Safe Horizon
| Motto | Moving victims from crisis to confidence |
|---|---|
| Founded | New York City, U.S. (1978) |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Location | |
| Services | Victim Services |
| Website | http://www.safehorizon.org |
Safe Horizon, formerly the Victim Services Agency, is the largest victim services non-profit organization in the United States, providing social services for victims of abuse and violent crime in 57 locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Safe Horizon provides social services to over 250,000 victims of violent crime and abuse and their families per year. It has over 600 staff, and has programs for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking, as well as homeless youth and the families of homicide victims. Safe Horizon's website has been accessible for the Spanish-speaking population since 2012. Safe Horizon has an annual budget of nearly $55 million.
In 1975, a pilot program began in New York City's court system that addressed the need to assist criminal court witnesses who had been intimidated or who felt too threatened to testify in court. Three years later, that pilot program became the Victim Services Agency, offering a broader array of services that helped more victims of crime and abuse. Lucy N. Friedman was Safe Horizon's founding executive director. By 1981, the Victim Services Agency provided programs for victims of domestic violence, offering them shelter, counseling, and concrete support. Over the next three decades, the Victim Services Agency incorporated various other programs to assist victims and their families during times of crisis. In 2000, the Victim Services Agency became Safe Horizon.
Today, Safe Horizon is the largest organization helping victims of crime and abuse in the United States, helping more than 250,000 children, adults, and families each year. Since 2008, Safe Horizon has been under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Ariel Zwang.Stephanie March has served as a member of Safe Horizon's Board.
Safe Horizon's stated mission is to provide support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities
Safe Horizon operates four hotlines: a 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline; a Crime Victims Hotline; a Rape, Sexual Assault, and Incest Hotline; and a Centralized Helpline. These hotlines are multilingual, with over 150 languages available.
Safe Horizon helps tens of thousands of domestic violence survivors every year, through hotlines, court programs, community offices, and shelters. Safe Horizon is the U.S.'s largest operator of domestic violence shelters, with nine shelters located throughout the five boroughs of New York City. A domestic violence shelter was named in honor of Safe Horizon Board Member Steven C. Parrish in 2008.
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