What's New
Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI)
New York State is issuing this RFP for the development and operation of at least 1,200 new units of Supportive Housing for persons identified as homeless with special needs, conditions or other life challenges, including domestic violence. This RFP seeks to award the fourth year's commitment of Governor Cuomo's plan to develop 6,000 units over five years. NYS will award service and operating funding for units of housing developed to support the needs of individuals residing in the units.
Read this press release for more details about the initiative and how it can assist survivors of domestic violence.
The OPDV Summer 2019 bulletin focuses on non-fatal strangulation. Highlights include our feature article, "Non-Fatal Strangulation: A Public Safety Issue" and a Q&A about identifying and responding to strangulation injuries. This issue also provides a legislative update, information about the state's first ever non-fatal strangulation conference, an explanation of the state Department of Health's efforts to address non-fatal strangulation, an announcement about a new online resource for victims of crime, and information about OPDV's new Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative RFP, due by Noon on August 2, 2019. This is also the first bulletin that includes our new Teen Dating Violence section, which will now be a recurring part of future issues.
2019-2021 Ursula Forem Domestic Violence Program Fellowship Grants Awarded
The 2019 – 2021 Ursula Forem Domestic Violence Program Fellowship grants have been awarded to the Family Justice Center (FJC) of Erie County, Inc. and Willow Domestic Violence Center of Greater Rochester, Inc. The FJC’s Fellow will perform training, direct service work, community education and strategic planning focusing on enhancing the ReachOutWNY – teen dating violence initiative and creating teen-focused services for the FJC. Willow’s Fellow will provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered support to all clients, and will help identify the complex medical, legal, and other critical system barriers to services and resources. For more information on these awards, please see this recent agency press release.
Be an Ally
As an ally, you can provide information and resources to those in need. You can: share the state’s 24/7, free and confidential Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline number (1-800-942-6906); believe a friend or loved one and listen without judgment; encourage workplaces to adopt a policy to improve protections for victims; and support local domestic violence programs. For more ideas about how to be an ally, check out our new Ally card and poster, which you also can download and distribute in your community.