Your Rights

Whether you’re seeking shelter, meeting with an advocate, or receiving counseling, as someone in our care at Vera House, you have the following rights:

The right to receive services regardless of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, marital status or ability.
The right to be safe.
The right to live free from all forms of abuse.
The right to not be bullied and harassed.
The right to confidentiality.
The right to be treated fairly and respectfully.

Complaint Procedure

If you are a Vera House client and would like to file a complaint, we have procedures in place to ensure your concerns are addressed promptly and fairly. This process supports anyone staying in our shelter or using other Vera House services, and you can use it without fear of losing access to the support you’re receiving. To share your concerns, we ask that you follow the below procedure:

Talk with a staff member. We encourage you to discuss the situation informally with a staff person as soon as possible.
Reach out to the program supervisor. If the issue isn’t resolved, please bring your concerns to the program supervisor for further assistance.
Contact the Deputy Director. Should you still feel unsatisfied after speaking with the program supervisor, please contact our Deputy Director.
You also have the right to contact any of our funders to file a complaint:

- New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) | Phone: 1-800-247-8035
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division | Phone: 1-888-736-5551 or 202-307-6026
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) | Phone: 202-307-6026
- Onondaga County/Syracuse Human Rights Commission | Phone: 315-435-3565
- New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) | Email: civilrights@dcjs.ny.gov
- New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) | Phone: 315-423-1202
- New York State Department of Health – Sexual Violence Prevention Program | Phone: 518-474-0535
- Health Research, Inc. (HRI) | Phone: 518-431-1200
- New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) | Phone: 518-473-8555

Vera House is committed to ensuring our programs and services are welcoming to everyone. If you need assistance to ensure our services meet your needs, please call us at 315-425-0818 or click HERE to send an e-mail.