Support for measures for women and girls affected by violence

The state of Lower Saxony specifically supports services for women's shelters, counseling and intervention centers (BISS), as well as other counseling facilities that provide medical, psychosocial, and social support to women and girls in situations of violence through a grant program. The objective is the professional counseling, accommodation, and care of those affected, as well as the implementation of prevention projects, local networking, and public relations work to raise awareness of the issue. By financially securing fee, material, and personnel costs, a reliable service offering is ensured that provides women and girls in acute crises with stability and prospects.

Eligible for funding are non-profit, legally capable private law associations and public law corporations in Lower Saxony that operate a women's shelter, a counseling facility, or a BISS. Facilities must demonstrate appropriate personnel and material prerequisites; psychosocial counseling is provided by state-recognized social workers, social pedagogues, or equivalently qualified professionals. BISS facilities must be affiliated with a women's shelter or a violence counseling center, cover the area of a police inspection district, and submit a cooperation confirmation from the police. Women's shelters should generally provide at least eight accommodation places (exceptions possible for existing operations). Applications must be submitted by November 1 of a year for the following funding year.