Public Awareness
OPDV Bulletin:
New York State Domestic Violence Shelter & Service System
Some people think that calling a domestic violence hotline means they'll have to leave home and go to a shelter, which in turn can conjure up scary or unpleasant images: rows of beds, unsanitary conditions, people crowded together. The reality, of course, is very different. Shelters are often warm environments with supportive staff, and making the phone call doesn't mean a victim has to leave home. The statewide hotline provides anonymous and confidential information and referrals to a local program; local hotlines provide crisis counseling and other services. There are residential and non-residential programs in New York State — victims can get services without having to leave home. And if they do leave and need to stay in shelter, it might be reassuring to know that there are regulations that cover safety and service standards.
We learned through our recent survey that Bulletin readers would like a better understanding of how the shelter system works. Following is a broad overview, intended for a wide variety of professionals who work with domestic violence victims.
Providing safety and support to victims of domestic violence and their children began as a grassroots effort, largely run by volunteers. Over the last 25 years, the movement has become progressively institutionalized and is now supported by more than $40 million in local, state and federal government funds.
The Domestic Violence Prevention Act, landmark state legislation passed in 1987, requires local social services districts to provide residential and non-residential services to victims of domestic violence at a licensed or approved program, regardless of the person's financial eligibility. It also provided the authority for the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS, known at that time as the NYS Department of Social Services) to establish the funding mechanism to support this mandate. In an era of reduced funding, the impacts of this legislation were phenomenal. As a result of this act, the OCFS needed to develop regulations to establish the safety, staffing and service standards for licensing residential and approving non-residential programs. The regulations define four different types of residential programs:
Domestic Violence Shelters - congregate facilities of 10 beds or more for victims of domestic violence and their children only;
Domestic Violence Programs - similar to shelters except that up to 30% of the residents may be other than domestic violence victims;
Safe Dwellings - self contained units of nine beds or less for domestic violence victims and their children only; and
Safe Home Networks - clusters of private homes for victims of domestic violence and their children, coordinated by a not-for-profit organization. This model is fairly rare and used typically as a last resource only.
Residential programs are designed to provide emergency shelter and services to assist victims and their children in seeking safety and self-sufficiency. Confidentiality and safety are the cornerstones of these programs and, therefore, the shelter location and identity of residents are kept anonymous. Residential programs are available for up to 90 days with extensions of up to 45 days under certain circumstances. Due to the nature of the safe home model, the stays usually average three to five days.
Most domestic violence shelters are congregate settings with some shared living space where victims can gain the support of their peers as well as specialized services provided by trained staff and volunteers. Services typically include peer empowerment and crisis-type counseling, referrals for longer-term counseling and other necessary services, domestic violence advocacy with court appointments (particularly obtaining orders of protection), police and social services advocacy, assistance seeking alternate housing, obtaining medical care, employment opportunities and applying for assistance through the Crime Victims Board, support groups, information about domestic violence and options for safety, services and self-sufficiency, translation, transportation, and community outreach and education.
Access to the shelter usually begins with a call to the shelter's hotline. The hotline counselor will help the caller assess safety needs and options, including moving into a shelter. The caller will be screened to determine if the domestic violence shelter would be an appropriate facility to assist the victim. This discussion must take place directly between the shelter and the victim. Once at the shelter, the victim will be expected to comply with the shelter rules, which may include rules around behavior and communal living. The shelter is reimbursed for adults and children for each night they are in shelter. OCFS establishes the rate of reimbursement; the source of the money varies. It may include public assistance, Title XX funds, and possibly the victim herself, if she has the resources.
Shelters are licensed by OCFS for up to three years. OCFS staffs regional offices, which are responsible for licensing shelters based on regulatory compliance. The OCFS regional office staff make regular visits to each shelter to inspect the facility, review the program and provide technical assistance as needed. Any questions about a shelter should be made to the regional office; contact information is provided below.
Non-residential programs provide services similar to residential programs without the overnight stay. Victims seeking assistance who do not require shelter or do not want to leave home often find help through these programs.
Non-residential programs are required to provide certain core services and are approved through the county consolidated services planning process. The primary funding source for non-residential programs is through individually negotiated contracts with the county using Title XX funds.
For more detailed information, including statistics, funding, and data on specific programs, see the Domestic Violence Prevention Act 2002 annual report at: www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/reports/2002_domestic_violence_report.pdf
Remember: if someone you know is in need of services, residential or non-residential, call your local program. The local program may be listed in the front of the phone book. You can also go to the OCFS website at: www.ocfs.state.ny.us or call the 24-hour New York State Domestic Violence Hotline, which will give you the local number.
NYS Hotline
English: (800) 942-6906
Spanish: (800) 942-6908
OCFS REGIONAL OFFICES
Albany: (518) 486-7078
Director: Bill McLaughlin.
DV Reps: Angelo Patti, Cheryl Flanagan, Jim Kassel, Cara Korn.
Buffalo: (716) 847-3145
Director: Linda C. Brown.
DV Reps: Lynne Vallone, Giovanna Germain.
New York City: (212) 383-1788
Director: Fred Levitan. DV Reps: Ellen Lally, Priscilla Laurel, Carol Shapiro.
Rochester: (716) 238-8201
Director: Linda Kurtz. DV Reps: Jim Schmitt, Sharon Rochelle.
Syracuse: (315) 423-1200
Director: Jack Klump. DV Rep: Cindy Davis.
Yonkers: (914) 377-2080
Director: Pat Sheehy.
DV Reps: Ron Greene, Monroe Hale, Peggy Dewar, Mary Lee Olmo, Bevin McCaine.
