Statement From State Senator Jose Peralta On NYCHA’s Handling Of Domestic Violence Victims’ Petitions For Emergency Housing

“Published reports and a City Council hearing today are shining a long overdue light on NYCHA’s broken system for providing emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence.

“It is a travesty to require women to risk their lives to produce the paperwork needed to qualify for emergency housing—and then not provide that housing.

“The expansion of the list of crimes that would not require a second documented instance of abuse is a welcome change, but more needs to be done to protect those who are unable to go to the police in the first place.”

 “I have introduced a bill that would enable domestic violence victims to be considered for emergency NYCHA housing without having to first contact authorities and put themselves in danger of retribution from their batterers.

“What my bill can’t do is make NYCHA cut wait times of as long as 10 years.  That is something NYCHA needs to address.

 “The many advocates for domestic violence victims who support my bill do so because  the lack of safe, affordable, permanent housing is one of the biggest impediments victims face in their effort to escape an abusive environment.  NYCHA has taken a small first step toward cutting red tape for victims, but much, much more needs to be done to fix the system.”

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