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Gun Violence has become more prevalent in New York City and across the country. In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States – that’s about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day. (CDC 2022). In New York State, there is an average of 870 deaths by gun violence each year. (Everytown 2022).
The impact and trauma of gun violence is far-reaching, and many don’t know gun violence support is available or simply aren’t offered help. This is especially true for communities of color and, particularly young boys and men of color.
An incident involving a gun affects entire communities, not just the person or people involved. Shooting incidents affect the family members of the person who may have been shot, and community members who heard or witnessed the shooting are also impacted by the trauma of being near a shooting incident. An individual survivor has to cope with the traumatic aftermath of being shot or shot at. Some people may experience anxiety or fear about leaving their home or walking outside because of the trauma experienced during the shooting. Sadly, often families of victims of gun violence grieve the loss of a family member murdered.
Addressing gun violence in NYC and the country involves changing mindsets of people. We all need to stop thinking this cannot happen to you or someone you care about. The statistics are clear that gun violence can impact people you know. When these incidents occur, it is important not to blame the victims of a shooting for being in the way of a bullet.
Aside from legislation and policy initiatives, people need to understand and appreciate the value of life. It is important to go beyond the idea that we could eliminate guns all together, but rather rethink how we manage conflict. At Safe Horizon we are raising awareness of the factors that contribute to the rise in gun violence. These factors include economic factors, systemic racism, and the environments in which people live.
While we support meaningful and common-sense gun reform policy, we also understand that addressing the mental health and economic issues that contribute to gun violence are also important.
If you or your family are affected by gun violence, Safe Horizon is here for you.
“My Son Is Gone, But The Pain Remains; Here’s How I Got Helped and Helped Others.
When I lost my son Keondre to gun violence last year, my whole life came crashing down. At only 18, Keondre was senselessly shot multiple times. He went into the neighborhood deli, and he never came out.”
Safe Horizon’s mission is to provide support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of gun violence, crime, and abuse. We help gun violence survivors, including families of people murdered by gun violence, in New York City recover from trauma while providing comprehensive services, including counseling, advocacy, and safety planning. We are available to anyone regardless of their immigration status.
● Crime Victims Hotline
For help with all crimes, including support for family members of homicide victims, please call our Crime Victims Hotline.
● Community Safety Initiative Programs
If you are unsure of what next steps to take, visit Safe Horizon’s Community Program offices that serve all five boroughs of New York City as they can assist in sharing your options.
● Crime Victim Assistance Program
Suppose you need guidance in communicating with law enforcement, reviewing police reports, or filing one. In that case, our Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) works with law enforcement officials to help victims of all crimes. Our CVAP advocates speak 15 languages and can access Language Line if needed. They will also work with victims who do not have legal status in the U.S.
● SafeChat
Get in touch with one of Safe Horizon’s client advocates through our live chat online platform to receive more information on what steps to take, advocacy, and support. Our chat is available Mon – Fri : 9:AM – 6:PM ET. If you’re in need outside our live chat hours, please don’t hesitate to contact our hotlines.
● Court Programs
Safe Horizon’s Family Court Programs and Criminal Court Programs can assist victims needing legal guidance.
● Counseling Center
The Counseling Center assists victims in healing from intense, debilitating trauma.
In 2017 and 2023, Denise Kuriger Design completed sponsored renovations of the childcare centers at two of Safe Horizon’s eight domestic violence shelters. Will you please help create new safe spaces for families at another Safe Horizon domestic violence shelter?
Margaret Ann Duffy, lovingly known as Peggy, was one of the warmest and most joyful people anyone could know; the song “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” epitomizes Peggy’s loving spirit.
A devoted mother of two, she was the beloved sister of Maureen Duffy Tan and a friend of Denise Kuriger. In March of 2012, Peggy was tragically shot and killed in her kitchen by her ex-husband while her son was in the next room. She continues to be deeply loved and greatly missed.
To honor Peggy’s life and spirit, Denise Kuriger and Maureen Duffy Tan are collaborating with Springpoint Group and Taconic Builders to fundraise for the renovation of other Safe Horizon childcare centers. Once completed, children and families will have bright, cheerful spaces to enjoy during their respective healing journeys.
Our new partners, Jonathan Parisen, Springpoint Group, and Taconic Builders, are experts at building high-end residential and commercial real estate. Although much of the labor will be donated, we will need to raise funds to renovate the childcare areas, meeting rooms, exterior play space, and common area for events. Will you help us create joyful spaces for children and parents as they escape violence?
October 25 ,2024
As Election Day nears, this is a critical time to take stock of where we are as a country and to plot a post-election path that enables us to move forward no matter who holds office. Given that one in three people in the U.S. identifies as a survivor of violence, abuse or exploitation — and that data suggest that the real figure is well over half of the population — our vision for the future must include a robust and intersectional strategy to support survivors and reduce violence.
As the nation’s largest victim service organization, working with 250,000 survivors each year, we understand that safety is a fundamental human right that enables us to live, work and pursue happiness. Individuals must feel safe in their communities, homes, bodies and minds to thrive and reach their full potential.
We also know first-hand that violence thrives at the intersection of oppressions and, therefore, requires a comprehensive response. We know that effective gun safety legislation must acknowledge and address the link between domestic violence and gun violence. Immigration, migration and asylum policies will escalate violence and injustice if they ignore essential protections for survivors. Criminalizing homelessness while failing to address its root causes, which include violence, will shift focus from solutions to blame. Bodily autonomy — an absolute requirement for a society free of violence — will remain under threat if policy around reproductive rights and trans healthcare disregard survivors’ needs and experiences.
It is crucial that we create local, state and federal policies that are compassionate, inclusive and centered on lived experiences. Every legislative and budget decision made by lawmakers impacts the lives of survivors.
Gun violence prevention
Problem: The current political climate surrounding firearms is divisive, but one fact is clear: victims and survivors face greater risks without safe gun legislation. Policies that expand access to dangerous firearms have serious implications for mass violence and community safety, and especially for survivors of domestic violence. Research shows that the presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of injury or death by five times for those facing intimate partner violence.
Solution: The urgency for federal action on community gun violence, particularly regarding vulnerable individuals, cannot be overstated. The Supreme Court case of United States v. Rahimi underscores the critical need for national legislation to protect lives. Policymakers must implement comprehensive reforms that prioritize safety, enforce stricter regulations on firearms access and ensure protective measures for those at risk, especially survivors.
Safety for people fleeing violence and abuse
Problem: The words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty —”Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” — embody the promise of a safe harbor; a promise that we are failing to meet for too many who come to the U.S., especially those who are fleeing violence.
Solution: Crucial legal remedies and federal programs, such as U and T-visas for survivors of violence and trafficking, are under threat. Wrap-around services for new arrivals, including access to shelter, are vital in preventing further violence and exploitation. And we urgently need to shift the narrative away from demonizing and dehumanizing immigrants. Losing these protections endangers countless individuals who have suffered violence, abuse and exploitation and are simply seeking a safer, better future. Policymakers must recognize the human experience in the immigration policies they propose.
Access to safe shelter
Problem: Housing is a human right, and housing insecurity is the result of a collective policy failure. When we criminalize homelessness, we further traumatize and harm those already vulnerable. Youth homelessness, particularly among those aged 18 to 24, is an urgent issue that often goes overlooked and underserved. This demographic faces unique challenges that require tailored solutions.
Solution: We must implement effective policies that prioritize affordable and supportive housing, homelessness prevention and comprehensive support services to help young people transition into stable living situations. Policymakers must implement compassionate, long-term solutions that address the underlying issues of housing insecurity, rather than enact punitive measures.
Bodily autonomy
Problem: The erosion of bodily autonomy contributes to a culture of violence by disrespecting the most basic of human rights. Bodily autonomy is crucial for survivors, especially regarding reproductive rights and abortion access. Survivors of intimate partner violence frequently experience sexual violence as well as physical abuse, and abusers often seek to control survivors’ access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care. Furthermore, pregnancy and parenting can escalate violence and complicate the decision to leave an abusive relationship. These realities highlight the need for reproductive independence as a vital facet of personal safety. By making abortion illegal, even in cases of incest and rape, policymakers further endanger survivors, including minors. The violation of bodily autonomy also impacts the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly for trans individuals facing barriers to healthcare and self-determination.
Solution: Policymakers must listen to survivors and end the attacks on women’s and transgender individuals’ bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. Policies that strip people of their reproductive healthcare rights are deadly and perpetuate a culture of violence.
Those who have survived violence have much to teach us about both its root causes and the solutions. When the dust settles after the elections, we invite elected officials to join us in listening to survivors and partnering with them to find real solutions to end violence. Together, we can build a future where safety and freedom from violence are accessible to everyone.
June 21. 2024
Today, Safe Horizon celebrates a significant victory for domestic violence survivors and gun safety advocates with the Supreme Court’s decision in United States vs. Rahimi, upholding a law that protects domestic violence survivors.
The decision means that people charged with domestic violence offenses will continue to be prohibited from retaining firearms, reducing the lethality of domestic violence situations. Research consistently shows that the presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500% for women. Over half of all women murdered in the U.S. are killed by a current or former intimate partner, and guns are often the weapon used in these devastating acts of violence. Quite simply, this decision will save lives.
Safe Horizon’s work is to support survivors and create safe environments free from violence. This ruling reinforces the importance of gun control laws as a critical component of protecting those at risk. We remain committed to advocating for policies that ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals, especially survivors of domestic violence.
Thank you to the Supreme Court Justices for recognizing the vital link between gun control and domestic violence prevention and to advocates who worked tirelessly to raise awareness and understanding of this case. Together, we can continue to build a safer, more just society for everyone.
To learn more about United States vs. Rahimi, click here.
NEW YORK, NY – May 9, 2024 — Today, survivors and staff from Safe Horizon, the nation’s largest victim services agency serving over 250,000 New Yorkers annually, stand in solidarity to urge Mayor Adams to restore $3M in critical funding to its Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP). The PEG, announced in the latest NYC budget for FY25, puts at least 11,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing life-saving support in the aftermath of a crime. This includes survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and gun violence, among others. This budget reduction would also require the elimination of 50 staff positions at Safe Horizon.
The Safe Horizon Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) has served more than 50,000 New Yorkers in the past year, with over 94% of survivors expressing they felt better and more informed after receiving assistance from the program. Launched in 2016, CVAP places specially-trained advocates in each of the NYPD precincts throughout New York City’s five boroughs – covering 77 police precincts, 9 Police Service Areas and the Special Victims Division that assists sexual assault survivors. The advocates meet with victims in the precincts, conduct home visits, and participate in informational fairs with officers from the NYPD to help survivors on their healing journey.
This multidisciplinary approach recognizes the trauma-specific support crime victims require immediately following a crime, including counseling, advocacy, financial compensation and shelter.
“This $3M reduction in funding to our Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) sends the message that survivors are not a priority when it comes to public safety. By providing timely, trauma-informed support to crime victims, Safe Horizon advocates help survivors access safety and healing across every neighborhood in New York City. Mayor Adams, we cannot leave 11,000 New Yorkers to navigate the aftermath of crime without the support of an advocate” said Liz Roberts, CEO.
“The support services provided by Safe Horizon play a critical role for New Yorkers. It’s crucial that we fully fund the Crime Victims Assistance Program in order to have a FY25 budget that accurately reflects our values and priorities,” said Councilmember Keith Powers.
“Of the 11,000 victims of domestic violence who will be made less safe by this 3 million dollar PEG from the Administration, over 3,000 of those victims received services at precincts within the 42nd Council District. Our District has been neglected for many years at many levels and as a community that has lacked services, it is unconscionable that this Administration would choose to continue making cuts to programs that service some of the City’s most vulnerable residents who have often already been victimized in other ways. This PEG is extremely harmful and the Administration must fully restore the entirety of this PEG as soon as possible,” said Councilmember Chris Banks.
About Safe Horizon
Established in 1978, Safe Horizon is the largest non-profit victim services agency in the United States. It touches the lives of more than 250,000 children, adults, and families affected by crime and abuse throughout New York City each year. Safe Horizon envisions a society free of family and community violence, leading the way by empowering victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking to move from crisis to confidence. Safe Horizon’s mission is to provide support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families, and communities. For more please visit www.safehorizon.org.
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Statement from Safe Horizon CEO Liz Roberts on Mayor Adams’ plans to dramatically cut $3M in city funding to Safe Horizon’s precinct-based Crime Victim Assistance Program.
April 24, 2024
“At a time when New Yorkers are deeply concerned about their safety on the subway, in the streets, and in their own homes, Mayor Adams plans to dramatically cut $3M in city funding to Safe Horizon’s precinct-based Crime Victim Assistance Program. This ill-advised cut means 11,000 New Yorkers will not receive critical, and often lifesaving, services following a crime. If Mayor Adams really cares about public safety, he will reinstate this funding so that Safe Horizon can continue to provide services that restore safety, promote healing, and ultimately prevent further crime.”
Join us in telling Mayor Adams:
Public safety = survivor support
Restore CVAP funding NOW!
The term “migrants” describes people who have left their home country or region to settle in another place, whether temporarily or permanently. When people come to the United States, society tends to categorize them based on their status. This is an oppressive and often racist practice.
In working to dismantle systemic racism, we call migrants or people who have left their homes to migrate to a new country or region, “new arrivals.” We try and use the term “new arrivals” to emphasize their recent arrival in a new location over their immigration status.
We strongly encourage that we adopt the term “new arrival” instead of “migrant.” For the purposes of this information, we will use both terms as they are most common.
How Safe Horizon is Supporting New Arrivals and Migrants
As the need for support in the migrant community grows, Safe Horizon is dedicated to being there for new arrivals with all our services. Our services are available for new arrivals regardless of their immigration status.
We help new arrivals in NYC get help and resources through our Immigration Law Project (ILP). We offer NYC new arrivals legal consultations and collaborate with partner organizations to hold information sessions so they can learn about immigration options, resources, and referrals. Prioritizing cultural sensitivity and accessibility, we also provide “Know Your Rights” presentations in English and Spanish.
For new arrivals who are young people and experiencing homelessness, we provide resources and services through our drop-in centers and crisis shelters at Streetwork Project. Recognizing the diverse needs of our clients, we provide translators to assist those who do not speak English. We organize mini-clinics to help them apply for essential documents like NYCID and emergency medical insurance NYC Care, connect young people to resources such as ESL classes and other educational opportunities to help them build a brighter future.
To ensure homeless migrant youth feel seen, we provide culturally sensitive services and resources such as prayer rugs for them to take or keep onsite for their use and incorporate culturally diverse dishes into the meals we serve. We engage young new arrivals who speak English to co-facilitate groups on topics such as sexual health and substance abuse.
How You Can Help New Arrivals and Migrants in New York City
Safe Horizon remains committed to supporting new arrivals, ensuring that they feel welcomed, supported, and empowered as they navigate their new lives. As the need for help skyrockets, please consider supporting our work with young new arrivals across the city.
Donate to Support Safe Horizon Services
It’s critical that we show up to provide support and resources for new arrivals to help them feel safe in their new environment. Support New York City’s new arrivals, migrants, and young people by donating today. Your contribution provides critical resources to those in need.
Gun violence has become more prevalent in New York City and across the country. In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States – that’s about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day (CDC 2022).
On Thursday, December 14, 2023, Safe Horizon experts, Kimmi Herring, Associate Vice President of Community Programs, and Jimmy Meagher, Policy Director, Government Affairs, led an engaging conversation on the growing issue of gun violence. They discussed the scope and impact of gun violence in America, the need for legislative measures and advocacy efforts to protect victims, and the increasing need for community-based support and resources for survivors.
Safe Horizon Services for People Impacted by Gun Violence
Safe Horizon helps survivors, families, and communities impacted by gun violence in NYC, providing comprehensive services, ranging from emergency support – like safety planning and counseling– to long-term care and advocacy. For more information on our services, click here.
November 8, 2023
By Jimmy Meagher
Earlier this week, I joined our CEO Liz Roberts and our Vice President of Government Affairs Michael Polenberg in Albany to advocate for Safe Horizon’s 2024 budget priorities. Although we are hearing that next year’s budget may be tight, our message to Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration is that victims and survivors will have no place to turn if programs aren’t fully funded. Our community of victim services providers simply cannot sustain continued flat funding or, even worse, budget cuts to our programs. Budgets are values statements. They demonstrate the priorities of our elected leaders. Albany must make up for decades of underinvestment in the victim services sector and prioritize funding for programs like our Child Advocacy Centers, Domestic Violence Law Project, Community Programs, and so many others that rely on federal and state dollars to keep our doors open. The most important way Albany can do right by our community of providers and the survivors we help is to make up for shortfalls in federal VOCA funding in next year’s budget.
Victim services providers and antiviolence organizations across the country rely on many different federal funding streams to support and sustain our programs and services. One of the main funding sources that the sector relies on is the Victims of Crime Act, or VOCA. As part of VOCA, which became law in 1984, the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) was created as a non-taxpayer source of funding that supports the annual appropriation of funds for victim services. Today, VOCA funds nearly 6,500 victim services organizations across the country.
Several years ago, deposits into the CVF began to significantly decline, forcing Congress to decrease the amount of funding released for VOCA. In large part due to our collective advocacy, Congress passed the VOCA Fix Act in 2021, and President Biden signed it into law. This law directs deposits from deferred prosecutions and non-prosecution agreements to the CVF. Although the VOCA Fix Act has helped, it has not led to an increase in deposits at the rate we need it to. Because deposits into the CVF are still lower than they were at their peak, VOCA continues to face cuts, which will ultimately lead to programs laying off staff, reducing services, or closing.
We are at a crisis point that requires both federal action and state action. In New York, our federal VOCA grant has declined $121.6 million in the past five years. The NYS Office of Victim Services (OVS) is currently warning sub-grantees that it may not have the funding to fully cover the final year of our current 3-year contracts. While we advocate for a more permanent, sustainable federal solution, New York State must invest state revenues to make up for the VOCA shortfall. Other states, including Texas and Arizona, have found the necessary resources to keep critical victim services programs afloat, and we urge Governor Hochul to do the same in New York.
In budget after budget, the Governor and legislature rightly focus on how to create and promote safe communities throughout the state. But public safety is not solely about law enforcement and the mechanics of criminal court proceedings; public safety is about housing, economic security, access to healing, and so much more. The sustainability of the victim services and antiviolence sector is an issue of public safety. Our programs provide the supports and assistance survivors need. Our programs provide shelter, food, immediate financial support, and other essential safety needs. And our programs help survivors, their families, and their communities find healing. Albany must recognize this and use state revenues to support survivors and the safety net that organizations like ours provide.
On November 7, 2023, the United States Supreme Court will hear United States vs. Rahimi. This critical case will determine whether persons charged with domestic violence offenses may be permitted to retain ownership of firearms. If the court decides in favor of Rahimi, it will immediately affect the safety and well-being of domestic violence survivors and their families in New York, and across the country.
This case rests on a challenge made by Mr. Rahimi. As per the ACLU website, Mr. Rahimi was convicted of possessing a gun while subject to a domestic violence protective order, issued after he violently assaulted his domestic partner in a parking lot and shot a gun when he noticed that others had witnessed his abuse. Mr. Rahimi challenged the law as a violation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms (Source: https://www.aclu.org/cases/united-states-v-rahimi)
As part of Safe Horizon’s advocacy for survivor-informed legislation, we hosted two roundtable discussions regarding this case in partnership with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Commissioner Cecile Noel of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, and Safe Horizon staff and clients. The roundtable discussions brought domestic violence survivors’ voices to the public conversation and drew attention to our deep concern about the potential upending of current protections for domestic violence survivors from gun violence and how it will put the safety of survivors at risk. You can find a recording on our Instagram.
At one of the roundtables, Liz Roberts, Safe Horizon CEO, said that “The stakes could not be any higher: will the United States Supreme Court vote to allow domestic violence offenders and other persons who have been served protective orders to own or possess a firearm, or will they vote to ensure safety for survivors?” and a Safe Horizon client, a survivor of gun violence herself, remarked that “If this decision is overturned where people who cause harm can have guns, our future, our children’s future, will be affected.”
These quotes highlight the reality that this Supreme Court case will quite literally mean life and death.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, abusers with firearms are five times more likely to kill their victims. Moreover, Everytown reports that an average of 70 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner each month (Source: everytownresearch.org/domestic-violence).
We urge you to join us in calling for the Supreme Court to prioritize the safety of domestic violence survivors! To help spread the message of the impact this case might have, you can find a series of graphics on our social media – we invite you to share with your networks.