FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press inquiries: Dondi Quintans, dquintans@urinyc.org
After tirelessly advocating with our partners against the backdrop of rising domestic violence and homelessness in New York, Urban Resource Institute (URI) welcomes the Adams Administration’s commitment to including $741 million in the FY25 NYC budget to fund a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for workers in the human services.
With URI standing as the city’s largest provider of temporary housing for domestic violence survivors and a major provider for homeless families, our nearly 700 staff members—71% women and 63% women of color—represent the backbone of our operations.
Our dedicated team, many of whom have personal experience with homelessness or violence, go above and beyond in challenging conditions because of their deep commitment to care. The families we assist are embraced by our staff’s unwavering compassion and support throughout their healing journey. This COLA not only highlights the strength of collective advocacy but also shines a light on the essential role played by URI’s staff and all those in the human services sector within our city.
“Each night, Urban Resource Institute offers critical support to individuals and children affected by homelessness and domestic violence. Families arrive seeking refuge, often with little more than the clothes on their back, and they are met with compassion and expert care from our staff, aiding their healing process,” said Nathaniel M. Fields, CEO, Urban Resource Institute. “Amid soaring domestic violence and homelessness, the significance of our team’s work, and the human services sector at large, cannot be overstated. We appreciate the support from Mayor Adams, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and Speaker Adrienne Adams for recognizing the importance of our staff with the COLA. This support not only acknowledges the crucial services provided but also uplifts a workforce largely composed of women of color. We look forward to working with the administration and city council to tackle the root causes of poverty, homelessness, and violence.”
As we pause to celebrate this milestone, our resolve only strengthens to push forward with our critical mission to break the cycles of poverty, homelessness, and violence, fueled by this support and in collaboration with the Administration and NYC Council.
URI is dedicated to being the organization of choice. Our commitment to this vision includes proactively raising salaries for our direct service staff, independent of the COLA, and enhancing our offerings through Performance Enhancement Plans (PEPs) among other benefits. We’re currently in discussions with City Hall to understand the specifics of the COLA implementation.
Read the full statement from the City of New York.
About Urban Resource Institute:
Urban Resource Institute (URI) transforms the lives of domestic violence survivors and homeless families by empowering individuals, families, and communities, particularly communities of color and other vulnerable populations, to end cycles of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and trauma by increasing safety and resiliency. As the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the US and a leading provider of homeless services, URI’s programs impact more than 40,000 individuals annually through prevention, intervention, education, and direct services in both residential and non-residential settings in New York. URI is recognized as a thought-leader with influence across the U.S. and beyond. For more information, visit www.urinyc.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
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