St. Croix group lands $200K federal grant for abuse survivors

A St. Croix nonprofit focused on helping survivors of domestic and sexual violence has secured $200,000 in federal funding to launch a new support programme across the U.S. Virgin Islands.

H.O.P.E. Incorporated, which stands for Helping Ordinary People Everyday, received the award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families on September 24. The initiative, titled "H.O.P.E. Culturally Rooted Pathways to Safety, Healing & Economic Empowerment," will begin operations on September 30, 2026, and continue through September 2030.

The programme aims to strengthen survivor safety and emotional recovery while bolstering family stability and creating protective settings for children. It will also foster collaboration among organisations working with survivors and expand access to evidence-informed interventions for people and families touched by violence.

Funding flexibility allows H.O.P.E. to structure its work in two phases: a six- to 12-month planning period for staff recruitment, needs evaluation and service development, followed by an implementation phase. The grant permits a range of activities including crisis response, case management, legal and medical advocacy, housing support, employment training, financial literacy programmes, counselling and peer-led support.

The $200,000 covers only the first budget year. Future funding depends on congressional appropriations, progress toward programme goals and federal determination that continued investment serves the government's interests.

The award came through the HHS Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services programme, which distributed $5 million nationally across roughly 25 agreements in 2026. Unlike some federal grants, this programme does not require organisations to contribute matching funds.

H.O.P.E. identifies itself as the nonprofit arm of Girlfriendism and is led by founding executive director Dr. Khnuma Simmonds. The organisation has previously delivered grant-backed work focused on survivor healing and empowerment.