From Top, Before & After photos. 

Since its early days in the 1980s working with people with disabilities, Barrier Free Living has been committed to the power of healing through community.

Whether it’s a tenant-led garden club at BFL’s supportive housing program in the Bronx, a Denim Day mural project at BFL’s Secret Garden program or an occupational therapy cooking class at the newly renovated kitchen at BFL’s Freedom House domestic violence shelter, people connecting through community is integral to our mission

“We work with people who have experienced trauma, and we recognize the power of healing through connecting to others,” says Barrier Free Living CEO Cynthia Amodeo. “At Freedom House, our busy community kitchen needed a number of improvements, and we are grateful for our collaboration with EmPWR which allowed us to do this.”

The renovation, including new appliances and a donation of kitchen cabinets from Boxi and ceiling tiles from Armstrong, was made possible through the EmPWR project partnership.

The architectural team for the Freedom House project was Oficina Design and Urban X Studio. The Contractor company was LB General Contracting, by Lukasz Birski.

Joana Torres of Oficina Design says the work was done with the guidance of survivors and Freedom House shelter staff.

”We engage survivors and staff in a true participatory design process to identify needs and opportunities that promote healing, resilience and dignity through design changes. Survivors and staff are actively involved in the design and selection of space through an array of activities such as group interviews and games, design presentations, brainstorming sessions, individual and anonymous surveys, vision boards and many other activities,” says Jonana.

The EmPWR program focuses on how the built environment of domestic violence shelters can contribute to the wellbeing of survivors and their children.  The EmPWR is currently redesigning and improving communal spaces in 9 domestic violence shelters serving hundreds of survivor families throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City.

Photos of the new kitchen: