URI Provides Domestic Violence Assistance at New Family Justice Center

URI will partner with the NYC Mayor’s Office, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and other civil legal and community-based organizations to provide safe, supportive services to domestic violence victims at a new NYC Family Justice Center (FJC) opening in January 2014 in downtown Manhattan at 80 Centre Street. FJCs are an initiative of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence to reduce barriers faced by domestic violence victims who are seeking help.

FJCs are comprehensive “one-stop-shop” centers where multiple agencies come together under one roof to provide consolidated and coordinated legal, social, and health services to women, men, children, and families in need.  Victims of domestic violence can come to one location to talk to an advocate, get a restraining order, plan for their safety, talk to a police officer, meet with a prosecutor, receive medical assistance, and receive information about shelter.

URI staff will work on-site at the Manhattan FJC one day a week and will provide clients with crisis intervention, safety assessments, advocacy, shelter placement, referrals, and assistance related to pets.