New York City Announces Its Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Campaign

NYC Go Purple Day and Events Hosted Citywide to Spread Awareness and Share Resources with Survivors

NEW YORK, NY - The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) launched its annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) campaign and accompanying calendar of events, including “NYC Go Purple Day,” to alert New Yorkers about the resources and services available to survivors throughout New York City. During DVAM, events are held around the city to raise awareness about domestic violence, uplift survivors, celebrate advocates and providers serving survivors, and share critical information about resources. On “NYC Go Purple Day” (October 20th) local buildings and landmarks across the city light up in purple, and New Yorkers are encouraged to wear purple to show support for survivors.

Domestic violence (DV) occurs in every part of our city, among people of all races, cultures, religions, and income levels. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation. While domestic violence is considered one of the most under-reported crimes, in 2021 there were 260,084 domestic violence incident reports filed by the NYPD – an average of 700 a day. In 2021, there were 93,735 calls to New York City’s 24-hour Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673), with 6,970 unique requests for shelters. The NYC Hope website, which has information about gender-based violence and resources for survivors had 50,100 visits – an average of almost 140 visits a day.

“DVAM highlights the City’s efforts to keep our community safe and free from violence,” said Cecile Noel, Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. “As Mayor Adams has said before, domestic and gender-based violence is a public health crisis and we must take a coordinated, holistic approach to address the acute and unique needs of survivors. Our office works to implement this approach daily, and we are thrilled have the support of the Adams administration in developing and implementing new programs to interrupt cycles of violence and enhance support for survivors throughout the City. Join us this month and raise awareness of the dynamics and impacts of domestic violence, lift up the stories and experiences of survivors, share vital information and resources, and wear purple on NYC Go Purple Day.”

The Adams administration’s commitment to advancing the City’s responses to domestic and genderbased violence is supported with multiple innovative strategies and initiatives including:

• Respect & Responsibility: ENDGBV launched a free, non-mandated Abusive Partner Intervention Program (APIP) program for individuals who have caused harm in their intimate relationships. The program implements a trauma-informed curriculum that aims to have participants take accountability, stop causing harm, and change behavior. Programming launched in February 2022 with three city-contracted providers facilitating introductory sessions and multi-week groups in community and supporting participants with access to case management and other services.
• HOME+: HOME+ is a free option for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence who want to stay in their homes safely instead of entering shelter or going elsewhere. The program provides survivors with personal emergency-response systems to call for help, along with ongoing safety planning and case management services from a local domestic violence organization. Launched in October 2021, this citywide program will expand Fall 2022 to provide
  free emergency door and window lock repair and replacement to enhance security.
• Flexible Funding / Microgrants: The Mayor’s Housing Blueprint included funding for emergency financial grants to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, many of whom are impacted by financial abuse directly or who need financial assistance to mitigate the impacts of abuse. The flexible funding program will engage community-based providers in providing low-barrier emergency grants to survivors. This financial assistance will help survivors navigate safety, avoid shelter entry and offer them a chance to get back on their feet.
• Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program: ENDGBV is working with over 30 community-based partners to help survivors of domestic and gender-based violence apply for and find permanent housing with an Emergency Housing Voucher. ENDGBV has facilitated access to approximately 1,200 EHV’s for survivors to date, with an additional 600+ EHV applications in process.

“NYC Go Purple” is October 20, 2022

On “NYC Go Purple Day” local buildings and landmarks across the city will light up in purple including City Hall, the David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building, Gracie Mansion, Queens Borough Hall, Staten Island Borough Hall, One Police Plaza, The Parachute Jump in Coney Island, The Arsenal in Central Park, Bronx County Courthouse, 1 World Trade Center, Bank of America Tower, and Four Times Square.

New Yorkers can show their support for survivors by wearing purple and posting pictures to social media using the hashtags #DVAM2022 #ENDGBV #AwarenessHelpHope #GoPurple #NYCGoPurple #DVAM, and attending one of the many DVAM events listed on ENDGBV’s Citywide calendar which can be found at www.nyc.gov/endgbv. The public is also encouraged to host events, workshops, trainings or gatherings with other community members and to add those to the Citywide calendar using this online form. ENDGBV’s 2022 DVAM Resources & Social Media Toolkit is available to the public to help promote DVAM 2022 and share survivor resources.

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About the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence

The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) develops policies and programs, provides training and prevention education, conducts research and evaluations, performs community outreach, and operates the New York City Family Justice Centers. We collaborate with City agencies and community stakeholders to ensure access to inclusive services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV). GBV can include intimate partner and family violence, elder abuse, sexual
assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Read more about the term.

The NYC Family Justice Centers are co‐located multidisciplinary service centers providing vital social services, civil legal, and criminal justice assistance for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and their children—all under one roof. For more information, visit nyc.gov/ENDGBV or visit us on visit us one Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.