WASHINGTON, DC - The office of Congressman William Delahunt and the Cape and Islands Regional Domestic Violence Council will sponsor a forum on housing options available to domestic violence survivors as part of the federal Violence Against Women Act.

The workshop will feature a presentation by Barbara Zimbel, senior housing attorney from Greater Boston Legal Services, and representatives of three local agencies that assist survivors with housing. The workshop will be held on Friday, February 9, 2007 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Community Action Committee of the Cape and Islands, 115 Enterprise Road, Hyannis.

“Violence against women is the worst kind of crime because it destroys the foundations of the victim’s life.  This forum will help those who assist survivors who have the courage to end the cycle of abuse and find a way out for themselves and their children. Working together, we can ensure that these women can find places to live as they rebuild their lives” said Congressman Delahunt.

Zimbel will focus on the recently amended housing provisions of the federal Violence Against Women Act. Topics will include new obligations imposed on housing providers by VAWA, the obstacles providers may face, and will discuss ways in which housing advocates, domestic violence advocates, and housing providers can collaborate to protect domestic violence survivors.

Participants from local agencies will be: Chris Austen, Interfaith Council for the Homeless; Pam Larson, Housing Assistance Corp.; and Polly Hemstock, Lower Cape Community Development.

Those interested in attending should call Delahunt’s Hyannis office: 800-870-2626.

-30-