Barrier Free Living has been endorsed by The Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) as LGBTQ+ inclusive, having met certain LGBTQ+ program standards.

The news was part of an announcement by Governor Kathy Hochul noting a $5.4 million investment in the LGBTQ+ community in New York.  Read the press release. 

Details from the announcement include:

Strengthening LGBTQ+ Inclusive Domestic Violence Programs

The LGBTQ+ Endorsement Program, first announced by Governor Hochul as a pilot in June 2022, is dedicated to operationalizing New York State’s values and commitment to LGBTQ+ survivors of gender-based violence. This month, the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) is announcing that all five OCFS-approved domestic violence programs participating in the pilot — Barrier Free Living, BHSN STOP Domestic Violence, Family Counseling Services of the Finger Lakes, The Safe Center LI, and YWCA Northeast New York — have been endorsed by OPDV as LGBTQ+ inclusive, having met certain LGBTQ+ program standards. As the next step in ensuring all LGBTQ+ survivors have access to affirming services, OPDV will open the endorsement program to any OCFS-licensed residential domestic violence service providers and from OCFS-recognized non-residential domestic violence service providers.

OPDV Executive Director Kelli Owens said, “When the system that serves those impacted by gender-based violence was built, it did not contemplate the needs of those in the LGBTQ+ community. New York is taking very visible and affirming steps to ensure all people, no matter how they identify, know they can find safety and support. This new endorsement program affirms that people are seen and heard. It truly operationalizes New York’s values of assuring we have a system that is survivor-centered, trauma-informed and culturally responsive to those impacted by domestic violence in the LGBTQ+ community.”