New York City Resources for Domestic & Gender-Based Survivors Available

Survivors Have Variety of Ways to Access Resources Including Immediate Safety Planning, Shelter Assistance, Legal Consultations and more

For Immediate Release: April 10, 2020
Contact: ESeibold@endgbv.nyc.gov; or 646-841-4396 (cell)

New York, NY (April 10, 2020) - New York City is here for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence during the COVID-19 health crisis. There are numerous ways for survivors to find support and services including through the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) and its Family Justice Centers (FJC). FJC locations are temporarily closed but survivors can reach the Centers directly Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the FJC phone lines (Brooklyn: 1-718-250-5113; Bronx: 1-718-508-1220; Manhattan: 1-212-602-2800; Queens: 1-718-575-4545; Staten Island: 1-718-697-4300.) ENDGBV is connecting survivors to its community based organizations (CBO) and City partner agencies for vital services including immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, legal consultations, counseling sessions, case management sessions, and more. Help is free and confidential regardless of age, income, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, or language spoken. Stay-at-Home orders do not prevent survivors from seeking help for health and shelter; survivors who need healthcare should seek medical care or call 911 for emergencies.

"Survivors need us now more than ever in these extraordinary times, and our top priority remains to ensure continuity of services and unwavering support," said ENDGBV Commissioner Cecile Noel. "Our Centers continue to provide crucial crisis support and advocacy by connecting survivors to immediate safety planning, shelter assistance, legal consultations, and more. COVID-19 puts into sharp focus the vulnerabilities that many people in our city face every day, especially gender-based violence survivors; and it highlights the barriers and challenges that we know keep people from seeking help and finding safety. The City is here for survivors during this crisis and beyond, and will continue to work to identify best practices and innovative approaches to enhance its services."

ENDGBV is informing the public about its services and COVID-19 resources through a variety of ways including its agency website, its "NYC HOPE" resources directory website and ENDGBV social media. These tools are being leveraged with City agency partners and program providers to amplify to survivors that help is available. ENDGBV website updates for survivors include the Resources for Survivors During COVID-19 page – a page dedicated to COVID-19 resources and information. Helpful information is also being sent out through the Notify NYC system.

Survivors are encouraged to be aware of the following information which is available on the ENDGBV website, and New York City's COVID-19 resource page:

Housing and Shelter: domestic violence shelters are still open for intake. Call the City's 24-hour Domestic Violence hotline (1-800-621-4673) to learn more, or visit the Human Resources Administration website.
Mental Health: Survivors are additionally encouraged to call NYC Well (1-888-692-9355) or text WELL to 65173 (Available 24/7/365) for help with stress and anxiety, as well as to call 911 for emergencies.
Legal Services: Emergency / essential legal actions remain available through NYS Family Court, which is operating virtually. This includes family offense petitions (orders of protection) and filings to address emergency custody / visitation issues. Existing temporary orders of protection have been extended until cases can be rescheduled.
Social Services:
- FJC locations are temporarily closed but survivors can reach the Centers directly Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the FJC phone lines (Brooklyn: 1-718-250-5113; Bronx: 1-718-508-1220; Manhattan: 1-212-602-2800; Queens: 1-718-575-4545; Staten Island: 1-718-697-4300.)
- For evenings and weekends, survivors can call NYC's 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-621-4673), to access assistance with immediate safety planning, shelter assistance and community resources.
- Survivors with access to the internet can visit nyc.gov/NYCHOPE and ENDGBV's Resources Page for Survivors During COVID-19 for additional resources and information.

"As our City continues to respond to the ever-evolving challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, we remain committed to supporting New Yorkers in need, offering tailored services to ensure survivors of domestic violence are protected during these unprecedented times," said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. "HRA's Domestic Violence shelter system provides a variety of safe and confidential services that allows survivors to focus on what is most important — their health and well-being. We look forward to continuing our work with the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence and other City partners as we support survivors of domestic violence through today's challenges and beyond."

"Older New Yorkers experiencing domestic and gender-based violence are especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis and need to know that supportive services are still available and easy to access," said NYC Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. "Elder abuse can be financial, physical, emotional, and include neglect. During this extremely difficult time, our elder abuse program is only a phone call away thanks to 311."

"At ACS, our top priority is the safety and well-being of New York City's children and families, and we know that families need our support now, more than ever," said NYC Administration for Children's Services Commissioner David A. Hansell. "When a family experiences domestic violence, this not only has devastating impacts on the immediate well-being and functioning of the children and survivors, the effects can be found in the generations that follow. I want to thank the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence for its commitment to keep survivors and their children safe."

"The balance of public health and safety is paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic and the City's extensive network of resources for domestic and gender-based survivors is key," said Elizabeth Glazer, Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. "It provides housing assistance, legal guidance, and other invaluable services so that every survivor is supported during this emergency."

"Amid this unprecedented crisis, NYPD domestic violence officers are working night and day to follow-up on Domestic Incident reports, especially with our most vulnerable (High Propensity, Child at Risk and elderly) and engage with victims of domestic violence in all five boroughs," said Deputy Chief Kathleen White, Commanding Officer NYPD Domestic Violence Unit. "They remain committed to working with all of our government partners to ensure that anyone in need is connected to the services that are available."

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.