Senator Young Secures $60,000 for Project Crossroads

JAMESTOWN – Senator Cathy Young (R,C,I-57^th District) announced that she has secured $60,000 in the state budget to help domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in Chautauqua County.

The funding supports Project Crossroads, a partnership between the Jamestown Police Department and Family Service of the Chautauqua Region.

“Project Crossroads is a lifeline for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, that’s why I fought so hard for this funding in the state budget,” Senator Young said. “They bring service providers together, coordinating efforts to ensure victims receive the services they need to recover from the trauma of abuse. They also work with law enforcement to hold abusers accountable.”

Project Crossroads facilitates the Chautauqua County Coalition Against Domestic Violence which includes more than 40 agencies. Providing services to more than 1,000 victims per year, the coalition’s mission is to educate the public to prevent domestic violence and enhance victim services.

 “We will never know how many lives the dedicated members of Project Crossroads have saved but, believe me, they are lifesavers,” Senator Young said. “Every day they stand ready to help victims and make sure they receive the justice they deserve. I cannot thank them enough for what they do for our community.”

Project Crossroads Coordinator Elizabeth Bracey and John Rader, its Domestic Violence Investigator, said in 2017, the agency processed 1,258 domestic violence reports, served 1,125 victims of domestic violence, made 2,853 referrals to other agencies and gave 17 educational presentations.

“Continued success of Project Crossroads would not be possible without the help of Senator Catharine Young,” Investigator Rader said. “Jamestown New York and the county of Chautauqua both benefit greatly by having access to such a wonderful program. Elizabeth and I would like to personally thank the Senator for her continued support of Project Crossroads. Project Crossroads can continue to help families and victims of domestic violence thanks to Senator Young.”

Senator Young urges domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in Chautauqua County to contact Project Crossroads at: 716-483-7718 or via email at: projectcrossroads@jpdny.com. Survivors can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline toll-free at: 1-800-799-7233 or visit www.thehotline.org, which includes information for survivors and their family members.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, nearly one in four women and one in seven men are victims of domestic violence and abuse during their lifetimes and on a usual day, more than 20,000 calls are made to domestic violence hotlines in the US.