HOPE Rides breaks transportation barriers for domestic violence survivors
The program is helping survivors across the country and here in New York.
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A new program is helping survivors of domestic violence across the country and here in New York.
HOPE Rides is a partnership between Alliance for Hope International and Uber, helping domestic violence survivors break transportation barriers.
“The fighting party was fighting with her for the phone, and she was able to call the Family Justice Center. And with HOPE Rides, we were able to provide transportation to the Family Justice Center and to shelter," said Anamaria Rodriguez, director of Programs and Community Partnerships at Brooklyn Family Justice Center.
News 12 spoke exclusively with Imani, a domestic violence survivor who utilizes HOPE Rides to get services at the Brooklyn Family Justice Center.
"You are able to get to a disclosed area and stuff where you don't feel that that person could be able to find you and you are safe," said Imani.
Imani is also a mother. She says the rides to the Brooklyn Justice Center are pivotal and that HOPE Rides gives her hope of her own.
"I don't feel that I am in lack. I have the necessities that are needed for us," said Imani.
Rodriguez says HOPE Rides can be used in emergency situations, but are usually used by people who utilize the services at the Family Justice Centers.
The rides can be used to give food to people in need, get them to doctor's appointments or to shelters.
Program officials tell News 12 their budget is expanding after distributing $50,000 in vouchers to provide more than 1,100 vouchers for food and transportation across the city's Family Justice Centers.
While the rides get survivors from point A to point B, they're also giving them a way forward when the road can seem uncertain.
"What is it that I hope for [my daughter] to have and all these other things like that? So it gives me some hope that things will get better," said Imani.
For more information on HOPE services, click here.
