Statement released by Safe Horizon, NSCADV, Volunteers of America Greater New York, and URI in support of the Securing Access to Fair & Equal (SAFE) Shelter Act.

Last week, Governor Hochul met with private sector executives to assure them she will use New York State resources to help them feel safe. The same feeling of safety is exactly what we strive to provide to New York’s most vulnerable citizens—domestic violence survivors, trafficking victims and others fleeing violence.

That is why we are troubled and disappointed to learn that Gov. Hochul has vetoed the SAFE Shelter Act, which would have given our domestic violence shelter providers the funding and flexibility they need to provide emergency shelter to more vulnerable New Yorkers. The Governor rejected this critical legislation without attempting to negotiate amendments with bill sponsors or stakeholders, leaving thousands of New Yorkers—many of whom are LGBTQ+, trafficking survivors, or older adults—to face major obstacles when seeking refuge from abuse.

This veto is a devastating blow to the fight against domestic violence. The state’s current reimbursement system makes it financially impossible for domestic violence shelters to house all of the single adult survivors without children seeking shelter, even though singles make up half of all shelter requests. The SAFE Shelter Act would have fixed this long-standing but worsening issue by allowing domestic violence shelters to be reimbursed for the true cost of housing a single survivor in a room with two beds, greatly benefiting both survivors and shelters. The veto forces providers to make an impossible choice that will result in many single domestic violence survivors ending up on the streets or back with their abuser.

Vetoing the SAFE Shelter Act sends a chilling message: the safety and well-being of single survivors of domestic violence are not a priority in New York State. We invite Gov. Hochul to meet with us and our clients, to hear our stories and learn who this veto leaves behind—trafficking victims, LGBTQ survivors of violence and elderly victims with no children.