. Councilors pressed police officials about language access for immigrant survivors, gaps in district coverage, the city’s reliance on federal grants for staffing and what would happen if federal funding were suspended.

Jenna Savage, deputy director of the Boston Police Department Office of Research and Development, described the award as "a really phenomenal grant for us because it does support 1 full time civilian domestic violence advocate," and said the position is one of five citywide advocates. Lieutenant Detective Nicole Lapointe, assigned to…