We applaud Governor Cuomo’s commitment to addressing the needs of domestic violence survivors and homeless individuals and families in his 2020 State of the State address.

New Destiny has long advocated for the inclusion of households headed by domestic violence as a target population in both New York State and New York City affordable housing programs. With more than 17,200 adults and children who were in a NYC shelter due to domestic violence in FY 2108 (1), we support the Governor’s continued inclusion of domestic violence survivors in the state’s affordable housing programs.

We also commend his proposals to “create innovative options to better address immediate and long-term service and housing needs of survivors” that include proven and innovative practices such as a “comprehensive flexible funding model to support a continuum of services based on each survivor’s needs.”

We are encouraged that the State of the State champions developing “new approaches” so that domestic violence service providers can “leverage housing resources, better tailor service needs to each individual survivor, and permit opportunities for them to safely remain in their existing housing and/or community.”

We look forward to working with the proposed Domestic Violence Regional Councils and continuing to support the New York State Domestic Violence Advisory Council to ensure that our services truly address the needs of survivors and communities.

(1) Housing Survivors: How New York City Can Increase Housing Stability for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Office of New York City Comptroller, October 21, 2019, p. 11