By: Paul Goldberg – Senior Correspondent | LGBTQ News

NEW YORK, NY — (August 20, 2026) — The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (THE CENTER) in Manhattan is expanding access to critical survivor services through a dedicated assistance hotline connecting people experiencing domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) with free, confidential and LGBTQ+-affirming support.




Introduced in April as an expansion of The CENTER’ existing Survivor Assistance Program, the hotline creates a direct entry point into a broader network of services for survivors who may be facing violence, stalking, coercive control or other forms of abuse.

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The initiative is especially significant for LGBTQ+ survivors who may hesitate to seek assistance through traditional institutions because of concerns surrounding discrimination, gender identity, sexual orientation or whether providers understand abuse within LGBTQ+ relationships.

However, assistance is not restricted by gender identity or sexual orientation.

The CENTER welcomes people across identities and backgrounds who need survivor support, while providing services specifically designed to eliminate barriers LGBTQ+ people can encounter when seeking help.

Hotline Becomes Gateway to Broader Survivor Assistance

The hotline is designed to do considerably more than answer an initial call.

For survivors, domestic or intimate partner violence can create multiple challenges simultaneously — including concerns about personal safety, housing, finances, mental health, legal issues and access to public benefits.

The CENTER’ Survivor Assistance Program can help connect individuals with crime-victim support, case management and service coordination, housing and basic-needs assistance, legal and advocacy referrals, benefits navigation, mental health referrals and LGBTQ+-affirming community resources.

That integrated approach allows a survivor to enter through one point of contact and begin identifying the combination of resources that best fits their individual circumstances.

As Director of Adult Services Johan Lopez explained, the hotline itself represents an entry point rather than the final destination.

“The goal is not just to answer the call, but to create a pathway into support.”

That pathway can become particularly important when someone initially seeking help for violence discovers that housing instability, financial assistance, counseling or another need must also be addressed.




NYC Partnership Strengthens The Center’s Survivor Network

The expansion follows The CENTER’ move earlier this year to formalize a partnership with New York City’s Human Resources Administration.

The organization also established a specialized domestic violence and intimate partner violence survivor assistance team trained to provide trauma-informed support.

The Survivor Assistance Hotline currently operates live Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

During those hours, callers can speak with a trained intake coordinator who can assess immediate concerns, discuss available assistance and help determine appropriate next steps.

During weekday evenings from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., as well as on weekends, THE CENTER can provide contact information for survivor-support organizations and crisis services operating during those hours. After 10 p.m., its phone system provides emergency and crisis-resource information, while non-emergency messages are returned the next business day.

THE CENTER also works within a larger network of organizations providing survivor services throughout New York City.

“The beauty of this is that we … are part of a larger network of services across New York City and THE CENTER is adding to those services,” Vice President of Programs Natasha Jones said. “And so we partner with other orgs that do have 24-hour crisis hotlines.”




Recognizing That Abuse Can Take Many Forms

Another important component of The Center’s program is recognizing that domestic and intimate partner violence does not always present itself as physical violence.

Survivors seeking assistance may be experiencing emotional manipulation, financial control, stalking, isolation, coercive behavior, technology-facilitated abuse or threats involving sexual orientation, gender identity or immigration status.

THE CENTER emphasizes that individuals do not need to determine whether their experience meets a particular definition of abuse before seeking assistance.

Survivors also do not have to leave a relationship as a condition of receiving services. The program is designed to help individuals understand their options and make decisions about their circumstances at their own pace.




Reducing Barriers for LGBTQ+ Survivors

For LGBTQ+ people, seeking assistance can sometimes bring another layer of uncertainty.

A survivor may worry about being misgendered, involuntarily outed, discriminated against or simply misunderstood while already confronting an extremely vulnerable situation.

THE CENTER believes an established LGBTQ+-affirming community organization can help eliminate some of those barriers.

“It’s just one less barrier, right, for our community to be able to access services in a safe and affirming environment,” Jones said.

“Community-based organizations like THE CENTER provide that first step to navigating something extremely vulnerable and frightening for our members.”

The organization also makes clear that its Survivor Assistance Program is confidential and that it is not a law-enforcement agency. Referrals and potential next steps are discussed with survivors, allowing them to participate in determining what assistance is appropriate for them.

More Than 40 Years Serving LGBTQ+ New Yorkers

Located at 208 W. 13th St. in Manhattan, The Center has served as one of New York City’s most recognizable LGBTQ+ institutions for more than four decades.

Established in 1983 during the AIDS crisis, the organization has evolved into a major community resource providing recovery and wellness programs, economic advancement initiatives, youth and family support, advocacy, cultural programming and community services.

In 2025 alone, The Center reported providing direct services to nearly 2,300 clients, while another 7,300 people participated in community events.

Its Survivor Assistance Program represents another expansion of that mission — combining the familiarity of an LGBTQ+ community institution with a coordinated network of services designed to help people move from an initial request for assistance toward longer-term safety and stability.

For someone experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence, making that first call can be difficult.

THE CENTER wants survivors to know they don’t have to figure out what comes next alone.

Survivor Assistance Information

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (THE CENTER)
208 W. 13th St.
New York, NY 10011

Survivor Assistance Hotline: (212) 620-7310
Live Hotline Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Official Website: gaycenter.org

Stay connected with JRL CHARTS LGBTQ News for continuing coverage of LGBTQ+ organizations, community services, advocacy and public policy impacting communities across New York City and nationwide.




Paul Goldberg
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