Commissioner Noel: HOME+ Program Expands, Connecting Survivors to Free Home Security Resources

HOME+ Program Expands, Connecting Survivors to Free Home Security Resources to Prevent Homelessness

The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) announced the expansion of HOME+, a program that provides free and confidential security resources to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence who want to stay in their homes instead of entering shelter or going somewhere else. The program first launched in 2021 to provide survivors with emergency-response systems, personal alarms that clients can customize to notify trusted family, friends, service providers or police when activated. Starting today, HOME+ has expanded to provide survivors with additional options, including lock, door, and window repair and replacement services, when appropriate, including basic lock installation/replacement within 24 hours. HOME+ is a redesign of New York City Human Resources Administration’s (HRA) Alternative to Shelter (ATS) program, eliminating requirements for an active order of protection and police response for program participation. Through an investment of over $1 million from the Adams administration, the program supports a larger number of survivors by moving the program from Cityrun to operation by borough-based nonprofit service providers. This change has resulted in a doubling of the number of program participants. Like other ENDGBV programming, HOME+ services are available to survivors regardless of language, income, gender identity, immigration status or demographic factors. HOME+ operates through partnerships between ENDGBV and local domestic and gender-based violence services organizations, whose staff work directly with program participants to assess risk, coordinate referrals, and provide related case management services. “HOME+ helps provide the resources needed to enhance basic safety measures for individuals and families affected by domestic, intimate-partner, or genderbased violence,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “There are few things more anxiety-filled than coming home to a broken window, lock, door, or having the feeling of being unsafe in your own home. The program extends support for survivors so that they can have the peace of mind knowing that they can call for help regardless of their ability to pay or their immigration status. Thank you to ENGBV and our partners for making this program possible.” “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home,” said Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Commissioner Cecile Noel. “HOME+ strengthens the City’s efforts to increase safety and stability for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and helps empower survivors who often suffer silently and fear seeking out the help they need. Survivors are never alone, and help is always here for them through a wide range of City resources including this crucial program. We are grateful for our HOME+ program partners, the Violence Intervention Program, WomanKind, Seaman’s Society, HELP R.O.A.D.S./USA, and Rising Ground without whom we could not deliver and expand the comprehensive set of services we offer to survivors from diverse communities throughout the City.” “ENDGBV continues to center the needs of survivors of domestic and gender-based violence by expanding the critical services provided through the HOME+ program. This program is crucial to the City’s efforts to provide survivors the security devices and services they need to feel safe and remain in their continued on page 9

Commissioner Cecil Noel. Photo courtesy ENDGBV