Kansas opens $2.3M in victim assistance grants; KCK shelter says timing is critical

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – More than $2.3 million in victim assistance grants is now available for Kansas organizations that serve crime victims, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced Wednesday.

Six state grant programs administered through the Office of the Attorney General are open for application. The funding supports nonprofits and government agencies statewide that provide direct services to crime victims, including domestic violence shelters, sexual assault agencies, child advocacy centers, child exchange and visitation centers, and organizations serving human trafficking victims.

Friends of Yates, a 24/7 domestic violence shelter in Kansas City, Kansas, operates between 35 and 40 beds and says it runs at capacity as much as 80 to 90 percent of the year.

Executive Director Dr. Desmond Lamb said demand is not declining.

“We’re seeing kind of an uptake in domestic violent homicide, which is unfortunate,” Lamb said. “Domestic violence is definitely on the rise.”

Lamb said the shelter provides three meals a day, transportation to medical appointments, school transportation for children, and economic and family advocacy services to residents.

“We use every penny to provide direct services and trauma-informed care to those who we serve,” Lamb said.

Lamb said the shelter has historically received funding through the attorney general’s grant programs since the programs began more than 20 years ago. He said grant dollars help cover utilities, insurance, food, and overall shelter operations.

“Many times resources are not as prevalent and practical in marginalized communities as they are in other, more affluent communities,” Lamb said. “So when these resources become available, it is definitely an appreciated and a needed help.”

Kristen Czugala, Division Chief of Victim Services at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, said the funding is drawn from district court fines and fees, as well as a portion of marriage license fees, along with some state general funds.

“This funding is really vital to our local programs,” Czugala said. “These awards are used to help support the agencies that are doing the hard work in the field, supporting victims of crime, helping them feel believed and supported and to be safe in our communities.”

The attorney general’s office typically awards approximately 100 individual grants to about 50 organizations each year across the six funding streams. The six programs open for application are:

• Child Exchange and Visitation Center Program (CEVC) — Provides supervised child exchange and visitation to children and families at risk due to domestic or family violence.
• Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Fund (HTVAF) — Established by the Legislature in 2013, supports training for law enforcement and services for human trafficking victims and victims of commercial sexual exploitation of a child.
• Child Abuse and Neglect Fund (CVAF-CA) — Supports ongoing operating expenses of programs assisting child victims.
• Crime Victims Assistance Fund (CVAF) — Supports ongoing operating expenses of programs assisting crime victims and helps establish and maintain new victim services programs.
• State Protection from Abuse Fund (PFA) — Provides temporary emergency shelter for adult victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and their dependent children, along with counseling and educational services.
• Child Advocacy Center Fund (CAC) — Supports ongoing operating expenses of child advocacy centers.

The first step of the application process is due April 10, 2026. Applications are submitted through the Grant Management System on the attorney general’s website at ag.ks.gov/divisions/victim-services/grant-programs. Awards are expected to be announced this summer.

Lamb said Friends of Yates plans to reapply.

“We keep our fingers crossed and we pray,” Lamb said. “And most generally, we get that phone call that puts a smile on our face.”

Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.