Category: BFL News
Barrier Free Living Receives 100 Scarves At Bryant Park Event
Barrier Free Living (BFL) received nearly 100 gorgeous hand-knitted scarves at an event at New York City's Bryant Park today, as part of the annual Found But Not Lost Program.
BFL Director of Communications Scott Hess spoke at the event, expressing the agency's gratitude.
"We are incredibly grateful to Bryant Park Corp. for the scarf donations again this year. Receiving a beautiful new scarf means so much to the residents and their kids… read more
Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden American Sign Language Film
Barrier Free Living’s Secret Garden domestic violence program has filmed a video in American Sign Language to explain domestic violence and inform survivors with hearing loss how to seek assistance.
Development of this video is an activity of BFL’s 2012 Office on Violence Against Women disability grant program award, which focuses on building capacity to serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing survivors… read more
BFL Deaf Services Team Member Featured In City Limits Article
Barrier Free Living team member Nicolyn Plummer is feature in an article (see below) about a lack of Sign Language Interpreters in City Courts in this week's Citylimits.
New York State’s Uniformed Court System (UCS) employs more than 300 staff interpreters in more than 20 languages, in addition to hundreds of additional freelance interpreters who work in the system each year. But just a handful of the court’s staff interpreters work in American Sign Language (ASL)—in fact, just seven… read more
BFL Honors LGBTQ+ Pride Month
June is Pride Month nationwide, which is an opportunity for the world and for members of the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate their identity and their relationships.
Barrier Free Living is proud to provide services to members of the LGBTQ+ community. (view our BFLMinute honoring pride here.)
Sexual orientation and gender identity are not barriers to accessing any of our programs, including our emergency domestic violence shelter … read more
Staff Spotlight: Aja Ruffin
Aja Ruffin, a Resident Aide at Freedom House, joined the team in 2016 with a drive to help others, and a desire to grow. She found both working with the team.
BFL: When did you join BFL, and what drew you to apply?
Aja: I joined BFL on February 24th, 2016. Having previously worked with children at The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, another non-profit organization, I wanted to continue to help people… read more
JCJ Architecture Tapped to Design New Building for Barrier Free Living
The new housing facility will be located in the heart of Manhattan and is designed to support survivors of domestic abuse
NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- JCJ Architecture today announces the firm will design a groundbreaking new project for Barrier Free Living (BFL), a leading NYC community nonprofit that provides services and support for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. The $30 million project is anticipated to break ground in Fall… read more
Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House Hosts Domestic Violence Awareness Month Dinner
Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter held a Domestic Violence Awareness Month dinner for residents and their children this month.
Celebrating 12 years in New York City, Freedom House is a domestic violence shelter (90-180 day stay) for women, men and children. We serve both families and single individuals with or without disabilities. We have worked with people from 40 states and internationally and we welcome all members of the LGBTQ… read more
BFL Launches Domestic Violence & Disability Expertise Page
BFL has launched a Domestic Violence and Disabilities Resources page specific to facts and information around its expertise on the topics of Domestic Violence and Disability. Click link below to view the BFL team's culling of reports to create a critical 'Do You Know' sheet, with items like:
Do you know:
The number one issue of Women with Disabilities nationwide is Domestic Abuse.
80% of women with disabilities have been sexually assaulted.
Increased rates of abuse by both men and women with disabilities… read more
BFL Secret Garden Program At Community Resource Fair
Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden domestic violence program will be on hand at the Feb. 20 Community Resource Fair.
The event is from 6pm-8pm at the LGBT Center, 2018 West 13th St. NYC.… read more
BFL Apartments Team Member Shares His Journey
Darique Ruiz joined the BFL Apartments team in 2015. When he's not working as a resident aide, Darique mentors kids in high school at a church downtown, and also has a keen interest in learning as many languages as he can. We caught up with Darique to talk about his journey with the agency, and his future goals.… read more
Pet Therapy For People With Disabilities & Survivors Of Domestic Violence
Barrier Free Living welcomes Blog contributor Julia Alberino. Julia retired in 2011 after more than thirty years as a health care administrator in both the public and private sectors. She was a frequent speaker at professional conferences, and co-founder of an advocacy group that worked to maintain and improve services for Medicaid beneficiaries, including elderly and disabled individuals.
I’ve always been a cat person.
When I moved into my lower Manhattan apartment… read more
Barrier Free Living Continues Agency Wide Undoing Racism Workshops
BFL continues its commitment to “Undoing Racism” in 2018, holding two-day intensive workshops for all new agency staff led by David Peters of MPG Consulting.
The agency also continues to hold affinity groups at program locations, which were formed last year.
“BFL has embarked on a deliberate process of introspection to promote racial equity in its delivery system. This is an example of transformative intent during a difficult social and political environment, to bring more humanity to all,” says Peters.
MPG… read more
Serving Male Domestic Violence Survivors In Shelter
Sara Eldridge, LMSW, a Senior Social Worker at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter offers her insights on Freedom House's work with male domestic violence survivors. Sara is a licensed social worker who received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2015. Sara has been a social worker at Freedom House since 2015, where she provides individual and group counseling to adults… read more
Chefs Serve Up Joy, Unity & A Great Banana Pudding At BFL Apartments
A group of chefs brought food and joy to the tenants at Barrier Free Living (BFL) Apartments in the Bronx, NY last month. BFL Apartments offers permanent homes to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families, as well as to single adults.
We caught up with Zack Pozzoboni, who organized the volunteer driven event, to find out what drew him to Barrier Free Living, and to ask… read more
Holiday Safety For Survivors of Domestic Violence With Disabilities
Holidays can traditionally be a time of family gatherings and celebrations. For individuals and families at Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter who have left an abusive situation, maintaining safety during the holiday season is crucial.
As an agency, Barrier Free Living provides counseling, case management, shelter and housing to people with disabilities, including survivors of domestic violence and homeless individuals. Freedom House is our emergency domestic violence… read more
BFL Apartments Receives Community Capital Management Impact Award 2017
Community Capital Management recently announced that Barrier Free Living Apartments is the winner of its first annual impact awards for 2017 and will receive a $10,000 donation. CCM’s “Impact Awards 2017” featured five impactful bond stories during the year with participants voting for their favorite over the last month. The contest recognizes fixed income impact investments and their multiple positive environmental and social outcomes.
Barrier Free Living Apartments was designed and built for 50 families with a disabled… read more
People With Disabilities Experience Domestic Violence, Too: An FAQ By Sarah Kim
People with Disabilities Experience Domestic Violence, Too: An FAQ
Barrier Free Living welcomes writer Sarah Kim who will be contributing articles about domestic violence and disabilities.
Sarah Kim: formerly a writer at @dosomething | now: graduate student at Columbia Journalism School | social media: @sarahskkim… read more
Kids Deliver Gift Bags To Families at BFL Apartments
For the holiday season, Dan Kimbers and his daughter Elina (pictured) wanted to find a way to spread joy beyond their own family this year.
The Kimbers had heard about Barrier Free Living, and the agency's programs for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families. They reached out to BFL and asked if they could create small gift bags, and delivered them this December.
Elina and a few friends created… read more
BFL’s Transitional Housing Thanksgiving Event
Staff and residents at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing program gathered for a Thanksgiving feast this November.
CEO Paul Feuerstein was on hand to wish the team and residents a safe and happy holiday.… read more
BFL’s Secret Garden At Barrier Free Justice Conference
Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden team members participated in this November's annual Barrier Free Justice Conference.
The conference explored the intersection between disability and elder abuse, with a focus on victimization within the elderly population.
Presenters and panelists discussed recognizing the signs of abuse, how to navigate and facilitate conversations about disabilities within the geriatric population, as well as the importance of caregiver support. Additionally, the conference explored the current misconceptions about elder abuse, what resources (social and legal) are currently in… read more
BFL Halloween Events
Barrier Free Living held Halloween themed events at its programs, drawing families, kids and staff in community building activities.
At BFL Apartments, the tenant advisory group worked with the occupational therapy team to create a lively party space and spook house for dozens of kids living at the permanent housing complex in the Bronx.
BFL works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities, and their families as well as homeless individuals with disabilities.… read more
Staff Spotlight: Dwayne Jordan
As the new nurse on staff at Barrier Free Living Apartments, Dwayne Jordan brings expertise, a keen focus on wellness, and even some experience as a power lifter to the supportive housing complex.
BFL: What drew you to apply to Barrier Free Living?
Dwayne: I grew up in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Brooklyn (Brownsville) during the 90s. I first-hand saw and experienced what many residents of BFL have gone through. I made… read more
BFL Team Attends The Network Gala
Barrier Free Living (BFL) team members were on hand at The Network's (Supportive Housing Network of New York) 2017 Network gala on October 18th at Capitale.
BFL's Paul Feuerstein (photo top right) and LeShan Gaulman, Program Director at BFL's Transitional Housing (photo top left) joined BFL colleagues Scott Hess, Director of Communications and Tiffany Williams, Housing Specialist at Transitional Housing (in photo below, at right).
The Gala honored Commissioner & CEO RuthAnne Visnauskas of NYS Homes &… read more
Barrier Free Living Begins Work On Updated Mission Film
Barrier Free Living (BFL) has begun work on an updated version of its mission film, depicting the agency's growth and evolution since the original film debuted in 2012.
The film, created in collaboration with DGNL , is a visual representation of the agency' s mission, vision and values. The new version will focus on the stories of the people that the agency works with in its programs, shelters… read more
October Domestic Violence Awareness Month Wear Purple Day Oct. 19
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Every year the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence partners with NYC City Council to raise awareness about services and resources for victims and survivors of intimate partner violence on NYC GO Purple Day. This year’s statewide “Wear Purple Day” is Thursday, October 19.
If you want to volunteer please contact the first district to join the effort in your community. Volunteers will:
· Hand out… read more
BFL Team Presents At Institute On Violence, Abuse And Trauma Conference
Barrier Free Living team members Cynthia Amodeo (Chief Program Officer) and Sara Eldridge (social worker, Freedom House, pictured) will present "Exploring the Intersection of Domestic Violence, Disability and Trauma" at the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma 22nd International Summit in San Diego, CA September 21-27, 2017.
This year's summit is titled "Building Peace by Linking Policy, Practice, Research & Advocacy to End Violence."
The Institute on Violence, Abuse and… read more
Assurant Awards Barrier Free Living $50,000 Financial Literacy Grant
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
Ribbon Cutting For Kids Playground Mural At BFL Apartments
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
Famed Graffiti Artists Crash & Bio Paint Kids Mural At BFL Apartments
https://vimeo.com/228406593… read more
Ping Pong Champ Teaches Kids At BFL Apartments
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