BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter held the annual Handprints of the Heart event this May, working with volunteers from Goldman Sachs. Resident families and children took part in crafts, empowerment activities and enjoyed a live performance.

On Thursday, May 16th the HOPE Program hosted its second annual A Taste of HOPE event, a celebration of tastings, toasts and transformations at Steelcase in Manhattan. Barrier Free Living’s HR/Organizational Development Team attended, joining a packed crowd at the stunning Steelcase venue overlooking Columbus Circle. Guests included the founder [...]

BFL’s Secret Garden Domestic Violence Program held its annual Women’s Day Celebration this month. The event heralded the courage and triumphs of survivors who have grown and healed through the program. The celebration included a poetry reading, piano recital and lunch. Special gift bags were provided by The Body Shop. [...]

The residents of  BFL’s Transitional Housing program, formerly homeless men and women with disabilities, were treated to a sumptuous May Day feast this month. The 24 women of the shelter received special Mother’s Day gift bags courtesy of The Body Shop. BFL’s Occupational Therapy team coordinated the event, which included [...]

The BFL Survivor’s Speaker’s Bureau released its Mother’s Day themed newsletter. The Bureau is  made up of women with disabilities  “some who had been rejected by their families, some had decided to end their  abuse and go into shelter, and many who had to stop pursuing their educational dreams,” said Theresa [...]

Residents of BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter graduated from the EASE program this April. The ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT (EASE) PROGRAM, created by Robert Hawkins and Alisha Ali of New York University, helps to equip survivors of domestic violence with resources to secure sustainable employment. Pictured at the graduation are: [...]

The Body Shop at New York City’s Grand Central (420 Lexington Ave) has chosen BFL’s Transitional Housing program as its charity partner for Mother’s Day. The Transitional Housing Program is a shelter for formerly homeless men and women with disabilities who are forging  a new life. Body Shop’s “Another for [...]

Freedom House Emergency Shelter launched a vibrant new Adult Poetry Club.  The club allows residents to “express themselves through creative writing in order to promote positive mental health while sharing their creative writing with the members of the group.” The group was led by the Occupational Therapy team;  Residents contributed [...]

Since 2010 the Kids Wish Network has honored more than 30 children at Freedom House Emergency Shelter with a Hero of the Month award. The honorees of this program are children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have faced and overcome difficult circumstances, often enduring a great deal of pain [...]

BFL’s Occupational Therapy Program Coordinator Patricia Motus,  OTR/L,  and Christina Marino, MS, OTR/L presented “Occupational Therapy with Survivors of Domestic Violence: An Initial Cross Case Analysis for Determining Factors of Success in a Shelter Setting” at the The American Occupational Therapy Association’s 93rd Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego [...]

A Resident at BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter sent a letter to staff expressing gratitude about her healing journey and how she gained  strength as she moved through obstacles. Click here to read the inspiring letter.

AWARE organized and hosted a Family Carnival at BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter on April 13, bringing hope and laughter to survivors of domestic violence and their families.   The Carnival featured face-painting, glitter tattoos, a photo booth, basketball, live music, cotton-candy and an appearance by Elmo.  AWARE’S  Ellen L. [...]

Sharing a wonderful shout-out from one of our new supporters: “I simply wanted to send a small comment to be able to express gratitude to you for all of the magnificent items you are giving out at this website. My considerable internet research has finally been honored with reliable tips [...]

Miss M., a woman who found safety and healing at BFL’s Secret Garden domestic violence program, shared a letter of gratitude with staff, thanking them for “giving me back my life.”  Miss M. said the program helped her to change her “destiny forever.” Click here to read Miss M.’s letter.

The United to End Homelessness campaign launches Tuesday, April 9 at 1pm at the NY City Hall steps. New York City’s next Mayor and City Council will confront unprecedented levels of homelessness. By the end of 2012, more than 57,000 people, including more than 22,000 children, slept each night on [...]

CODES OF HOPE, an  innovative six-week curriculum highlighting the aspects of inter-generational trauma and its relationship to domestic violence, is working with participants at BFL’s Secret Garden and Freedom House programs. Activities include inventive approaches to healing, such as a dinner party theater game exploring the dynamics of power and control. [...]

Created in 2012, Beyond Freedom is a transitional support group that grew from the agency’s mission to guide people with disabilities to lead dignified lives free of abuse. It was spearheaded by BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter team. The idea was to create a dynamic group where current and former [...]

Guggenheim Mind’s Eye Programs allow visitors who are blind or have low vision to explore the museum with tours and workshops using verbal imaging and touch.  Programs are Mondays (March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3) 630pm-830pm and Wednesdays (March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12) 2pm-4pm. Info [...]

The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities kicked off its first Accessible Housing Symposium at John Jay College April 1. The symposium featured panel discussions on the topic of educating New Yorkers with Disabilities on accessible housing options.  The event concluded with an information fair and included participation from Barrier [...]

On April 23, 2013, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office  will host the Fourth Annual VOICE-Out (Victims on the Impact of Crime Event) at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The event recognizes the strength and celebrates the voices of those Brooklyn residents whose lives have been changed by crime, and to provide [...]

The BFL Speaker’s Bureau held its first gala Graduation March 27. Graduates shared empowering stories of healing and their support of the Bureau’s mission to continue to educate around the topics of domestic violence and disability.  Founder Theresa McIntosh lead the celebration, which featured poetry and a visit from Victor [...]

Support Denim Day to protest sexual violence by wearing denim on April 24.  To learn more click here. Also, In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) and Denim Day there will be a Citywide Op-ed Writing Contest for college students. A$500 prize for one winner from each Borough will be offered. Denim [...]

Alan Govenar’s intimate new documentary “You Don’t Need Feet To Dance” reveals the extraordinary life of African immigrant Sidiki Conde, a man overcoming his disability one day at a time in New York City. Sidiki balances his career as a performing artist with the obstacles of life in New York [...]

A program to equip survivors of domestic violence with resources to secure sustainable employment launches this month at Freedom House Emergency Shelter. The EASE Program (Economic and Social Empowerment) presented by Dr.  Robert Hawkins and Alisha Ali of New York University helps shelter residents to understand the importance of of [...]

BFL rolled out a 360 Evaluation process, beginning with the management team, as a tool to growth and progress in line with the agency’s mission. Staff learned about the effectiveness of a well implemented 360 evaluation at the Winter/Spring Town Hall all agency meeting.  360 degree feedback is a method [...]