New Visions Blog

Lucrecia Ayala, LMSW is a bilingual Social Worker (Spanish and English) and the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator at Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden program. She has 10 years’ experience working with teens and adults in community and clinical settings, specializing in crisis services, housing and sexual & public health. She provides individual sexual violence counseling as well as group education. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month* and this year the theme… read more

The success of Barrier Free Living's (BFL) recent 40 years of Firsts fundraiser was due in great part to the support of the dedicated fundraising committee. Committee member Nina-Marie Scalera contributed not only dynamic, creative ideas but offered her skills as a bartender/mixologist at the event. We caught up with her to find out what initially drew her to the organization and its mission. BFL: Tell us about what drew you to… read more

Diane (on the right, 2022) with Simone BFL Occupational Therapy Director Diane will always remember Christmas Day 2016. It was the day she lost her sight. She will also never forget June 19, 2020 - the day she found safety from abuse at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter. “My children lived with me, and when I lost my sight they took… read more

BFL team members gathered to raise their voices at the NYC City Hall #justpay rally on March 10, 2022. Banners depicted messaging that current NY City & State contracts have resulted in the #AlwaysEssential human services workforce being some of the lowest paid workers in New York’s economy. This MUST end! #JustPay… read more

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that $17.3 million in state funding was awarded to six projects in four counties that will provide emergency and permanent supportive housing to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Barrier Free Living, Inc. was awarded $6 million to construct a 13-story building with 44 units of permanent supportive housing that will be part of a larger 75-unit project with 30 units set aside for frail elderly individuals in Manhattan. Learn more about Barrier Free Living and its programs.… read more

https://vimeo.com/680988171… read more

For the second year in a row, survivors of domestic violence with disabilities at Barrier Free Living's programs received gorgeous gift bags prepared by the Valentine Community Project. The project delivered 604 gift bags to various agencies including "residents of shelters for people fleeing domestic abuse and trafficking." Emily Valentine Sottile shares how the project came to be: "The Valentine Community Project is a community response – I never would have… read more

Anne leading a workshop at Barrier Free Living.  In 2000, while working in Victim Services at Harlem Hospital, Anne Markowitz did a presentation at Barrier Free Living (BFL).  That was the beginning of a rich collaboration that continues to this day. "I did that presentation at BFL and was asked to work as a consultant. I was so impressed with the work and mission at the different sites (BFL Programs), I… read more

The "Drivers" club at New York City's Grace Church High School discovered Barrier Free Living online and knew it was the cause they were looking to support. "We collect needed items from our student body and donate the items to organizations and shelters around the city. I stumbled upon your (Barrier Free Living's) website and I found the mission of your shelter to be very impactful and meaningful," says Bella, the leader of the… read more

https://vimeo.com/666098790… read more