Last year, New York City documented over 56,000 domestic violence incidents in Brooklyn alone, and one center in Brooklyn is doing their part to help victims get the aid they need.  

The Healing Center in Bay Ridge is dedicated to preventing and reducing domestic violence incidents. They are a nonprofit organization that works with victims and survivors of domestic violence, and other forms of abuse.  

The nonprofit was founded over 20 years ago in response to the growing need to serve New Yorkers suffering from family and relationship violence, including sexual assault.  

City data shows that last year alone, police responded to over 231,000 domestic incident reports across the city, with 62 of those resulting in homicide.  

Executive director Antonia Clemente says that counseling and services are not only available to help adults and seniors, but even teenagers as well.  

“We started what is called the Daughters of the Lotus project for teen girls who witness or who are already in teen dating violent relationships,” said Clemente. “After doing that for about a year and a half, we realized that the issue of teen dating violence is really high.” 

Staff say they see about 7-15 new monthly clients, and they hope to continue making a difference in the lives of victims working to recover.