Governor Hochul Announces $2.5 Million in New Funding for Additional Services to Individuals Impacted by the May 14 White Supremacist Attack at The Tops Market in Buffalo

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $2.5 million in new State funding for services to individuals impacted by the May 14, 2022 white supremacist attack at the Tops market on Buffalo's East Side. The Buffalo Urban League will lead a new partnership with Community Health Centers of Buffalo to operate the Buffalo United Resiliency Center with new state funding provided by the New York State Office of Victim Services through June 2025. This infusion of State funding allows the Buffalo United Resiliency Center to immediately increase staffing and ensures that it has the necessary operational and administrative support needed to serve victims and survivors, Tops employees, and the community surrounding the market. The two organizations will partner with the Resiliency Center's existing Steering Committee to develop and implement programs and services that align with the Committee's recently completed needs assessment.

"The May 14 attack brought further harm to a community that has long struggled with economic disparities, inequitable access to basic services and entrenched racism," Governor Hochul said. "New York State will not waiver in its support for the Jefferson Avenue neighborhood and its residents as it continues to heal from this tragedy. This additional funding allows us to expand services and programs to fellow New Yorkers who deserve to see our love and support turned into action."

Chardanay (Char) Young-Ford will serve as the Interim Director of the Buffalo United Resiliency Center (BURC), which will be immediately staffed by four case managers and two outreach specialists. Ms. Ford will work with The Buffalo Urban League (BUL), Community Health Centers of Buffalo (CHCB), and the Steering Committee to design and implement service delivery and programming in ways that align with the "Needs Assessment" recently completed by the Steering Committee. These needs include, but are not limited to, access to housing, access to transportation, emergency and long-term food access, as well as assistance with rental, utility, and other arrears.

Starting Wednesday, April 5, the BURC will be operational from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, at 1140 Jefferson Avenue, Suite A.

In addition to enabling the BURC to immediately expand its capacity, the new funding will also continue to support the work of the Steering Committee, which is led by Dina Thompson, Executive Director of the Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, through the duration of state funding.

New York State Office of Victim Services Director Elizabeth Cronin said, "Immediately after the hate-fueled attack in Buffalo, we sent staff to the city to assist those directly affected and members of the community. Governor Hochul has led the way to ensure that funding and resources are available to continue providing aid and support to victims, families, workers and residents whose lives were disrupted by the attack. We will continue working with our partners in Buffalo to support healing, reduce gun violence and provide support and opportunities to those affected by this devastating act of violence."

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, "I'm grateful that Governor Kathy Hochul continues to deliver needed resources as we partner to serve the needs of East Buffalo and Buffalo's Black community. The Buffalo United Resiliency Center, is a great asset for East Buffalo providing critical services to our healing community. Their expansion will go a long way in supporting everyone affected by the horrific tragedy that occurred on 5/14/2022."

Buffalo Urban League President & CEO Thomas Beauford, Jr. said, "The Buffalo Urban League, in strategic alliance with the Community Health Center of Buffalo, will leverage our existing complement of programs, direct services, and trusted voices to help meet some very essential challenges as informed by our community. Through this collective, and this enhanced New York State funding, the community will have a Resiliency Center that is highly responsive and resourceful in addressing a wide spectrum of social determinants of health and wealth."

Community Health Center of Buffalo Executive Director and CEO Dr. LaVonne Ansari said, "This is important work that we are part of. We ensure that we will do our best to meet the needs of our community."

Interim Director of the Buffalo United Resiliency Center Chardanay Young-Ford said, "As the Interim Director of the Buffalo united Resiliency center, it is important that I amplify the voices of the individuals apart of the directly impacted community. As It is imperative that we keep the needs of the directly impacted community at the forefront. This new partnership will allow for the Buffalo United Resiliency Center, to have a broader reach in providing services to the impacted community, placing an emphasis on creating safe spaces that foster healing, while addressing the varying social determinants of health concerns. Since May 14, 2022 the needs of the impacted community have only increased, and this partnership is an important next step in providing adequate services and resources that address those needs. I am grateful to be able to continue to serve this community, and support their journey of healing with the funding provided by Governor Hochul. Please connect with the Buffalo United Resiliency Center Facebook page, for important updates that will speak to services offered, as well as upcoming programming.

President and CEO of the Resource Council of Western New York Catherine Roberts said, "On behalf of the East Buffalo community, we are grateful for the additional State of NY resources to serve those affected by the horrific tragedy of May 14, 2022. The Resource Council of WNY continues to serve those directly and indirectly impacted by the mass shooting and look forward to partnering with the Buffalo Urban League and Community Health Centers of Buffalo as we continue to address and provide much needed ongoing support to our neighbors and communities we serve.

Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition Executive Director and Buffalo United Steering Committee Chair Dina Thompson said, "Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your continued support for those directly and indirectly impacted by the May 14th attack on the African American community residing on the East Side of Buffalo. The additional resource will help community members have access to the resources they need to heal and strengthen community-based assets. The people on the Eastside of Buffalo have demonstrated to the world their capacity to come together and restore what another has tried to tear down. Hate has no place in our community, and love will always win. Together we will build a community where we all can live, play, learn, work, and thrive."

This state funding will complement federal funding available through the federal Office for Victims of Crime Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program. That funding must be used to serve federally defined, legally identified victims: families of the men and women killed and individuals who were injured; Tops employees who were in the store at the time of the shooting; anyone in the market or parking lot at the time of the shooting; those within a one-block radius of the crime scene; and first responders.

State Senator Tim Kennedy said, "Grief has no end date; it's imperative that we ensure those impacted by the mass shooting on May 14th have access to continued assistance and supportive resources throughout their entire healing process. This new state funding underscores New York's commitment to Buffalo's East Side and the individuals who are still grappling with tremendous loss one year later."

Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "I applaud the Buffalo Urban League and the Community Health Center of Buffalo, among many other organizations, for stepping up when our community needed them the most after 5/14. The victims' families, friends, Tops employees, bystanders and area residents are still reeling from this. We are a strong and resilient people, we will get through this together. I thank Governor Hochul for providing even more resources to allow for the continuation of these necessary supportive services."

Erie County Legislature Chair April Baskin said, "The mass shooter perpetrated injuries on the bodies and minds of East Buffalo residents who were already living with the scars of systemic traumas," said Erie County Legislature Chair April N. M. Baskin. "These funds will enable the Resiliency Center to increase the care they provide. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to deliver resources to this long-neglected part of our community."

Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson said, "Thank you to the Governor for allocating this much needed funding to those in the community who continue to feel the impact of the terrorist attack on May 14th. We are coming up on the year anniversary of this unimaginable event that happened in our community and the pain is still very real to all of us. With this funding the Buffalo United Resiliency Center will be able to carry on with their work in helping those who are still feeling the impact of May 14th, and this will be helping the community as we work to move forward and heal from this horrible attack on our livelihood."

Buffalo Common Councilmember Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr. said, "Thank you, Governor Hochul, for ensuring that the psycho and socio-emotional needs of The City of Buffalo are priority considering all the trauma the 5/14/22 attack on our great city has caused African-Americans. The additional services needed are paramount to make sure that African-American Buffalonians feel valued by NYS leadership and receive the much needed services to help heal from the trauma caused by a hate-fueled racist shooting in East Buffalo."

OVS provides a critical safety net for individuals who have expenses or losses resulting from a crime but have no resources to pay or offset them. This financial assistance covers medical and counseling expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost wages and support, in addition to other assistance. While state law limits the amount of certain compensation and reimbursement, New York is the only state in the country that has no cap on medical and counseling expenses, which means individuals can receive assistance over the course of their lifetime.

The agency also funds a network of more than 200 victim assistance programs - including a dozen in Buffalo - that provide direct services to victims and survivors of crime, including therapy, support groups, case management, emergency shelter, civil legal assistance, accompaniment to court, and transportation, among others. The agency also provides financial assistance and reimbursement to eligible crime victims for medical and counseling expenses, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages and support, in addition to other assistance. Follow OVS on Twitter and Facebook.