Emergency Shelter | Permanent Housing

Many victims of domestic violence choose to leave their abusive relationships. New York City provides domestic violence victims with access to emergency shelter and permanent housing, where supportive services may be obtained.

*Update* The Section 8 and public housing priorities are no longer available in the Department of Homeless Services family shelter system. Victims who are currently in shelter should speak to their housing specialist for more information.

If I am ready to leave my abuser, what should I take with me?
Before leaving the abuser, victims should remember to take important papers such as government-issued identification and birth certificates. It may not be safe for the victim to return home for some time and these papers will be invaluable as s/he seeks emergency shelter and/or new housing. The abuser may also destroy valuables or other sentimental items once the victim leaves the home. The types of items victims might want to take include the following:

• Medication
• Keys – house, car, office, safe
• Government-issued identification for self and children
• Birth certificates for self and children
• Social Security cards for self and children
• Passports, green cards, work permits, visas
• Public Assistance ID/Medicaid Cards
• Order of Protection, police reports
• Money, checkbook, bank books, ATM cards, tax returns, credit cards
• Divorce or separation papers
• Paternity papers, as necessary
• Address book
• School/vaccination records
• Insurance papers
• Lease, rental agreement, or house deed
• Car/mortgage payment book
• Children’s toys, security blankets, stuffed animals
• Sentimental items, photos
• Personalized safety plan

What kind of shelter is available for me?

Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter
Emergency domestic violence shelters provide a safe, supportive environment for victims of abuse. Victims typically reside in an emergency shelter before moving to transitional or permanent housing. Domestic violence shelters are designed to help victims and their families survive the immediate crisis caused by leaving the abuser, while helping them to secure independent housing and financial stability.

New York City currently has 2,081 confidentially located emergency shelter beds in 39 shelters available for victims of domestic violence. The beds are housed in community living arrangements and are operated by nonprofit organizations and administered by the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA). HRA provides funding for these services through their Office of Domestic Violence and Emergency Intervention Services.

Homeless Shelter
The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) provides shelter services to homeless individuals and families. DHS operates transitional residences, adult family residences, program shelters, hotels and reception centers. DHS shelters are not confidential, though they are protected by peace officers who will contact the local police precinct immediately if an abuser violates an Order of Protection. Several DHS shelters offer supportive services and referrals for victims of domestic violence.

How long can I stay in shelter?

Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter
Victims of domestic violence deemed eligible for emergency domestic violence shelter for a limited period of time.

Homeless Shelter
Homeless clients typically reside in transitional homeless shelters for six months to one year.

How do I access specialized domestic violence shelter?
Victims of domestic violence can access the emergency domestic violence shelter system by contacting the 24-hour, all language, toll-free New York City Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-621-HOPE (4673). Hotline workers screen all callers who request emergency domestic violence shelter. If the caller is found eligible, hotline staff will link the victim to available shelter services.

What if the emergency domestic violence shelters are full?
If placement at an emergency domestic violence shelter is not available, Hotline staff will help the victim create a safety plan. Hotline staff will discuss other safe options for the victim such as staying with a relative or friend or leaving New York City through The Salvation Army Homeward Bound Relocation Assistance Program. Hotline staff may also refer the victim to the DHS homeless shelter system.

How do I access shelter through the homeless shelter system if I cannot be placed in an emergency domestic violence shelter through the Hotline?

Families
If HRA shelters are at capacity, the family must be found eligible before being placed in the DHS homeless shelter system. Families with safe and appropriate places to stay will not be determined eligible for shelter services. For families that are already homeless and where preventive assistance cannot help keep existing housing, DHS will provide temporary emergency shelter in a safe environment.

In order for a family to be found eligible, DHS must verify that the family is in immediate need of temporary emergency shelter. DHS will conduct an investigation to determine whether there is any other safe and appropriate place for you and your family to stay, even temporarily. PLEASE NOTE: The location of intake centers is not confidential.

At intake, domestic violence victims are not required to show documentation to “prove” their victimization, but presenting an Order of Protection, police report, medical records or other evidence of the abuse can serve to illustrate the victim’s need for emergency shelter. To be found eligible for emergency housing assistance, the family must already be receiving, or apply for, public assistance.

Where to go:

• Families with children under 21 years old who are applying for shelter must go (in-person) to the Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (Path) Office in the Bronx. The Path Office is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
  
  
• Pregnant Families (single pregnant women, pregnant couples, or parent/grandparent(s) with a pregnant child 21 years of age or over) must go (in-person) to the Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (Path ) Office in the Bronx. The Path Office is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
  
  
• Adult families with no children under 21 must go to the Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC), located in Manhattan. AFIC is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Visit the DHS Web site for directions and more information

Single Victims of Domestic Violence
There are nine Drop-In Centers (one specifically for women only) and three intake centers for homeless women. Drop-In Centers provide hot meals, showers, laundry facilities, clothing, medical care, recreational space, employment referrals, and other social services. Staff can also help clients find a safe and secure place to sleep. All Drop-Ins operate 24/7. In order to enter shelter, single women must first visit an intake center. There are intake centers for women located in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. PLEASE NOTE: These locations are not confidential.

At the intake center, trained social services and professional staff assess the individual’s unique needs and assign her to a shelter with expertise in addressing those needs. All programs are designed to help clients overcome homelessness.

Following assessment, clients are placed at a specialized program shelter where they receive temporary housing and ongoing support to meet their service needs. Some of DHS's programs include counseling, case management, employment training, mental health rehabilitation, specialized services for veterans, substance abuse treatment, and various programs for the elderly. Single domestic violence victims may receive placement at a domestic violence shelter. Many shelters for single women provide domestic violence counseling onsite and through referral.

Visit the DHS Web site for directions and more information

What is "transitional shelter" for domestic violence victims?
Transitional shelter is the second tier of homeless shelter. Transitional shelter offers domestic violence victims and their children supportive services to facilitate their transition to independent living such as job training, child care assistance, computer training, peer counseling, and support groups.

There are four confidential transitional programs for victims of domestic violence and their children, with 202 units located in 7 shelters funded and administered by HRA. Transitional shelter offers residents job training, child care assistance, computer training, peer counseling and support groups to help victims of domestic violence make the transition to independent living. Families may be referred to Tier II domestic violence shelter directly from emergency shelters.