$500k Grant Backed By Rep. Mace Strengthens Survivor Services In The Lowcountry
Funding ensures survivors across the Lowcountry have access to free legal services
(Charleston, S.C., October 15, 2025) – Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC-01) announced Hopeful Horizons in Beaufort, South Carolina, will receive a $500,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women to strengthen services for survivors.
This funding, awarded through the DOJ’s Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program, will expand free civil legal services for survivors across Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. With this grant, Hopeful Horizons will add one full-time and one part-time attorney, along with two full-time court advocate paralegals, to provide life-saving representation and safety planning for victims.
Rep. Mace’s office worked closely with Hopeful Horizons and the DOJ throughout the process, including providing a letter of support for the grant application to highlight the urgent need for survivor services in the Lowcountry. Without this support, many victims would continue to face overwhelming barriers to justice and safety.
“This issue is deeply personal. As a survivor of rape and sexual assault, justice and safety for victims must never be negotiable,” said Congresswoman Mace. “Far too often, survivors are left without the legal resources they need to protect themselves, safeguard their families, and reclaim their lives. Hopeful Horizons has been a steadfast lifeline in the Lowcountry, walking alongside survivors in their most difficult moments. This grant ensures victims will not be left to face those battles alone. They’ll have attorneys and advocates in their corner every step of the way.”
Kristin Dubrowski, Chief Executive Officer of Hopeful Horizons, praised Congresswoman Mace’s support in the statement below:
“The Legal Assistance for Victims grant program provides critical funding for Hopeful Horizons’ pro-bono civil legal services for victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the Southern Lowcountry,” said Dubrowski. “Hopeful Horizons’ Legal Program helps more than 200 people each year obtain additional safety measures and support that they would otherwise not be able to access. We are grateful to Representative Mace and her team for their support of this essential program.”
“Justice is not a privilege reserved for a few; it is a fundamental right owed to every survivor,” added Congresswoman Mace. “We are committed to equipping survivors with the resources they need to achieve safety, stability, and hope for the future.”
Rep. Mace’s Letter of Support:
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