The Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP) has received a grant from the Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts (IOLTA) to assist survivors of domestic violence, as well as the agencies that serve them, in navigating utility-related matters.
PULP will partner with two domestic violence programs in Northeast Pennsylvania, including The Women’s Center, Inc., serving Columbia and Montour counties, and the Women’s Resource Center, serving Susquehanna and Lackawanna counties.
The pilot project will provide:
- Capacity building (resource development and training) for counselors and advocates.
- Training for survivors in transitional housing.
- Representation and/or referral service for survivors with current utility issues.
The training and resources will focus on universal service programs, connection and termination laws, protections for victims with a current protective order, and competitive shopping.
The ultimate hope is that the programming developed could be replicated in transitional and low-income housing programs across Pennsylvania.