Governor Hochul Announces Completion of $6 Million New Emergency Shelter in Chautauqua County During Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that construction has been completed on Anew Center, a 7-unit, 19-bed emergency shelter that will serve survivors of domestic violence and their families in Chautauqua County. When opened, the shelter will assist survivors, including those who are experiencing homelessness, with services and support. The $6 million project received $4.4 million from OTDA's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program for the relocation of the Salvation Army of Jamestown's former domestic violence shelter. The Governor also issued a formal proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in New York State and directed state landmarks to be illuminated in purple tonight to honor those impacted by abuse.

"Domestic violence impacts families in every corner of our state, crossing all boundaries of background and income," Governor Hochul said. "Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their own homes and the critical work of this new center will help domestic violence survivors and their loved ones heal and rebuild. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, New York is committed to advancing awareness around abuse and supporting those in need."

This designation celebrates the resilience of survivors and highlights New York's comprehensive efforts to protect victims from emerging threats, expand access to essential services and promote healthy relationship education. As the only state in the nation with a cabinet-level agency dedicated solely to addressing and preventing domestic and gender-based violence, New York continues to lead through the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) to enhance safety in all intimate and family relationships.

Anew Center replaces the Salvation Army's previous 13-bed shelter, which occupied a historic building dating to the 1860s that was not ADA-compliant and required ongoing costly repairs. The new facility is a purpose-built, seven unit/19-bed emergency shelter designed specifically for survivors of domestic violence and related crises, such as sexual assault and human trafficking. Anew Center will operate continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to serve the community.

Key improvements include full ADA accessibility, private bathrooms and showers in each unit, enhanced security features, and on-site space for case managers, family resource specialists, and prevention/education staff, plus dedicated conference and training rooms.

Additional capital funding for Anew Center includes $250,000 from Carnahan Jackson, $187,000 from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, $250,000 from the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, $250,000 from the Lenna Foundation, $22,500 from the Cummins Foundation, in addition to a contribution from the Salvation Army. The project also received licensing support from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).

Additional funding for services, outreach, and prevention is provided by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, New York State Office of Victim Services, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Chautauqua County, The United Way of Chautauqua County, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and FeedMore WNY.

Over the past five years, Governor Hochul has secured historic, nation-leading investments to support survivors and their families. These initiatives include the Address Confidentiality Program to protect survivors' physical locations, the Survivor Access to Financial Empowerment (SAFE) funds to provide direct financial assistance and the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative to improve law enforcement training. Additionally, the state has enacted discovery law reforms to improve justice outcomes and implemented multiple policies to combat technology-facilitated abuse and keep children safe online.

In this year's FY27 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured historic investments and bold policy initiatives that help remove barriers that often stand in the way of healing and independence, including:

• Universal Pre-K expansion, expanded child care assistance statewide, and new child care pilot programs. Access to child care is often the deciding factor in whether a survivor can safely leave an abusive situation.
• Restricting immigration enforcement at sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals and places of worship helps survivors seek support without fear. Every survivor deserves safety, regardless of their immigration status.
• $250 million to accelerate affordable housing construction. Safe and affordable housing remains of the greatest need for survivors.
• Additionally, Governor Hochul released the final compliance rules for the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, furthering New York State's nation-leading work to restrict addictive feeds, create safeguards against harmful AI companions, ban smartphones in schools, enact social media warning labels and protect kids from predatory behavior online.

Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York State is also focused on addressing emerging trends and new forms of domestic violence, including risks New Yorkers increasingly face online with the development of new technology. For example, the expansion of and broadening access to AI allows anyone to create realistic-looking fake content, known as deepfakes, which is an increasingly common tactic of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Governor Hochul's fight to protect New York families is demonstrated through enactment of the 2026 Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, the 2025 Safeguard Teens from Online Sexual Exploitation Initiative, and OPDV's "Power Down, Speak Up" campaign, all of which help youth recognize, speak out against, and address online sexual exploitation, including grooming, sextortion and the non-consensual sharing of images. OPDV also hosted a statewide summit "Digital Threats, Real Harms: Empowering and Protecting Youth in the Digital Age" bringing together parents, caregivers, educators, law enforcement agencies, and youth-based community groups to discuss technology-facilitated gender-based violence, emergent trends and threats, and the latest scholarship on how to address; and released online tools, including two quizzes, with the most recent quiz "Spot the Deepfake 2: AI Video Edition" designed to educate New Yorkers on how to spot AI-generated images.

To mark the month, OPDV is hosting several public awareness events, beginning tonight with the 2nd Annual Purple on the Plaza ceremony and vigil from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza North Reflecting Pool in Albany.

The landmarks to be lit in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

• 1WTC
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• State Education Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Empire State Plaza
• State Fairgrounds - Main Gate & Expo Center
• The "Franklin D. Roosevelt" Mid-Hudson Bridge
• Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal

Additionally, OPDV and the Office of General Services will host the New York State Clothesline Project from October 20 through October 22 in the Empire State Plaza Concourse. This annual exhibit features shirts designed by survivors and their families to share their stories and show solidarity.

Coinciding with the Clothesline Project,New York State's Purple Thursday will be held on October 22.New Yorkers are encouraged to wear purple in honor of those impacted by domestic violence.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, "The completion of the Salvation Army's Anew Center marks the successful redevelopment of a longstanding and vital domestic violence shelter in Chautauqua County. Anew Center will provide critically-needed safe, emergency shelter to survivors of domestic violence and their families, along with direct access to onsite essential support services that will help them heal and rebuild their lives. We are grateful to the Salvation Army and all our partners on this important project and to Governor Hochul for her steadfast support and compassion for New Yorkers impacted by domestic violence."

New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Kelli Owens said, "As the only state agency in the nation completely dedicated to domestic violence prevention, our mission is to ensure every survivor knows they are not alone. Preventing domestic violence requires us to look beyond intervention and focus on building a culture of consent, respect and accountability. OPDV is committed to working every day to address the causes of abuse. Through education, coordinated community response, strong support networks, and increased resources, we can prevent violence before it starts and build a safer New York for future generations."

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, "Every survivor deserves a safe place to go and the support to begin again. Governor Hochul's investment in the Anew Center will help survivors and their families find safety, stability and hope when they need it most."

New York State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, "Having a safe, welcoming place to stay can be life-changing for survivors and their children. This new center will provide privacy, dignity and direct access to trauma-informed services that can help survivors heal and begin rebuilding their lives."

New York State Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said, "While a roof provides shelter, a home provides a sense of security and belonging, which is why Governor Hochul's continuous investments and expansion of housing opportunities are applauded. OCFS appreciates New York State's recognition of housing gaps for the most vulnerable and is proud to partner with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Salvation Army to support the opening of this newly constructed emergency shelter for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and homelessness."

Major John Merchant, Salvation Army County Coordinator for Chautauqua County said, "We are excited to announce the completion of The Salvation Army Anew Center Domestic Violence Shelter and grateful to all the state and community partners for their support and to the many people whose hard work helped bring this critical project to fruition. This new shelter enables us to continue and expand on our long mission of providing support to individuals and families in our community who are facing very tough times. Anew Center will be a beacon of hope where we can provide our neighbors, in a modern, accessible facility, the safe and stable foundation and caring and compassionate staff they need to build strong futures."

No matter what a survivor is experiencing physical, emotional, or digital harm, they do not have to face it alone. New York State's Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 and is available in most languages: 800-942-6906 (call), 844-997-2121 (text), oropdv.ny.gov (chat).