Barrier Free Living: Increase Access to Services for Survivors of Crime Grantees

In April 2017, Barrier Free Living was selected to receive funds under the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII) in response to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s request for proposals to Increase Access to Services for Survivors of Crime. This investment significantly increases access to a number of critical services for survivors of crime, particularly for those who face considerable barriers to accessing services such as immigrants; LGBTQ individuals; individuals with disabilities or who are D/deaf or hard of hearing; and people of color.

With these funds, Barrier Free Living is expanding its existing deaf-focused services, including individual counseling, case management, support groups, and deaf-focused occupational therapy as well as strengthening communication access for D/deaf survivors of domestic violence and intimate partner violence. BFL will also conduct outreach and education to service providers, law enforcement, and criminal justice personnel to help them better meet the needs of D/deaf survivors and increase D/deaf survivors’ access to those service providers.[1]

Barrier Free Living is one of 11 organizations to receive funds to increase access to services for survivors of crime. These programs will enhance the current landscape of services for survivors in Manhattan and across the city. By making these services more accessible, the DA’s Office seeks to increase the use of services, improve survivor outcomes, and mitigate the increased risk of criminal offending that is often associated with victimization or circumstances surrounding victimization, ultimately increasing public safety.

The investments under this initiative, along with the other initiatives being developed under CJII, form a comprehensive set of strategic investments that, together, will have a significant, lasting impact on public safety and justice reform in New York City.

[1] “Deaf” refers to individuals who identify as belonging to a unique cultural and linguistic community, whereas “deaf” refers to an audiological condition of not hearing.