Violence Intervention Program

EMPOWERING LATINA SURVIVORS TO LIVE FREE OF VIOLENCE AND TO REACH AND SUSTAIN THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING:MORIVIVI SAFE DWELLING PROGRAM IS AN EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER THAT OFFERS IMMEDIATE SANCTUARY TO VICTIMS FLEEING IMMINENT HARM TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. SHELTER RESIDENTS HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO STAY FOR UP TO 180 DAYS AND ACCESS TO INTENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRALS TO LEGAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.CASA SANDRA, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE HAS PROVIDED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO FAMILIES STABILIZING AFTER VIOLENCE SINCE 2005. FOUNDED ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES OF RESPECT, DIGNITY, AND EQUALITY, CASA SANDRA IS A STEPPING STONE TOWARDS INDEPENDENT LIVING, FREE FROM VIOLENCE. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS PAY A SUBSIDIZED RENT AND LEARN THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING PRIVATE TENANTS SO THAT THEY ARE SET TO SUCCEED WHEN THEY MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. CASA SANDRA RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDED SOCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELING, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.IN 2021, VIP LAUNCHED RAPID RE-HOUSING (RRH), ITS FIRST NEW HOUSING PROGRAM IN 15 YEARS. RRH PROVIDES SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO ARE HOMELESS, OR AT RISK OF IMMINENT HOMELESSNESS, WITH FINANCIAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO SECURE PERMANENT, PRIVATE HOUSING. DURING AND AFTER THE HOUSING PLACEMENT PROCESS, SURVIVORS ARE ALSO RECEIVING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO ESTABLISH AND ATTAIN FINANCIAL GOALS FOR ONGOING INCOME AND HOUSING SECURITY. THIS NEW PROGRAM PROVIDES A FLEXIBLE AND PRACTICAL EARLY INTERVENTION TO PREVENT CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AMONG SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

COMMUNITY-BASED AND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMMING:VIP RUNS THREE COMMUNITY-BASED OFFICES IN QUEENS, BRONX AND MANHATTAN SO THAT SURVIVORS HAVE ACCESSIBLE, CONFIDENTIAL LOCATIONS TO OBTAIN SERVICES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. CULTURALLY RELEVANT COUNSELING SERVICES SUPPORT HEALING AFTER TRAUMA. GROUP COUNSELING EMPHASIZES PEER SUPPORT AND PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS ABOUT INTERSECTING NEEDS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO HOUSING, IMMIGRATION AND ECONOMIC SECURITY. UNDERPINNING ALL SERVICES ARE ONGOING IN-DEPTH SAFETY PLANS, DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VIP STAFF, A LIFESAVING PRACTICE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING CONSTANT THREAT OF HARM BY AN ABUSIVE PARTNER. VIP STAFF SERVE AS A CRITICAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SOURCE FOR ALL CLIENTS, CONNECTING SURVIVORS TO LEGAL AND HOUSING BENEFITS AND ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AS NEEDED. NONRESIDENTIAL PROGRAM STAFF PARTICIPATE IN OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND FACILITATE PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS THAT PROMOTE VICTIMS' RIGHTS, WOMEN'S HEALTH AND AVAILABLE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.ECONOMIC JUSTICE - VIP'S ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROGRAM (EJP) ADDRESSES SURVIVORS' NEEDS WITH CULTURAL HUMILITY AND A STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH. EJP DEVELOPS STRATEGIES THAT RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY, RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND MISOGYNY AND HELP SURVIVORS TO BUILD ASSETS AND ATTAIN FINANCIAL LITERACY AND INCREASE INCOME/ESTABLISH NEW INCOME SOURCES. EJP ASSISTS WITH CREDIT REPAIR, BANKRUPTCY, BANKING, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND KICKED-OFF ITS FIRST EVER WORKER-COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE IN FISCAL YEAR 2019. EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS EXPLORE SURVIVOR'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH MONEY, CULTURE, AND OTHER SYSTEMIC STRUCTURES SUCH AS PATRIARCHY AND CAPITALISM. SEED MONEY PROVIDES SURVIVORS WITH A CRITICAL STARTING POINT FOR BUILDING SMALL BUSINESSES. ARTESANANDO (HEALING ARTS) IS A SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE MARKETING, FINANCIAL, AND BUSINESS SKILLS OF CLIENTS WHO SELL HOMEMADE FOOD AND JEWELRY, AND ENABLES CLIENTS TO MOVE THEIR BUSINESS TO A LEVEL WHERE THEY CAN SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROGRAM - VIP'S SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES A SURVIVOR-INFORMED HEALING MODALITY FOR LATINA/O/X IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE. #YOTAMBIEN IS A DIGITAL STORYTELLING MODALITY THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVORS TO CRAFT, OWN AND, IF THEY CHOOSE, SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES THROUGH A MULTIMEDIA PROCESS. THIS PROJECT EXPANDS VIP'S HOLISTIC HEALING PRACTICE TO INCORPORATE DIGITAL STORYTELLING AS A MEANS OF CONNECTING TO COMMUNITY ACTIVISM AND ENGAGING IMMIGRANTS IN ONLINE ACTIVISM AND CREATE A CULTURALLY RELEVANT SPACE WHERE IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS (RE)CLAIM THEIR STORIES FOR SELF-DETERMINED USE AND DISTRIBUTION. CULTIVATING AN IMMIGRANT-FOCUSED HEALING COMMUNITY ADDRESSING SEXUAL VIOLENCE BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN THIS POPULATION AND THE MOMENTUM OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (CEP):CEP RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE WHILE PROMOTING ACCESS TO SERVICES, DEVELOPING MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ORGANIZING SURVIVORS TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS. VIP CONDUCTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS IN SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, SENIOR CENTERS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS NONTRADITIONAL SETTINGS SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND BEAUTY SALONS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY. OUR PROMOTORAS INITIATIVE INVESTS IN THE LEADERSHIP OF SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE BY TRAINING THEM TO PROVIDE GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. BUILDING ON EVIDENCE-BASED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER (PROMOTORA) MODELS, SURVIVORS USE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF HEALING AND EMPOWERMENT TO BRING A POWERFUL ANTIVIOLENCE MESSAGE TO LATINA/O/X COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. PROMOTORAS ARE ROLE MODELS THAT ARE ABLE TO BRIDGE GAPS AMONG PROVIDERS, CLIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, COMMUNITIES AND RESOURCES.