Year: 2017

Assurant Awards Barrier Free Living $50,000 Financial Literacy Grant

September 11, 2017 BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
Barrier Free Living (BFL) has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the Assurant Foundation to create a financial literacy program and scholarship for tenants of BFL’s supportive housing complex in the Bronx. BFL Apartments offers 120 units of permanent housing to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families, as well as veterans with disabilities. The grant, part of Assurant Foundation’s sustainable living mission, will fund a 12-week financial literacy workshop that culminates in career-oriented scholarships for eligible… read more

Protecting One Another Showcases Service Animals Assisting People With Disabilities

September 7, 2017 Current Events 0 Comments
New York City Emergency Management in collaboration with Council Member Borelli’s office will be hosting Protecting One Another on Saturday September 9th, a preparedness fair to showcase organizations that protect pets, and organizations that train service animals to assist people with disabilities. This year’s event will be held at Conference House Park in Staten Island located at 298 Sattarlee Street on Saturday September 9th from 11AM-3PM.  Flyer.… read more

Barrier Free Living Communication Intern Shares Summer Highlights

September 5, 2017 Current Events, Our Stories 0 Comments
 Liam Chan Hodges, a government major at Franklin and Marshall college, took on the role of summer intern in BFL’s Communication Department this year. Before heading back to campus he shared with us some highlights.  BFL: What was one particular highlight of your internship? Liam: Successfully creating an eye-catching and decently well visited Instagram page (check it out at  instagram ) that authentically portrayed the incredible work that BFL does. BFL: What is something that… read more

Columbia University Programs In Occupational Therapy Mention Student Work at BFL

August 28, 2017 Current Events, Shelter Tags: 0 Comments
Columbia University Programs in Occupational Therapy posted about students working at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing shelter this summer. The story covers an MTA bus demo the students worked on with the shelter residents. Read more.… read more

Ping Pong Champ Teaches Kids At BFL Apartments

August 18, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities, Our Stories, Shelter 0 Comments
Alexis Perez, a famed ping pong champ, is teaching the kids at BFL Apartments the art of the game. Perez has been meeting with the kids at the supportive housing complex in the Bronx three times a week since June. “The children have not missed a day of lessons and have been able to develop their own style of playing ping pong,” says Julie Pena, director at BFL Apartments. The kids received sports… read more

Secret Garden At End Violence Against Women Conference

August 16, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities Tags: 0 Comments
Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden attended the End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) Conference in St. Louis, MO this August. The EVAWI conferences  address "attention focused on the many barriers confronting sexual assault victims, and the challenges associated with investigating and prosecuting cases. One critical step in changing this reality is to improve the way victims are interviewed. Better interviews will result in more thorough investigations that improve criminal justice outcomes: Excluding suspects where appropriate, and successfully prosecuting cases where the… read more

Freedom House Healthy Living Workshop

August 14, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities Tags: 0 Comments
The Occupational Therapy team at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter held a healthy living workshop this August. Participants took a trip to the local farmer's market, learned healthy living tips and shared seasonal recipes.… read more

Ribbon Cutting For Kids Playground Mural At BFL Apartments

August 4, 2017 BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
Foxy Management and Barrier Free Living held a ribbon cutting event unveiling the new mural in the kid's playground at BFL Apartments in the Bronx. The mural, created with the support of 501 See Streets and the talents of famed graffiti artists Crash and Bio, added color and joy to the playground. The outdoor space is connected to the supportive housing complex's child care area. BFL Apartments offers… read more

Ping Pong Champ Teaches Kids At BFL Apartments

August 3, 2017 BFL News, Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
Alexis Perez, a famed ping pong champ, is teaching the kids at BFL Apartments the art of the game. Perez has been meeting with the kids at the supportive housing complex in the Bronx three times a week since June. “The children have not missed a day of lessons and have been able to develop their own style of playing ping pong,” says Julie Pena, director at BFL Apartments. The kids received sports… read more

BFL Apartments Kicks Off Kids Summer Theatre Workshop

July 11, 2017 Current Events 0 Comments
Workshop leader David Drake, with BFL Apartments Program Director Julie Pena BFL Apartments kicked off its summer theatre camp workshop this July, led by teacher, actor and Obie Winning playwright, David Drake. The program will include theatre games, technique and the creation of original material by the kids. Plans are underway to stage a finale show at the nearby 138th Street Community Garden, which has an outdoor stage.… read more

BFL Apartments Kids Show At 138th Street Community Garden Stage

June 21, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities Tags: 0 Comments
   Barrier Free Living apartments is working with the 138th Street Community Garden to present its kids theatre camp finale show on the garden stage this August. The show, the culmination of a 10-week theatre camp for kids living at the complex, will be put on by theatre professional David Drake.  BFL apartments offers  permanent housing for survivors of domestic violence and their families… read more

Bronx Academy Of Letters Students Donate To BFL Shelter

June 20, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities, Shelter Tags: , 0 Comments
Students from the Bronx Academy of Letters stopped by Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing shelter this June to donate health products to the residents. The students met with program director LeShan Gaulman (in photo above), to learn about the program which offers shelter to formerly homeless men  and women with disabilities. The students also plan to donate similar products to Barrier Free Living apartments, a complex for survivors of domestic violence… read more

BFL’s Transitional Housing Program Celebrates Father’s Day

June 16, 2017 BFL News, Shelter Tags: 0 Comments
The staff at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing program prepared a special meal in honor of Father's Day this weekend. The program offers shelter, case management and occupational therapy to formerly homeless men and women with disabilities.… read more

Community Building BBQ Summer Kick Off At BFL Apartments

June 15, 2017 Current Events, Our Stories 0 Comments
Tenants and staff gathered to celebrate the start of summer with a community building BBQ at BFL apartments in the Bronx. Staff worked the grill (social worker Sam Finan pictured above) and tenants from the single and family building enjoyed the meal and mingling. The complex has apartments for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities (including 91 kids) as well as veterans with disabilities.… read more

Playwright David Drake Brings Theatre Camp For Kids To BFL Apartments

June 8, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities, Our Stories, Shelter Tags: 2 Comments
This profile is by Liam Chan Hodges, a summer intern in BFL’s Communication Department. His writing has appeared in Study Breaks and elsewhere. He is currently pursuing a government major at Franklin and Marshall college and will graduate in 2019. David Drake is a man of many talents. He has gained success as a playwright, a stage director, an actor and an author. His most acclaimed piece The… read more

HSU Gala 2017 Building A Coalition For Change

June 7, 2017 Current Events 0 Comments
  Homeless Services United held its 2017 Gala and honored Commissioner Loree Sutton of the New York City Department of Veterans Services, David Walsh of JP Morgan Chase Community Development Banking and, Bobby Watts CEO of the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council. Barrier Free Living team members attended including Paul Feuerstein, BFL President/CEO. The theme… read more

Moody’s Volunteers At Shelter Wellness Fair

June 7, 2017 Corporate/Event Sponsors, Current Events, Shelter Tags: 0 Comments
  Volunteers from Moody's served fruit smoothies, made de-stress balls and talked up the benefits of healthy living at Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Wellness Fair this June. The FPWA connected the company to BFL, and Moody's sponsored the fair with a charitable donation. The Moody's volunteers joined the agency's Occupational Therapy team which coordinated the event, along with LeShan Gaulman, shelter director. Activities included chair yoga, booths with… read more

Human Rights Watch Film Fest Focus on Disability Rights

May 31, 2017 Current Events 0 Comments
The Human Rights Watch Film Festival  runs June 9th-18th at the IFC Theater and Lincoln Center in New York City, shining a light on the importance of disability rights. From the rights of a young Palestinian boy confined to an Israeli hospital, to a group of adults with Down syndrome in Chile being denied the freedoms most of us take for granted - the Human Rights Watch Film… read more

BFL Apartments Kids Mural Featured On Pix11 News NYC

May 30, 2017 BFL News, Current Events 0 Comments
A mural created by John "Crash" Matos and Wilfredo “Bio” Feliciano  in the kid's playground area of the Barrier Free Living (BFL) Apartments was featured on Pix11 News. View the video below or view full the story at PIX-11's website » Problems watching the video? Click here.… read more

Staff Spotlight: Tamar’s Story

May 25, 2017 BFL News, Our Stories 0 Comments
This Staff Spotlight is by Liam Chan Hodges, a summer intern in BFL’s Communication Department. His writing has appeared in Study Breaks and elsewhere. He is currently pursuing a government major at Franklin and Marshall college and will graduate in 2019. Here at Barrier Free Living we have been blessed with a team of talented individuals who are passionate about the work we do. We decided to sit down with one of our… read more

BFL Apartments Kids Mural Featured in Metro New York

May 23, 2017 Current Events 0 Comments
Reprinted from Metro New York, May 23, 2017 by Nikki M. Mascali The intoxicating scent of spray paint wafted through the air as an ordinary-looking wall in the Bronx quickly went from a blank slate to a colorful work of art designed for — and by — the very kids who will benefit the most from it. “The idea of doing something with… read more

Mural Brings Light & Joy To Kids Of BFL Apartments

May 18, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities 0 Comments
Work began this May on a dynamic mural decorating the children's playground area of BFL Apartments in the Bronx. Noah Sheroff, Founder of 501 See Streets an organization which brings artists and communities together, worked with renowned visual artist John Crash Matos to develop the mural. They spoke to tenants and children living at the complex to create the design which includes vibrant imagery of flowers,  a boom box, and floating… read more

BFL Apartments Celebrates Mom Day

May 15, 2017 Current Events Tags: 0 Comments
Barrier Free Living Apartments celebrated Mother's Day with a 'Glitter On' luncheon celebration this May. Tenants of the supportive housing program enjoyed lunch, music and gift bags were handed out. The BFL Occupational Therapy team worked with tenants and members of the tenant advisory committee to decorate and plan the community building event.… read more

Artist Brings Beauty To Freedom House

May 9, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities Tags: 0 Comments
Antonio Luis Rosa loves to share beauty wherever he can. Antonio, an artist with two decades as a beauty professional, heard about BFL's Freedom House domestic violence shelter this year, and decided he wanted to get involved with the program as a volunteer. He connected with program director Myra Ricard and they are exploring ways to bring his expertise, and sense of joy, to the residents. "We are developing a beautiful partnership… read more

NYC’s Human-Service Providers Press for Changes in City Funding

May 9, 2017 Current Events 0 Comments
City Limits reports: As New York City’s fiscal 2018 budget takes shape, voices from the city’s human-services sector have begun to cry out for help with a looming funding crisis that could leave many non-profit organizations scrambling to finance the services that serve needy New Yorkers. There are 200,000 people in New York who work in the human services industry in the city, dealing with everything from elder care to youth employment and from domestic violence to housing needs. But cuts in… read more

El Poema de la Esperanza de un Joven Residente de Freedom House

May 9, 2017 BFL Blog en Español, Domestic Violence and Disabilities, Our Stories, Shelter Tags: 0 Comments
Un joven residente en el refugio de violencia doméstica Freedom House, de Barrier Free Living, compartió un poema de esperanza y sanación para comenzar el nuevo año. La "Chica Silenciosa" es parte de una familia que experimentó violencia doméstica y abuso antes de encontrar refugio seguro en Freedom House en 2016. La familia recibió terapia y servicios de apoyo y espera mudarse a un hogar permanente en 2017.… read more

BFL’s Freedom House Program At St. John’s Next Steps Fair

May 2, 2017 Current Events, Domestic Violence and Disabilities Tags: 0 Comments
Sara Eldridge, a social worker at BFL's Freedom House domestic violence shelter was on hand at the St. John's Next Steps Fair in April. The Next Steps Fair is a tabling event where organizations in the community provide information on the resources they offer the community. St. John’s also held "Turn off the Violence Week" in April promoting “awareness, empowerment, and action in response to sexual violence in our community.” Events include:  the Clothes… read more