Housing Solutions for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 • 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Our 3rd Annual Symposium took place on Wednesday, October 23rd at The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, located at 208 W 13th Street in Manhattan.
The event engaged leading national, state, and local policymakers, nonprofit leaders, philanthropic partners, and lived experts in constructive discussions about best practices and innovative new models to provide housing and critical services to those impacted by domestic violence.
We were honored to have Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, NYC Health & Human Services and Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson deliver remarks; Kelli Owens, Executive Director of the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, and Saloni Sethi, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, participate in a panel discussion on prevention moderated by Stephanie Woodbine, survivor and New Destiny’s Resource Coordinator; and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal; and Kerrian Elis, survivor, author, and New Destiny client, close the event with inspiring speeches. The event also featured 6 insightful breakout sessions. We are deeply grateful to each and every one of our partners who participated.
Homelessness and Domestic Violence
As New Destiny documented in our recent report: A Crisis Compounded, domestic violence and homelessness are inherently linked. In the United States, 80% of women with children struggling with homelessness have also experienced domestic violence, and 57% of all women experiencing homelessness report domestic violence as the immediate cause of their homelessness. More than 1 in 3 individuals will experience abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime across New York State. In New York City, the police file 1 domestic violence incident report every 2 minutes, and the 24-hour hotline receives 1 call every 6 minutes. For survivors, remaining in an abusive situation can mean death. Despite a general decline in violent crime in our city, domestic violence homicides increased by nearly 30% between 2021 and 2022.
Access to safe and affordable housing is one of survivors’ biggest, most urgent concerns and it often determines whether they leave their abuser and stay alive. Without a safe home, it is impossible for survivors to address the long-lasting health consequences of the abuse.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we hoped that this event brought the intersectionality of domestic violence and homelessness to light.
| 9:00 AM | Registration Opens: Coffee and light breakfast served [Room 101] |
| 9:30 AM | Welcoming Remarks: Nicole Branca, MPA, she/her Executive Director, New Destiny Housing [Room 101] |
| 9:40 AM | Keynote Address: Anne Williams-Isom, she/her, NYC Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services [Room 101] |
| 9:47 AM | Remarks: Vanessa L. Gibson, she/her, Bronx Borough President [Room 101] |
| 9:55 AM | PLENARY: INNOVATIONS IN PREVENTION [Room 101]
A moderated discussion on best practices and emerging intervention models to thwart the crises of domestic and gender-based violence in New York State and City. Saloni Sethi, they/she, Commissioner, New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Moderator: Stephanie Woodbine, she/her, Survivor, Co-Chair of ENDGBV’s Advisory Council, and Resource Coordinator, New Destiny |
| 10: 45 AM | BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1.a. NATIONAL RESPONSE TO HOUSING AND SUPPORTING SURVIVORS [Room 101] As we celebrate 30 years of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), this panel experts will discuss the progress the federal government has made over recent years to expand access to permanent housing resources for domestic violence survivors and innovative models being developed by the private sector. Celia Jones, she/her, Program Manager, Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Elena Hampton-Stover, LMSW, she/her, Director of Housing, National Network to End Domestic Violence Laura Clancy, she/her, Executive Director, The Bridge Project Moderator: Pascale Leone, she/her, Executive Director, Supportive Housing Network of New York
1.b. MAKING RENTAL ASSISTANCE WORK [Room 110] In New York City, where asking rents grew faster than any other large city in the country in 2022, rental subsidies, such as Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, FHEPS, or Rapid Re-Housing, can be life-saving resources for survivors and for the millions of New Yorkers experiencing housing instability. Panelists will explore the important role of rental assistance programs and strategies for utilizing these programs more effectively and faster. Alexandra Warren, she/her, Assistant Commissioner, Housing Stability, NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development Manon Vergerio, she/her, Head of Data & Advocacy, Unlock NYC Tanisha McFarlane, she/her, Landlord Engagement Manager, New Destiny Housing Moderator: Jennifer DeCarli, Esq., MSW, she/her, Deputy Commissioner for Family Justice Centers and Survivor Supports, NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
1.c. BEST PRACTICES TO MEANINGFULLY INCLUDE LIVED EXPERTS IN ADVOCACY [Room 310, 3rd Floor] In the last decades, a growing number of housing organizations have sought to engage individuals with lived experience in their advocacy campaigns and policy work. Hear from lived experts on best practices for involvement and giving agency to those who have experienced housing instability. Daniris Espinal, she/her, Survivor and Member of New Destiny’s Survivor Voices Project Rivianna Hyatt, they/them, Worker-Owner, Housing Justice Collective Sharlena Powell, she/her, Lived Expert, Culinary Educator and Founder, BLISS-TA Moderator: Jill Markowitz, she/her, Board Member, New Destiny Housing |
| 11:30 AM | BREAK |
| 11:45 AM | BREAKOUT SESSIONS
2.a. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS [Room 101] Supportive Housing combines permanent, affordable housing and onsite support services. Over the years, the model has evolved from serving only individuals with complex behavioral health needs, such as those living with severe mental illness and a long history of homelessness, to include other vulnerable populations, such as youth, veterans, and domestic violence survivors. This panel will provide guidance on the best practices to create supportive housing for those impacted by domestic violence, from financing to thoughtful design and services. Cynthia Amodeo, LMHC, she/her, Chief Executive Officer, Barrier Free Living Dana Greenberg, MSW, she/her, Director, Bureau of Housing & Support Services, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Nicole Branca, she/her, Executive Director, New Destiny Housing Moderator: Blanca Ramirez, she/her, President & CEO, Comunilife
2.b. HOUSING SURVIVORS FROM THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY [Room 110] Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are impacted by intimate partner violence and/or sexual assault at higher rates than their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Yet, survivors face additional barriers to services and a lack of understanding around LGBTQIA+ relationships, identities, and partner abuse dynamics. Join experts to learn more about the hurdles survivors from the LGBTQIA+ community encounter when seeking a safe, permanent home in New York, as well as existing pathways to housing. Aditi Bhattacharya, LCSW, she/her, Director, Client Services, Anti-Violence Project Joe Westmacott, he/him/his, Director of Housing and Benefits, Safe Horizon Streetwork Project Mildred Ramirez, LMSW, she/her, Director of LGBTQ Supportive Housing, Homeward Central Harlem, True Colors Residence LP Moderator: Cole Giannone, they/them, Senior Advisor, Fund to End Youth & Family Homelessness
2.c. OVERCOMING THE DOUBLE TRAUMA OF ABUSE AND HOMELESSNESS [Room 310, 3rd Floor] Violence and homelessness have long-lasting, intergenerational effects, which make survivors and their children more vulnerable to future housing insecurity and abuse. One in 6 heads of households in NYC Department of Homeless Services shelters were in shelter as children, while children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to experience it again as adults, either as victims or perpetrators. This panel will discuss clinical and therapeutic interventions that help survivors address trauma, heal, and thrive. Marcus Galloway, LMSW, he/him, Director of Mental Health Services, New Destiny Housing Michelle Balandra, LLMFT, she/her/ella, Program Manager for the Child and Adolescent, Violence Intervention Program Stephanie Mansfield, she/her, Survivor and Member of New Destiny’s Survivor Voices Project Moderator: Tracy Perrizo, she/her, Program Officer, New York City Program, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust |
| 12:30 PM | BREAK |
| 12:45 PM | Closing Remarks: Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, she/her, Housing Committee Chair [Room 101] |
| 12:50 PM | Closing Keynote: Kerrian Ellis, she/her, Survivor of Domestic Violence, Author, and New Destiny Client [Room 101] |
| 1:00 PM | Event Ends |
Symposium Sponsors
Curious about New Destiny’s 2023 Symposium? Visit the event page to learn more. The full recording is posted on YouTube.
About New Destiny: New Destiny was founded 30 years ago and remains the only organization in New York City solely dedicated to permanent housing solutions for survivors of domestic violence. Our mission is to end the cycle of domestic violence and homelessness for low-income families and individuals by developing and connecting them to safe, permanent, affordable housing and services. New Destiny is the largest provider of supportive housing for domestic violence survivors in shelter in New York and a leading advocate in the effort to obtain the resources needed to create more homes for survivors stuck in the cycle of abuse and homelessness.