Domestic violence and homelessness are fundamentally connected. More than 1 in 3 New Yorkers across the state will experience abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime. New York has the highest demand for domestic violence services in the country, yet not all survivors are able to access resources and services, especially when it comes to permanent housing. In fact, most of the unmet requests from domestic violence survivors in New York State are housing related.

Without a safe place to rebuild their lives, survivors may be forced to remain in abusive situations, putting their lives at risk. In 2021, 1 out of every 6 homicides in New York State were domestic homicides, where the victim was either an intimate partner or a family member.

Survivors who can flee may spend years in shelter, or staying with friends or relatives, before securing appropriate housing and face a myriad of challenges to keep it. In New York City, where more families with children enter shelter due to domestic violence than evictions, survivors are 5 times more likely to move from domestic violence emergency shelter to another shelter than to an apartment upon reaching the state-mandated limit of 180 days.

Permanent affordable housing, coupled with support services, is critical for domestic violence survivors to rebuild their lives and thrive. Governor Hochul included additional protections for New Yorkers impacted by domestic violence, as well as increases for supportive housing programs and capital funding, in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Executive Budget Proposal. While we are grateful for these investments, they do not meet the need to ensure the long-term housing stability of survivors and their families.

• Increase NYSSHP funding by $32 million
• Pass the Supportive Housing Modernization Act (S136 / A2134)
• Ensure NYSSHP funds 24-hour security, adequate staffing ratios, and livable wages

The New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) has been flat funded for nearly 40 years. NYSSHP funds only 1 case manager and no building security per building. Case managers must carry nearly 4 times the recommended caseload. If programs relied solely on NYSSHP, staff wages would equate to $5.51/hour.

Due to these budget choices, 33% of NYSSHP providers have closed, exited, or merged since 2003.

• Adopt the Governor’s proposed ESSHI increase of $34,000/unit in NYC and $31,000/unit statewide
• Index ESSHI rates to inflation to ensure long-term viability

The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) drives new supportive housing development. However, ESSHI rates have not increased in nearly a decade, and have thus stalled projects statewide. New Destiny and other providers cannot finance new projects at outdated rates.

• Double HHAP funding to $256 million statewide

The Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP) is a critical capital resource for new construction and preservation. Last year, HHAP funding was depleted in less than 4 months. New Destiny was one of the many nonprofits who could not submit their completed proposals, which has consequentially stalled our new supportive housing developments for almost a year.

• Provide a 7.8% cost-of-living adjustment for human services contracts
• Pass S1580 / A2590 to include NYSSHP and supportive housing programs
• Ensure survivors are served by a stable, fairly compensated workforce

Human services contracts have failed to keep pace with inflation, threatening program stability. Providing nonprofits with a 7.8% increase on the total value of their state contracts will enable them to cover inflationary increases related to program costs and wages.