Groups Who Assist Domestic Abuse Victims In Rural Wisconsin Say Need Is Increasing

Nonprofits that are offering free legal services to victims of domestic abuse in rural Wisconsin say demand is on the rise while federal funding to support their efforts are tough to come by.

Victims of domestic abuse living in poverty have few places to turn when it comes to legal representation. In the northern half of the state, Wisconsin Judicare and Indianhead Community Action Agency offer a few attorneys.

Nancy Kraft, Indianhead director of resource development, said when they started their program in 2010, they served eight counties. To date, they’ve served 900 victims in 15 counties.

“We had that many more domestic violence shelters when they found out about the grant, they asked if they could participate in this program,” she said.

Indianhead and other groups get funding from the Violence Against Women Act grant program.

However, Kraft said it was cut this year and they had to reduce services. New grant awards will be announced in October.