Safe Space gets 3-year grant for Butte domestic-violence attorney

Montana Standard - 9/23/2018

Sept. 23--It's been more than seven years since Butte last had a legal office focused on defending survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. But now, thanks to a $490,773 grant to Butte's Safe Space, that's all about to change.

Safe Space, which provides residential and non-residential services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, announced Friday it will be receiving the grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The organization plans to use the funds to enhance its victim advocacy and to partner with the Montana Legal Services Association to hire a full-time domestic violence attorney with an office in Butte.

"For the next three years, we'll have our own attorney," said Cathrine Beaunae, executive director of Safe Space, noting that survivors will be able to get legal advice at no cost through the new office.

Beaunae said she's not sure where the office will open until she receives the first grant disbursement.

The grant, which has a term of three years, is being issued by the DOJ's Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program. The program is designed to serve survivors in rural areas who "face unique challenges and barriers to receiving assistance," according to the DOJ.

Beaunae says survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence can face a daunting task when it comes to navigating the legal system.

Survivors may want to divorce their partners, claim finances or property as they leave a relationship, or maintain custody of their children. However, they may not be able to afford an attorney or have trouble negotiating the intricacies of the legal system and so neglect taking legal action or even stay with their abusive partners as a result.

The women who stay at Safe Space, which offers a shelter for women and children in addition to other services for both men and women, sometimes come to the organization's doors with little more than a wallet in their hands, the executive director said.

"They come to us without anything. They've maybe packed up one or two backpacks, or maybe not even that."

These women, she said, can be financially dependent on their abusers and would likely not be able to access an attorney without some kind of assistance.

But with the new legal office, Beaunae is hoping to change all that.

"It gives women who would not normally have access to (an attorney) free legal advice right here in Butte," she said, adding that she hopes survivors might feel more empowered to move forward legally with the new attorney in place.

Allison Paul, executive director of the Montana Legal Services Association, said the last time the MLSA had an office in Butte was in 2011. The former Butte office at one time had a lawyer and paralegal, but after funds dried up for the program, the paralegal was cut, and the office closed altogether not long after.

"This is exciting because it lets us put an attorney back in the Butte community," said Paul by phone from the organization's Helena office.

Butte District Court Judge Kurt Krueger expressed optimism for the program, noting the Mining City has been in need of such a service since the previous MLSA office shut its doors.

"I'm happy (Safe Space) received it," said Krueger, reflecting on the grant. "It will really meet the needs of a great deal of our community."

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