A NEW POLICE unit specializing in violence against women and children will be formed in the Huntington Beach Police Department (Shutterstock).

A grant of $203,143 to provide services to the victims of domestic violence was accepted Monday by the Huntington Beach City Council.

The vote was 7-0 to accept the money provided by the state’s Office of Emergency Services. Together with the city’s partial cash match, that brings the city’s domestic services budget to $270,857.

A specialized unit to provide a coordinated response to victims of domestic violence and their children will be funded and the unit administered by the city police department.

Included will be a full-time investigator assigned to cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and restraining order violations. Also, the grant will fund two part-time violence against women investigators, and a contract with Wayfarers Victim Assistance Program for one full-time person to serve as victim advocate, domestic violence counselor and rape crisis counselor.

Additionally, a contract with Interval House Crisis Shelter will provide “shelter-based services” to victims of domestic violence.

The next meeting of the council is Monday, March 23.