Mountain Violence Prevention Project

The Mountain Violence Prevention Project (MVPP) helps victims of domestic violence take legal action to escape abuse and rebuild their lives.  Through MVPP, Pisgah Legal Services helps victims secure court protective orders to improve their safety for adult and child victims.  PLS also helps victims address a range of other issues to increase their independence from their abusers, including child custody and child support, divorce, division of marital property, and housing and consumer issues. 

The Mountain Violence Prevention Project is a collaborative effort of Pisgah Legal Services and domestic violence prevention agencies in six counties.  By integrating legal and supportive services, the MVPP is developing a model continuum of care for low-income victims of domestic violence in our region.

VIDEO: PLS Staff Attorney, Julie Klipp Nicholson explains how PLS stops domestic violence.

Success Story

PLS Helps Protect Mother and Daughters from Abuse

Kathy and her daughters called the police one night when Kathy's husband was brutally beating her daughter, Megan.  Kathy came to PLS afraid that her husband was going to kill her, and afraid for her three children.

A Pisgah Legal Services attorney helped Kathy and her daughters get protective orders, and helped Kathy establish custody and child support.

PLS also helped Kathy access services from other agencies, including Helpmate (Asheville's domestic violence prevention agency), a community mental health program for counseling, and vocational rehabilitation to help Kathy re-enter the workforce.  A private volunteer attorney helped Kathy get spousal support.