Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Domestic violence survivors bounce between NYC shelters as housing options dwindle
By
Karen Yi
Published Jul 18, 2024
Modified Jul 18, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by William Alatriste for the New York City Council.
By
Karen Yi
Published Jul 18, 2024
Modified Jul 18, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Domestic violence survivors fleeing their abusers are increasingly bouncing between city shelters with dwindling chances of finding permanent housing, a new report highlights.
New Destiny Housing released a report on Thursday that found 18% fewer families left domestic violence shelters for permanent homes between 2018 and 2023. Last year, about half the 2,200 families who left emergency shelters for domestic violence survivors ended up in another shelter in the city’s system. Meanwhile, just about 200 families — accounting for 9% of the shelter population — found permanent homes.
“They're fleeing abuse and there's nowhere to go because we're in a housing crisis in the city so they end up in shelter and then they're time-limited out of shelter and rather going into housing after 180 days, they’re being moved to another shelter and in some cases a third and fourth shelter before they're able to find housing,” said Nicole Branca, executive director of New Destiny, a nonprofit that serves homeless domestic violence survivors. “That of course means that they're being retraumatized every time but they're also moving their kids.”
New York City’s shelter population is at record highs, driven largely by the arrival of new migrants. But even as shelter stays are at their shortest lengths in a decade and the city makes greater efforts to house homeless people, advocates for domestic violence victims say survivors and their children are getting lost in the shuffle and languishing in shelters for far too long.
The city runs several municipal shelter systems for different populations, including about 3,000 beds for domestic violence victims run by the Human Resources Administration. While it’s the largest sheltering system of its kind in the country, state law limits survivors to a six-month stay.
Families with children who still have nowhere to go after their six-month stay can reapply for shelter placement at the city’s main intake center in the Bronx. Those homeless shelters are run by the Department of Homeless Services, which is under the Human Resources Administration.
Branca said the city used to move domestic violence survivors from one shelter system to another without requiring them to reapply in the Bronx, but that practice stopped in 2022, according to the report. That means families have to prove their eligibility and “tell everybody their story all over again, proving their homelessness, proving the violence,” Branca said.
City officials said they’re considering reopening this process which was stopped due to the increase in migrant families needing shelter.
The report said last fiscal year, about 1 in 5 families with children in DHS shelters cited domestic violence as the reason they needed shelter, while about 11% attributed their homelessness to an eviction. Domestic violence has been the top reason why families with children have needed shelter since at least 2017, according to stats from the report, but in the last two years, the migrant crisis has become the overwhelming reason why families have sought shelter.
Nearly 11,000 people sought beds in the city's domestic violence shelter system last year, slightly up from the year prior, the report said. Almost all heads of households seeking shelter were women and most were Black or Hispanic, 2022 data shows. Most people in domestic violence shelters are also children; in 2022, more than a quarter were children under 5 and slightly less than two-thirds were kids under 18.
Michelle Bennett, 44, spent three years between four shelters after fleeing her abuser with her young son.
“It was hard,” she said. “There's no kind of stability and whatnot in their life while growing up.”
She said it was terrifying, too, after she saw her abuser outside one of the DHS shelters twice.
“People also were telling me that I should also transfer [my son] to a school close to where I was and to me, that didn't make no sense, because every time I move, I keep transferring him. Then what good would that do for him? His grades will not be good. He wouldn't be able to focus properly in school,” Bennett said.
Once domestic violence survivors enter the general Department of Homeless Services shelter population, getting out is even more difficult, the report said. Branca said there are almost no affordable housing options set aside specifically for domestic violence survivors. Apartments the Department of Housing Preservation and Development funds for shelter residents are hard to access for survivors. The Adams administration pledged to even the playing field this spring and launch a pilot program to help 100 domestic violence survivors in shelters find permanent housing.
The Adams administration pledged to make changes to its systems this spring. Department of Social Services officials said they would phase in improvements to eventually allow domestic violence survivors to apply for set aside housing directly from their emergency shelters and are in the process of changing the eligibility requirements so domestic violence survivors can more easily qualify for city-funded supportive housing sites. The city also launched a pilot program with New Destiny to help 100 domestic violence survivors with children in shelters find permanent housing and get aftercare services.
“We know that domestic violence is a primary driver of homelessness among families in New York City and recognize the critical importance of providing a safe and secure space for survivors to stay as they begin their healing journey,” Nicholas Jacobelli, a spokesperson for the Human Resources Administration said.
“Equally as important, though, is ensuring that every survivor has access to the resources and supports which will position them for long-term stability,” Jacobelli added.
Domestic violence survivors in shelters are “hidden from view: politically, policywise, and literally with their anonymity,” Branca said. “The city could be a lot more proactive in helping to house these families and helping to keep the DHS shelter system more manageable, while also helping to not retraumatize these families.”
With New Destiny's help, Bennett managed to find her own apartment. She said the first time her son walked into the unit, he didn’t want to leave. His favorite part is the view of the water.
“That wonderful view. That is the first thing he does when he gets up in the morning,” Bennett said.
This story was updated to include a link to New Destiny Housing's report and a response from the Human Resources Administration.
Tagged
new york city
economy
housing
bronx
Karen Yi
Karen Yi covers homelessness and poverty. She joined the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom in 2020. Before that, Karen covered Newark for the Star-Ledger and spent almost a decade working for newspapers in New Jersey and Florida. She grew up in Miami and has a dog named Cashew. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-589-1460.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
City attorneys allege the firm said its clients were injured by defective city streets or sidewalks when in reality they were hit by cars or banged up in fights.
By
Walter Wuthmann
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .