Safe Horizon, Urban Resource Institute, Volunteers of America-Greater New York, and the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, alongside a coalition of elected officials, survivors, and advocates, issued a letter urging Governor Hochul to sign the SAFE Shelter Act before the end of the year and prioritize life-saving temporary housing for thousands of survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.
Groups to host a press conference and rally on December 18, 2024 at 10:30 AM on the Steps of City Hall to Urge Immediate Action
NEW YORK, NY (December 18, 2024) — A diverse coalition of statewide violence prevention advocates, including New York City domestic violence shelter providers – Safe Horizon, Urban Resource Institute, Volunteers of America – Greater New York – renewed their calls on Governor Hochul to sign the Securing Access to Fair & Equal (SAFE) Shelter Act (A. 2583A/S. 15A) into law.
The law, which was sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, would make it easier for thousands of survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking to access safe and stable temporary housing in a DV shelter.
Most rooms in the domestic violence emergency shelter system are designed to accommodate families of two, three, or more. Providers that place single survivors without children in rooms designed to house more than two people face significant, and potentially ruinous, financial consequences.
As a result, survivors of domestic violence without children often struggle to find shelter, forcing them to stay in a dangerous environment, into the homeless shelter system, which is not designed to meet their needs, or onto the streets.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community, trafficking survivors, and older adult survivors are disproportionately impacted by this inequity as they often present as single when they request shelter.
Safe Horizon operates the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline and receives nearly 90,000 domestic violence hotline calls per year and more than 40,000 domestic violence shelter requests annually on its 24-hour hotline. Each year, the largest population of individuals seeking domestic violence shelter is single adults with no children, and that number has increased year over year. In 2023, about 50% of hotline callers seeking shelter placement were single adults with no children. Only 18% were linked to an available shelter space, compared to 26% of hotline callers who were families of two (typically a mother and one child) and had a 72% rate of being linked to an available shelter space.
Now that the bill sits on her desk, the governor has until 11:59 pm on December 23, 2024, to sign it into law. Failure to take action condemns survivors to another year of waiting for more equitable access to the safety of domestic violence shelters.
Alongside New York City and State elected officials, the advocates will hold a press conference and rally on DECEMBER 18th at 10:30 AM on the Steps of City Hall to urge the Governor to sign the bill now.
“New York’s response to domestic violence is leaving too many victims behind,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “The state’s funding system is so flawed that if a shelter operator places a single person in a room with two beds, they lose half the revenue they need to cover rent, staffing and security. The result? Most single survivors aren’t connected to shelter at all. That’s not just nonsensical; it’s a moral failure. My SAFE Shelter Act would change that, and ensure we give all New Yorkers the shelter and support they need. I urge the Governor to act urgently and sign this bill into law.”
“The SAFE Shelter Act was first introduced in 2018, and each year that goes by without passing this law results in domestic violence survivors being turned away when seeking often lifesaving help. We have a moral obligation to use every available resource to support survivors, and our current practice of allowing double occupancy rooms to sit vacant while singles struggle to find safe shelter is a travesty of the system created to support them. I implore Governor Hochul to sign this legislation immediately,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, Children and Families Committee Chair.
“Domestic violence and trafficking survivors need and deserve access to life-saving shelter when their lives and safety are in danger. Unfortunately, the current system makes it nearly impossible for single adult survivors without children to access shelter. The SAFE Shelter Act will change this. Safe Horizon and our coalition partners call on Governor Hochul to sign the SAFE Shelter Act immediately. Survivors cannot wait another year for this vital relief. We implore Governor Hochul to act with urgency and build on her legacy of standing with survivors by signing the SAFE Shelter Act into law now,” said Liz Roberts, Safe Horizon CEO.
“The SAFE Shelter Act is crucial for single survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and elder abuse who have faced barriers to accessing safe shelter. When a survivor decides to leave an abusive environment, our shelter system must ensure they have a safe place to go. URI, alongside our coalition partners, urges Governor Hochul to champion this cause once more, ensuring that single survivors have a safe space to call home this holiday season,” said Nathaniel M. Fields, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Resource Institute.
“Every survivor deserves access to life-saving shelter services, regardless of whether or not they have children in their household. Volunteers of America-Greater New York (GNY) supports the SAFE Shelter Act (A.2583A/S.15A), which already passed both houses of the legislature with wide support and will allow service providers like us to accommodate more single-member households without incurring fiscal penalties for doing so,” said Jeffrey R. Ginsburg, President & CEO of Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY). “We strongly urge Governor Hochul to sign this critical legislation immediately.”
“The network of nonprofit domestic violence advocacy programs across New York State consistently share housing single adults as a contributing factor to their fiscal crisis. Many domestic violence shelters were originally constructed to provide services and shelter for fleeing families and were typically intended to house more than one occupant. Recently, we have seen an increase in single adult victims of domestic violence, including LGBTQ+ survivors and older adult survivors, who are some of the most marginalized and underserved survivors. Single adults are no less deserving of safety, and our shelter reimbursement system must evolve. We urge the governor to sign the SAFE Shelter Act to reduce the financial burden on domestic violence service providers and help ensure ALL survivors can access safe housing,” said Connie Neal, Executive Director of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
“Sheltering survivors from exploitation requires compassionately reckoning with their present circumstances alongside their proximity to future risk,” said State Senator Julia Salazar. “As the Chair of Crime Victims, Crime, and Correction Committee, I extend my deep gratitude to Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Hevesi for carrying the SAFE Shelter Act. I urge Governor Hochul to sign S15A because the legislation is a direct reflection of the hard-won knowledge that advocates from URI, Safe Horizon and the Greater NY chapter of Volunteers of America have amassed while providing support to survivors – usually late at night, on weekends – for decades.”
“Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Hevesi’s SAFE Shelter Act will allow unoccupied family shelter unit beds to house single adults in dire need of safety from their abusers. Under New York’s current system, many family shelter units remain vacant and unable to house the rising number of single adult domestic violence shelter cases. DV survivors need this bill to become law now,” said State Senator Roxanne Persaud, Chair of Committee on Social Services.
“I am deeply committed to ensuring that every survivor of domestic violence, human trafficking, and elder abuse has access to the safe and stable shelter they need to rebuild their lives. The SAFE Shelter Act addresses a critical gap in our current system, which unfairly leaves many single survivors without access to the support they deserve. This is not just a matter of policy; it is a matter of humanity,” said Assemblywoman Maritza Davila, Chair of the New York State Assembly Social Services Committee.
“Domestic violence shelters want to help all survivors, and we need to put them in a fiscal position to do so,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “With the current reimbursement system shelters sometimes need to turn away single-adults, forcing survivors to choose between remaining in dangerous situations or facing homelessness. The SAFE Shelter Act is a critical lifeline that will help shelters welcome more survivors into safety, regardless of their family composition. By removing the financial barriers that have prevented providers from supporting these adults, every survivor can access this critical protection.”
“The SAFE Shelter Act is a vital step forward in ensuring that all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, regardless of their family size, gender identity, or circumstances, have access to the life-saving support they need,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “By addressing systemic funding gaps and empowering providers to serve single adult survivors without risking financial stability, this legislation offers a more equitable and compassionate framework for supporting our most vulnerable New Yorkers. I stand firmly with the coalition advocating for this transformative policy and urge Governor Hochul to sign the SAFE Shelter Act into law without delay.”
“Ensuring that victims of domestic violence can quickly access emergency shelter is a major priority for my district. The SAFE Shelter Act will help so many additional single adult survivors find the help they need and deserve. I am grateful to Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi for their leadership on this issue, and I urge Governor Hochul to sign this important bill into law without further delay,” said New York City Council Member Rita Joseph.
“Too often, my office hears from constituents who are desperately trying to escape intimate partner violence, only to be turned away from shelters because they don’t have children. While shelter providers are committed to ensuring that every survivor has a safe place to turn, the current system financially penalizes them for ‘downsizing’ a room to accommodate individuals without children. This loophole creates unnecessary barriers for those seeking life-saving protection. The SAFE Shelter Act is a crucial step toward addressing this issue by eliminating these financial disincentives and ensuring that more survivors of intimate partner violence can access the safety and support they need,“ said New York City Council Member Farah Louis.
“Public safety means more than law and order. It also means New Yorkers who have experienced crime have a safe place to go,” said New York City Council Member Kamillah Hanks. “I hear from constituents who – because they are childless – face enormous obstacles trying to access domestic violence shelters because they are configured for families. The SAFE Shelter Act will help many more single adult victims of DV, trafficking and sexual abuse leave abusive situations and find safety and healing in domestic violence shelters. I urge Governor Hochul to sign this very important bill into law as soon as possible.”
“Domestic violence shelters should be focused on getting survivors to safety not navigating unnecessary barriers to reimbursement. The state legislature agreed and passed common sense legislation to address this issue. I urge Governor Hochul to sign this important bill into law as soon as possible to ensure safety and protection for DV survivors,” said New York City Council Member Shekar Krishnan.
“Hope’s Door urges passage of the SAFE Shelter Act. Consider this recent survivor. After being stabbed 13 times, “Cindy” crawled under a bed and played dead – the only reason she survived. Her mental trauma was too great and her physical medical needs too complex to share a room with another person. Over the six months of her time with us, we will forfeit $24,613 for providing her with the room she needs for herself. Over the course of a year, we project losses of over $154,000 to provide single survivors like Cindy with the trauma-informed, compassionate care they need,” said CarlLa Horton, Executive Director of Hope’s Door.
“Access to shelter is one of the most pressing needs identified by survivors of sexual violence in New York City as they begin their pathway to healing. And yet, because a majority of these survivors present as single adults, many are not able to gain access to this critical support. We call on Governor Hochul to stand with survivors of sexual violence and to sign the SAFE Shelter Act immediately,” said Emily Miles, Executive Director of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault.
“Sanctuary for Families calls on Governor Hochul to sign the SAFE Shelter Act and transform the way New York supports survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Shelter is often the difference between life and death for those fleeing abuse, yet our current system shuts the door on single survivors, leaving them with nowhere to turn. This legislation addresses a critical gap, ensuring that all survivors—regardless of family size—have access to the safety and stability they deserve. We urge the Governor to act swiftly and affirm New York’s commitment to protecting every survivor,” said Hon. Judy Harris Kluger, Chief Executive Officer of Sanctuary for Families.
“Governor Hochul, the SAFE Shelter Act is an essential measure to ensure the safety and shelter of all survivors, particularly those without children. As a culturally specific provider, we understand the critical importance of addressing the unique needs of diverse survivor populations. It is vital that they receive the appropriate support and resources tailored to their cultural backgrounds. Single adult survivors are a significant and integral part of our community, and they urgently need access to shelter resources that cater to their specific and nuanced needs. Your immediate action is not just necessary—it is a matter of life and death. By signing this Act, you will provide the crucial support these survivors desperately need and deserve,” said Yasmeen Hamza, Chief Executive Officer of Womankind.
“Elder abuse often takes place in the home. Older adults who have experienced domestic violence should have the opportunity to find immediate safe shelter. The SAFE Shelter Act allows for survivors to find a safe place to stay, regardless of their age, marital status or whether they have children,” said Eustacia Smith, Director of Advocacy of West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing.
“Some of the most vulnerable survivors in NY are undocumented immigrants due to their lack of legal status in the country. And migrants in shelters are already falling victim to human trafficking. We urge the governor to sign the SAFE Shelter Act to help ensure ALL survivors can access safe housing. We take our warm homes for granted, let’s open more doors,” said Dishpaul S. Dhuga, Deputy Director of the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
“Domestic and Sexual Violence survivors are being turned away from life saving shelter and desperately needed services because of a flawed system. The Crime Victims Center, Inc. (CVC) strongly urges Governor Hochul to sign the SAFE Shelter Act to ensure that all survivors, including single survivors, gain access to safe shelter when they need it most,” said Laura A. Ahearn, Esq., LMSW, Executive Director of the Suffolk County Crime Victims Center.
About Safe Horizon:
Established in 1978, Safe Horizon is the largest non-profit victim services agency in the United States. It touches the lives of more than 250,000 children, adults, and families affected by crime and abuse throughout New York City each year. Safe Horizon envisions a society free of family and community violence, leading the way by empowering victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking to move from crisis to confidence. Safe Horizon’s mission is to provide support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families, and communities. For more information, please visit www.safehorizon.org.
About Urban Resource Institute:
URI is the largest provider of temporary housing for survivors of domestic violence in the country and a leading provider of transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness. Committed to ending cycles of violence and homelessness, URI offers trauma-informed, client-centered support to the families it serves. With 24 shelters in New York City, including 15 shelters specifically for domestic violence survivors, URI provides temporary housing to over 3,700 people each night and trauma-informed programming to approximately 40,000 people annually. Learn more by visiting www.urinyc.org.
About Volunteers of America-Greater New York:
Volunteers of America-Greater New York is an anti-poverty organization working to end homelessness in the Greater New York area by 2050 by providing housing, health, and wealth-building services to individuals and families experiencing, or at imminent risk of, homelessness. Founded in New York City in 1896, we are the local affiliate of the national organization, Volunteers of America, Inc., and one of the largest providers of human services in the region with 70+ programs, including seven domestic violence shelters, across NYC, Westchester County, and Northern New Jersey. To learn more, please visit voa-gny.org.
About New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV):
Established in 1978, NYSCADV is designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the information clearinghouse, primary point of contact, and resource center on domestic violence for the State of New York. NYSCADV is responsible for supporting the development of policies, protocol, and procedures to enhance domestic violence intervention and prevention and also provides education and technical assistance to the network of primary-purpose domestic violence service providers statewide.
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