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The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
June 2024
Monthly Newsletter
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STAY CONNECTED:
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ENDGBV reaffirms the rights of all LGBT+ New Yorkers and is committed to advancing LGBT+ equality across our City. All survivors of domestic and gender-based violence deserve care and deserve to be taken seriously. While on average, LGBT+ people experience domestic and gender-based violence at equal or higher rates than their cis and straight counterparts, they may encounter barriers in accessing the same services. We also condemn the disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence toward Black transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. Our Family Justice Centers are here to provide trauma-informed, person-centered services for all survivors of anti-transgender violence. Services are free and confidential, do not require law enforcement involvement, and strive to maximize survivor choice and self-determination. ENDGBV will be out in community talking with LGBT+ New Yorkers about the resources available to them through our office.
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Staten Island Family Justice Center 8th Anniversary |
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ENDGBV is celebrating the Staten Island Family Justice Center (SIFJC)’s 8th Anniversary on June 29th! Our youngest Family Justice Center, the SIFJC opened to the public in 2016 and completed our long term goal of having a center in every borough. The need for such a center on Staten Island was punctuated by how quickly survivors began to use these new in-house services. Before the SIFJC opened its doors, ENDGBV had operated the Staten Island Domestic Violence Response Team and provided services to over 200 clients from 2012 to 2016. With our larger capacity center, the SIFJC was able to provide over 800 clients with a wider variety of services in the first six months of operation. In the years since opening, the center has maintained a consistent level of client visits with nearly 1,700 clients served in 2023. Executive Director of the SIFJC Marjorie Cohen said this about the anniversary:
“I started here at the [Staten Island Family Justice] Center as a partner staff attorney in 2018 until I took over as Executive Director in November 2021. The Center has always been an amazing, supportive community, which I found particularly comforting and helpful during the height of COVID and the world shut-down. The Center continues to be this warm, welcoming place and has only grown since its inception. We have increased partnerships with new agencies and strengthened our ties to the community as we are increasing our presence throughout the Island. We are so excited to celebrate our 8th anniversary and look forward to building new connections and hope to serve survivors for many, many more years to come.”
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Elder Abuse Awareness Month |
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June is also Elder Abuse Awareness Month. As an office for domestic and gender-based violence we are wholly invested in the welfare of our older New Yorkers and preventing elder abuse. Elder abuse is any action that causes harm or distress to an older person aged 60 or older. 141 out of 1,000 older New Yorkers have experienced an elder abuse event since turning age 60. In 2023, the Family Justice Centers served at least 1,837 clients who were experiencing intimate partner elder abuse. We know the services at our Family Justice Centers FJC’s are a vital resource for older New Yorkers. We hope to expand awareness about Elder Abuse and what our office is providing for older adults who experience domestic and gender-based violence.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is on June 15th, and our sister agency, NYC Aging will be hosting a Resource Fair on June 10th with Sunnyside Community Services. The fair will have providers that offer a variety of services for older adults including but not limited to home health aides, intergenerational programs, art and enrichment programs, and of course support for older adults who have experienced elder abuse.
Where: Sunnyside Community Services (43-31 39th St, Sunnyside, NY 11104)
Transportation: 7 Train, Q39, Q32, or Q60
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Immigration Awareness Month |
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The month of June is also Immigration Awareness Month, and we will be supporting our sister agency the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) by uplifting their information and resources for immigrants in NYC. Immigrants face high rates of domestic and gender-based violence in New York City, and they deserve to feel secure when seeking help. Our Family Justice Centers help everyone regardless of their immigration status. ENDGBV and each Family Justice Center (FJC) have information available in the 10 most commonly used languages in NYC and can offer translation services upon request. Our FJC’s have several resident non-profit organizations tailored to the communities we serve in each borough. Many providers, such as the Korean-American Family Service Center and VIP Mujeres, are community-based organizations with a special focus on domestic violence in immigrant communities.
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Gun Violence Awareness Month |
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Domestic and gender-based violence can go hand-in-hand with gun violence, and in New York City communities that are disproportionately impacted by gun violence are the same communities disproportionately impacted by domestic violence. In the United States, when male abusive partners have access to a gun in the home, the chances that he will kill a female partner in the relationship increases by 500%. In New York City from 2010 to 2021 about 8 women a year were shot and killed by an intimate partner, almost exclusively men, every month. While New York City is working hard to advocate on behalf of survivors for common sense gun policies, we also offer ways for survivors to safety plan and access the help they need. ENDGBV’s Family Justice Centers and community-based programs connects survivors to amazing partner organizations adept at navigating the increased risks survivors face when an abusive partner has access to a gun.
The decision for the Supreme Court Case of US v. Rahimi is expected to come in late June. This ruling will determine whether someone subject to a domestic violence restraining order should be restricted from possessing or accessing a gun. Removing the ability to keep guns from those who present a danger for those around them would be detrimental to the safety of survivors and the public more broadly. This is why the City of New York filed an amicus brief for the court to consider in this ruling. To learn more, read our brief here.
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ENDGBV works closely with diverse communities in New York City in a variety of ways and here’s how you can partner:
Host a Training:
Go to our website to request training with our Training Team. The form to request a training is below:
Online Training Request Form
In today's newsletter, we will share: (1) newly announced housing supports for domestic violence survivors; (2) highlights from a recent City Council hearing on sexual harassment in New York City; (3) enacted FY25 New York State budget items related to domestic and gender-based violence; and (4) USCIS immigration updates for trafficking survivors.
City Legislative and Policy Highlights
- New Housing Initiative and Policies for Domestic Violence Survivors
- On April 15th, 2024, Mayor Adams announced three new options to connect domestic violence survivors to safe and stable housing:
- Project Home: a pilot program launched in partnership with New Destiny Housing to provide intensive, specialized housing search assistance to domestic violence survivors with children living in city shelters
- Supportive Housing Eligibility Expanded to include Domestic Violence Survivors
- Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Affordable Housing Units Eligibility Expanded to include Domestic Violence Survivors
- New York City Council Oversight Hearing: Updates on sexual harassment best practices in New York City
- On May 2, 2024, the New York City Council Committee on Women and Gender Equity and Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation jointly convened an oversight hearing on sexual harassment in New York City.
- ENDGBV participated in the hearing to provide updates on the New York City Street Harassment Prevention Advisory Board, which ENDGBV co-chairs with the Commission on Gender Equity. ENDGBV provided an overview of the board's activities over the past two years, including:
- Conducting a Citywide Street Harassment Survey
- Creating an End Street Harassment Resource Guide
- Conducting outreach to raise awareness about street harassment
- For a full summary of the board’s activities, please read our 2023 annual report.
State Legislative Highlights
- On April 22, 2024, the New York State Legislature passed the FY25 state budget. Below are some highlights that relate to domestic and gender-based violence
- Safer New York State
- $35.8 million for district attorneys to create and expand domestic violence units and implement survivor-centered and trauma-informed domestic violence interventions.
- $35 million for Securing Communities Against Hate Grant to fund safety and security projects at nonprofit organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or missions.
- State Funding to Address Federal Victim Assistance Funding Shortfalls
- $20 million to make up for shortfalls in funding for victim service providers funded by NYS Office of Victim Services October 2022 through September 2025 grants.
- Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kits Storage Facility
- $4.1 million for services and expenses related to a storage facility for sexual offense evidence collection kits, including the costs of demolition, alterations, improvements to existing facilities, departmental administrative costs, and etc
- Assistance to Localities
- $1,165,000 for services and expenses of programs that prevent domestic and gender-based violence, including contracts for the operation of hotlines for victims of domestic and gender-based violence
- $4.5 million for services and expenses of rape crisis centers, including but not limited to prevention, education and victim services on college campuses and within their communities in the state
- $5 million for services and expenses and grants to government entities and not-for-profits to provide financial assistance to victims and survivors of domestic violence
Federal Legislative Highlights
- USCIS has announced a final rule amending the regulations for victims of human trafficking seeking "T" nonimmigrant status.
- This final rule ensures eligible victims of human trafficking can access protections and benefits on a timely manner.
- "T" nonimmigrant status enables certain victims of human trafficking to remain in the United States for an initial period of up to four (4) years.
- This rule is effective on Aug. 28, 2024, and applies to benefit requests that are pending or filed on or after that date.
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The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence invites you to register for our June Open Provider Trainings. These sessions are completely free, virtual, and aimed at service providers in NYC:
Identifying and Responding to Intimate Partner Violence
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Now Accepting Applications |
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Full-time positions are now open with our ENDGBV team. To learn how you can apply online or share our openings with your networks, visit New York City's job bank at: https://www.nyc.gov/jobs/index.page and search by Job ID number.
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Help is Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or gender-based violence, help is available:
- Find resources and support in NYC by searching NYC HOPE Resource Directory online at www.nyc.gov/NYCHOPE.
- NYC Family Justice Centers offer immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, mental health support, and other resources by phone or in person. For in person services, clients can call 311 for their nearest Family Justice Center to make an appointment or visit if they cannot engage in remote services safely or effectively.
- Call NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) for immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, and other resources, TTY: 866-604-5350.
- In an emergency, you can call 911. Please note this will lead to a response by the New York Police Department (NYPD)
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Disclaimer: We believe in the principles of open dialogue and considering varying perspectives. Viewpoints or opinions expressed in the content of this communication or in articles linked do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, or the City of New York.
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The Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) is now the Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Find out more at www.nyc.gov/ENDGBV
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