ANAHEIM, CA —A $1.031 million federal investment will significantly expand Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California’s (AJSOCAL) ability to serve domestic violence survivors in Orange County, particularly Asian American and Pacific Islander and immigrant communities that can face language, cultural, and other barriers to accessing help.
The Community Project Funding, secured by U.S. Representative Dave Min (CA-47), will support AJSOCAL’s Survivor and Family Empowerment (SAFE) Project by increasing capacity for culturally and linguistically accessible legal assistance, survivor support, and training and resources for organizations serving immigrant and AAPI communities throughout Orange County.
The new investment will allow AJSOCAL to reach more survivors, expand opportunities for earlier intervention, and strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations that are often the first place survivors turn for help.
It will also help build stronger referral pathways so that organizations serving AAPI and immigrant communities are better equipped to connect survivors with appropriate legal and support services. The funding also represents a broader investment in building a more coordinated response to domestic violence in Orange County. By pairing AJSOCAL’s legal and language-access expertise with stronger community partnerships, the SAFE Project aims to improve how survivors enter the system, access assistance, and remain connected to the resources they need over time.
“When I served in the State Senate, I passed five bills into law to strengthen protections for survivors of domestic violence, and I’ve carried that commitment with me to Congress,” said Rep. Min. “I’m proud to have secured $1.031 million for AJSOCAL’s SAFE Project to expand free legal services and critical support for survivors here in Orange County, while strengthening the training and partnerships that help law enforcement and community organizations better serve victims. Survivors deserve safety, dignity, and the resources they need to rebuild their lives, and I will keep fighting to make sure our communities have the tools to stand with them.”
“Survivors should not have to navigate language, cultural, or systemic barriers on top of the trauma they are already experiencing,” said Ash Alvandi, Vice President of Orange County at AJSOCAL. “This investment gives AJSOCAL the ability to reach more people with trusted, culturally responsive support while strengthening the network of organizations serving survivors across Orange County. We are grateful to Congressman Min for investing in this work and recognizing the importance of ensuring our communities are reflected in the systems designed to support them.”
About AJSOCAL’s SAFE Project AJSOCAL’s SAFE Project supports survivors navigating both immediate safety concerns and complex legal systems. Services include legal assistance in restraining order and family law matters, safety planning, legal education, coordinated referrals, and community-based clinics designed to make legal help more accessible in trusted settings. For many survivors, seeking help can be complicated by limited English proficiency, concerns about immigration status, cultural stigma, financial insecurity, or unfamiliarity with the legal system. AJSOCAL’s multilingual and culturally responsive approach is designed to address those barriers while helping survivors and their families move toward greater safety and stability.
About Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is a leading legal and civil rights organization serving Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and other underserved communities throughout Southern California. Through legal services, community engagement, advocacy, and impact litigation, AJSOCAL works to protect rights, strengthen communities, and advance justice.
