SI Live
By Joseph Ostapiuk
June 21, 2021
The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City announced a partnership with T-Mobile Monday to provide survivors of domestic and gender-based violence with free mobile devices.
The collaboration, which will provide 1,000 devices valued at around $600,000, will also offer survivors discounted mobile network plans and will be distributed through the city’s five Family Justice Centers.
The effort comes as some of the city’s FJCs are moving to a hybrid model after working remotely throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Survivors need us now more than ever in these extraordinary times,” said ENDGBC Commissioner Cecile Noel. “COVID-19 puts into sharp focus the vulnerabilities that many people in our city face every day, especially gender-based violence survivors; and it highlights the barriers and challenges that we know keep people from seeking help and finding safety.”
Virtual services were critical for domestic violence advocates to connect with survivors throughout the pandemic; however, experts said that a stark digital divide — the gap between those who have readily-available electronic devices and internet access and those who do not — introduced new challenges for service providers.
“The struggle to stay connected with one another during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a hardship felt around the world, especially for victims of domestic violence,” said Daniele Baierlein and Jorge Luis Paniagua Valle, co-executive directors of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “This new public-private partnership with T-Mobile will not only provide domestic violence victims a way to stay connected to friends, family, and 24/7 helplines, but will also offer peace of mind during stressful situations that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.”
The Advance/SILive.com previously reported that the NYPD responded to fewer domestic violence calls in 2020 compared to the previous year. Experts said the decrease was not representative of a decrease of incidents, but rather evidence of the struggles wrought by the pandemic.
Victims were often forced inside with abusers, advocates said, and calling the police was sometimes a non-option for fear of a worsening environment within the home.
The city’s FJCs and organizations like Safe Horizon — located within the centers — adapted and introduced services like a “safe chat” to connect with survivors through text. However, in light of concerns that abusers could target victims virtually, the city previously announced a collaboration with Norton LifeLock to provide survivors of domestic and gender-based violence with cybersecurity protection.
“Connectivity is essential, said New York City Chief Technology Officer John Paul Farmer. “All New Yorkers — particularly the most vulnerable among us — deserve the full combination of affordable internet, access to devices, and user-friendly digital services. As society continues to grapple with the broad effects of the pandemic, nowhere is this more true or more urgent than for survivors of gender-based violence.”
The donated devices will give survivors access to video to aid in connecting with remote services offered by the city’s FJCs, including counseling sessions and legal consultations.
“At T-Mobile, we want to be a force for good in the communities we serve, and that means stepping up to be a part of amazing initiatives like this with ENDGBV and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC that get critical connectivity to those who need it the most,” said Mike Katz, executive vice-president of T-Mobile Business Group. “The COVID-19 pandemic helped shine a light on many societal gaps and challenges, and we have been ready to step up where we’re needed. This important effort will make a big difference for so many and we’re glad we can play a role in it.”
Survivors are encouraged to call the Manhattan FJC at 212-602-2800 to be connected to services, including exploring this option.