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 Serenity House Family Residence is the African American Planning Commission’s transitional (Tier II) housing program for homeless survivors of domestic violence. Serenity House officially opened its doors in 2004 as a place of refuge for survivors of domestic violence who have exceeded their maximum length of stay (90 days) in an emergency shelter. The mission of Serenity House Family Residence is to offer survivors and their minor children, a safe but temporary haven in which to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. The secondary goal of Serenity  House is to prepare families for independent living, assist them in locating permanent housing within or outside the State of New York, and to offer a host of on- and off-site supportive services that will help empower victims and minimize the root causes of domestic violence.
 Serenity House Family Residence is the largest transitional (Tier II) domestic violence shelter in Brooklyn. Serenity House offers survivors (regardless of gender, race, culture, religion, ethnic background, or sexual preference) the opportunity to reside in a secured environment for up to six months or more, as needed. The program is culturally sensitive to allow families to feel immediately at home and to foster ethnic pride in children and family members. Serenity House is able to accommodate families including those with adolescent males and male head-of-household.
 Serenity House is designed with a resident lounge, an infant care lounge (able to accommodate up to 11 infants, ages 0 to 3), childcare lounge (able to accommodate up to 22 children ages 3 to 6), a commercial kitchen for the preparation of infant and child care meals; an out-door children’s play yard, a children’s garden, an After-school lounge (able to accommodate children/adolescents ages 6 to 18), a computer and employment lounge, staff/resident conference lounge, and an on-site laundry facility.
Twenty-four hour on-site security is provided by trained security specialists. Additionally, the site's address, names and addresses of past or current residents are strictly forbidden to be disclosed, and are held in strict confidence. THIS POLICY ENSURES THE SAFETY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF ALL CURRENT AND FORMER RESIDENTS.
CAPITAL FINANCING & PRECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
In 1998, there were only three New York City-funded transitional Tier II domestic violence shelters serving the needs of all abused women and children in New York City. At the same time, we were being bombarded by a huge proliferation of domestic violence incidents brought to us by the media. These crimes, for the most part, were being committed by our sports heroes, our politicians, our law enforcement officers, our fathers, our sons, and our brothers. They were being perpetrated against our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, and our grandparents.
Determined to make a difference and in light of the shortage of domestic violence shelters in New York City, AAPCI sought funding to develop a transitional housing program for families fleeing domestic abuse.
AAPCI began with the identification of a suitable location and a feasibility study. We then accomplished the following:
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Applied for and received a $5,500,000 soft development and construction grant in 1999 under the NYS Governor’s Residences for Survivors of Violence Program (RSVP) initiative. The program was administered by the NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (OTDA).
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Purchased a series of contiguous vacant lots from a private owner and closed on the sale in 2000.
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Construction completion was accomplished in 2003. Serenity House becomes the largest transitional Tier II domestic violence shelter in Brooklyn.
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AAPCI negotiated and received a 5-year per diem Operating Agreement from the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) to operate and provide supportive services to resident families.
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Serenity House officially opens in 2004 and the residence begins to accept families.
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PROJECT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
The primary challenge in the project design was to bring value to the neighborhood while giving dignity to the lives of the residents that the building was developed to serve. While the project is located in a low-income community and is designed to serve formerly homeless survivors of domestic violence with dependent children, there was consensus among AAPCI’s Board of Directors that the project need not look like a low-income residence.
The secondary challenge was to design a six-story building that would offer 15 studio-apartments, 20 one-bedroom apartments, and 5 two-bedroom apartments. Each apartment is designed to have its own full bath, full kitchen with refrigerator and gas range stove (unless an efficiency/studio), and will include an open living/dinning room space. All apartments are outfitted with infant supplies and baby-cribs, as needed.
A General Contractor armed with a team of minority construction workers and women-owned subcontractors were selected under the sealed-bid process to undertake the development. This process fuels local economic growth and gives workers a sense of pride in their community’s revitalization.
The development of the residence accomplished the following:
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upgraded the landscape of the community,
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eliminated several contiguous blighted lots from the community which were previously used as a refuse and dumping ground,
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provides temporary housing with on-site support services for homeless families fleeing domestic abuse,
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created employment opportunities for community residents.
Operating and Social Service Subsidies:
NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA)
Individual & anonymous donations
Anonymous corporate donations
Foundation grants.
Number of Jobs Created: 36 full-time positions.
Hotline Phone Numbers
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
1-866-331-9474
1-866-331-8453 (TTY)
In New York City ONLY
Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-621-HOPE (4673)
Crime Victims Hotline: 1-866-689-HELP (4357)
Rape & Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-212-227-3000
TDD phone number for all hotlines: 1-866-604-5350
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