Domestic Violence & Abuse

Safe Horizon is the largest provider of domestic violence services in the country. Collaborating with the criminal justice system, Safe Horizon offers innovative programs that provide affected individuals and families with support throughout the complex process of leaving violent relationships and building safe futures.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence, sometimes called battering, relationship abuse, or intimate partner violence, is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Domestic violence can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse, and sexual abuse. Batterers use threats, intimidation, isolation, and other behaviors to maintain power over their victims. Domestic violence impacts everyone, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion. Thirty percent of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year (Lieberman Research, Inc., Tracking Survey conducted for The Advertising Council and the Family Violence Prevention Fund, July-October 1996). Domestic violence also affects same-sex relationships, and men can be victims as well.

If you need support, go to the Get Help for Domestic Violence page.

Domestic Violence Shelters

Safe Horizon is New York City’s largest provider of domestic violence residences with more than 425 beds available throughout the five boroughs. Safe Horizon operates both emergency shelters for crisis situations and transitional housing where women move after several months to plan for a future free from violence. The shelters offer comprehensive services including counseling, housing assistance, life skills and parenting courses, childcare, and medical aid. Job readiness programs include computer training, high school equivalency classes, English as a Second Language, and workshops covering such topics as resume development, interviewing, and conflict resolution.

One of the most common reasons an abused woman stays in a relationship is because she is economically dependent on the abuser. Safe Horizon's Job Readiness Program provides practical assistance to help women in our shelters find employment. Job Readiness Program components include computer training, high school equivalency classes, and workshops covering such topics as resume development, career planning, time management, interviewing, and conflict resolution. Job readiness skills can help to enable our clients to leave abusive environments, lead independent lives and support their families.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and are in need of shelter, please call our hotline.

Take a Tour of a Domestic Violence Shelter.

Can Batterers Get Help?

The Domestic Violence Accountability Program (DVAP) Classes for Men is a court-mandated education program for men who batter. DVAP offers a curriculum of information about men’s violence against women in our society and how to end it, including information about the historical, social, and cultural aspects of domestic abuse with emphasis on accountability and personal choice.

To find out how Safe Horizon can help you, go to Domestic Violence Accountability Program.

Other Types of Abuse: Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is the maltreatment of an elderly or disabled person by a family member or caretaker. As with intimate partner violence and abuse, elder abuse can include physical, sexual, or psychological abuse; financial exploitation, and/or neglect, including the denial of basic needs such as food and medical care.

Remember that no one - not your caretaker, not a family member - is allowed to:

• Deny you meals or medication
• Hide or break your eyeglasses, hearing aid, or false teeth
• Threaten to hurt you or your children, your pets, or friends
• Humiliate, be cruel, or speak harshly to you
• Keep you away from friends and family
• Take your Social Security checks
• Spend your rent or food money
• Steal your belongings
• Hit, beat, push or restrain you
• Force you to have sexual contact
• Keep you locked up

If you are over 60 and any of these things are happening to you, call Safe Horizon’s 24-hour hotline at 800.621.4673 (HOPE).

Remember, you are not to blame. You have a right to be safe and feel secure in your own home.

Other Types of Abuse: Child Abuse

Child abuse, or child maltreatment, is an act by a parent, caretaker, sibling, family member, or other person that results in the physical or emotional harm or death of a child. Emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse are all different forms of child abuse.

Visit our Child Abuse & Incest page to learn more.

To report suspected child abuse in New York, call the New York State Child Abuse Hotline: 800.342.3720.