VOA-GNY’s Annual Domestic Violence Conference Explored Survivor-Centered Approaches to Healing
On October 16, 2026, Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) hosted Trauma, Healing, & Home, its annual domestic violence conference. The event focused on exploring holistic, survivor-centered approaches to healing.
More than 250 guests from across the human services, business, government, and education sectors joined VOA-GNY at the NYU Kimmel Center in Manhattan for a day of learning, advocacy, and networking. The conference consisted of panel discussions focused on two critical issues: traumatic brain injury among survivors of domestic violence, and the future of survivor-centered shelter and housing. The theme of the conference explored how current systems could become more responsive to a survivor’s needs.
“Our goal is not simply to help someone leave violence,” said Noelle Withers, VOA-GNY’s Chief Program Officer, at the event. “It is to ensure they have the support and opportunity to build a life beyond it: a life with a safe and stable home, meaningful opportunities, financial independence, and the freedom to make decisions about their own future.”
The Traumatic Brain Injury Connection
VOA-GNY was among the earliest organizations in New York to raise awareness of the long-hidden connection between domestic violence and traumatic brain injury, drawing on data from our programs.
The first panel of speakers discussed the expanding body of knowledge on treating and supporting survivors experiencing traumatic brain injury. Moderated by Denise Pruden, Program Director at VOA-GNY, speakers included:
- Dr. Obianuju Berry, Medical Director of Maternal, Infant, and Domestic Violence Mental Health Services at NYC Health + Hospital
- Christelle Padmore, Program Director at VOA-GNY
- Dr. Brian Im, Director of Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Medical Director of Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Medical Center
- Ermira Uldedaj, Deputy Director of Training Programs and Initiatives, Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV)
The Gender-Based Violence Housing Continuum
Secure and trauma-informed housing is a critical element of safety planning for survivors. Moderated by Catherine Trapani, Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs at VOA-GNY, panelists spoke about the housing continuum within the gender-based violence space, how it enables survivors to make choices that work for them, and how the continuum can continue to expand. Speakers included:
- Kelly Coyne, Chief Program Officer at Safe Horizon
- Emily Knickerbocker, Director of People and Animals Living Safely at Urban Resource Institute
- Veronica Ortega, Property and Asset Management Associate at VOA-GNY
- Anddy Perdomo, VP of Programs at VOA-GNY
During the panel, VOA-GNY and our partners collected signed postcards to deliver to Governor Hochul’s desk, urging her to sign the SAFE Shelter Act into law.
Each year, an estimated 10 million adults in the United States experience violence in the home or at the hands of an intimate partner. Survivors face a challenging road to recovery—38% of domestic violence survivors experience homelessness during their lifetime and only about 1 in 5 survivors with injuries seek medical treatment.
About Volunteers of America-Greater New York
Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY) is an anti-poverty organization with a rich 130-year history of serving its neighbors in need. The organization’s vision is fueled by its experience as a leading provider of services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness in the Greater New York area. Through 70+ programs located in New York City, Northern New Jersey, and Westchester County—including emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing—VOA-GNY delivers services to more than 35,000 adults and children annually. It is also the largest provider of residential services for veterans within a coalition that has virtually ended chronic homelessness for veterans in New York City. For more information, visit www.voa-gny.org.