Domestic Violence Services & Programs
Urban Resource Institute (URI) is the nation’s largest provider of domestic violence shelter and support services. Every day, we help survivors of intimate partner violence find safety, heal from trauma, and build stable, independent futures for themselves and their families.
For people fleeing violence, finding shelter is only the first step. URI’s survivor-centered, trauma-informed approach goes beyond emergency housing to address the full reality of domestic violence—its immediate danger, its long-term impacts, and the systems that too often make safety harder to reach.
URI provides safe, confidential shelter for nearly 1,200 domestic violence survivors every night, including adults, children, and pets. Our shelters offer more than refuge—they provide stability, dignity, and space to begin healing.
242 pet-inclusive units across nine shelters, ensuring survivors never have to choose between safety and the animals they love
Nearly 65% of our shelter residents are children
Emergency and transitional housing options that support both immediate escape and longer-term stability
As a recognized leader in domestic violence services, URI works to remove barriers to shelter and care—serving survivors of all genders, sexual orientations, immigration statuses, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
URI was recognized by The City of New York for its commitment to ending domestic violence and homelessness
Healing Is Central to Everything We Do
Domestic violence causes deep emotional, psychological, and physical harm. URI’s licensed counselors, social workers, and advocates work alongside survivors through one-on-one counseling, group support, and holistic services designed to restore autonomy and hope.
Survivors receive support to:
- Process trauma and rebuild confidence
- Strengthen emotional and physical well-being
- Reclaim control over their own futures
Our work is grounded in the understanding that healing is not linear—and that survivors deserve care that is patient, respectful, and culturally responsive.
Stability, Independence, and Long-Term Housing
Safety is only meaningful if it lasts. URI helps survivors move toward long-term stability through coordinated services that support independence and economic security.
These include:
- Housing navigation and permanent housing placement
- Job readiness, workforce training, and financial literacy
- Legal education and advocacy, including help with custody, immigration matters, and orders of protection
- Connection to public benefits and victim compensation resources
We work alongside survivors to reduce the risk of returning to abusive situations and to support lasting safety for the whole family.
Keeping Families Together
URI’s People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) program was the first of its kind in New York City and remains a national model for pet-inclusive domestic violence sheltering.
PALS ensures that survivors can seek safety without abandoning their pets, recognizing the powerful role animals play in emotional support, healing, and recovery from trauma.
Breaking Cycles Through Prevention and Accountability
Ending domestic violence requires more than crisis response. URI also works upstream to prevent harm and interrupt cycles of violence through:
- Intervention programs that hold people who cause harm accountable while supporting behavioral change
- Prevention and education programs for teens and pre-teens through schools and virtual platforms
- Community-based efforts that address the root causes of violence before it escalates
This comprehensive approach reflects URI’s belief that violence is preventable—and that safer futures are possible with the right support and accountability.
Understanding Domestic Violence
Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence (IPV), is a pattern of behaviors used to gain or maintain power and control over another person in an intimate relationship. Abuse can take many forms, including:
- Physical
- Emotional and psychological
- Sexual
- Financial and economic
- Digital and technological
- Spiritual or cultural
Survivors may experience one or many forms of abuse. URI supports individuals affected by all forms of domestic violence, whether the harm is visible or hidden.
Victim Compensation and Support
Domestic violence is a crime, and survivors may be eligible for financial assistance to help recover losses caused by abuse, including medical expenses, relocation costs, and damaged property.
The New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) provides compensation and support for victims of crime, including domestic violence.
