Safety and Your Environment

Make your living space safer

Consult the CDC’s guide for disinfecting and cleaning living spaces, and living with people who are suspected to or have contracted COVID-19.
For more information on how to keep yourself safe while living in an environment with multiple families or apartments, please consult the city’s COVID-19 Residential Building Guide.

Beware of scams!

Unfortunately, in cities and suburban areas alike, populations vulnerable to scams and crimes of opportunity become even more so in a state of emergency. Now more than ever before, beware of suspicious calls or communications from unverified sources and do not share personal information with them in person, on the internet, or over the phone.
There is nothing wrong with asking someone to wait outside your living space while you verify their identity and refuse to allow them entry until their identity is confirmed.
If someone comes to your door claiming to be conducting COVID-19 testing, do not open your door and call 911.
The Social Security Administration will never call you and ask for your social security number or personal information. Report potential social security scams here.
If someone calls you asking for your personal information in order to “send you the stimulus check,” or the emergency relief check from the government, it is a scam. The government is asking people to report these incidents by calling the hotline for the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721 or email the NCDF at disaster@leo.gov. Find more information on the stimulus check in the segment here.
Legitimate census workers may come to your door in order to collect information for the national government. To verify their identity or to report census fraud, follow the steps outlined here.
To protect yourself from scams and fraud, read more about it on the city's website, available in more than 100 languages.
If you are in immediate danger for any reason, call 911.

New York City Domestic Violence Hotline

Domestic violence and child abuse complaints increase during states of emergency. Abuse can take many forms. Visit New York City’s domestic violence supportive resources page for more information. New York City residents who need assistance can call the hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-621-4673 or contact 311 to be connected.

Sanctuary for Families Helpline

Sanctuary for Families is a multi-service organization in New York City providing care to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. They operate a helpline to connect individuals with services including shelter, counseling, legal representation, and economic empowerment. Call 212-349-6009 Monday-Friday between 9am to 5pm, and leave a message with your information if no one is available to take your call.

Safe Horizon

Safe Horizon offers one-on-one support over the phone to survivors of crime and abuse. They can help in any language. Call them at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or SafeChat online Monday through Friday 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

If you are in a violent or abusive relationship and need someone to talk to, safety information, help making an escape plan, and more, you can call the National hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224) or visit their website any time.