Resources for the Victims in Buffalo, New York
Resources are available that may be able to help victims and their families in the aftermath of the shooting in Buffalo, New York on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
Victim Helplines
NY Project Hope Line
The NY Project Hope Line is a free, confidential crisis hotline for mental health support that connects New Yorkers with the resources they need. Call the NY Project Hope Line at 844–863–9314 to speak to a crisis counselor, 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. eastern time.
VictimConnect
VictimConnect is an OVC-funded service that offers confidential assistance to victims of crime. Trained specialists are available to help you locate services in your area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more. Contact VictimConnect from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time at:
Phone: 855–4–VICTIM (855–484–2846)
Chat: https://chat.victimsofcrime.org/victim-connect
Dial 711 and VictimConnect staff can provide services through an interpreter in more than 200 languages, and to hearing- and speech-impaired individuals.
Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is a national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling.
This 24/7 toll free, multilingual, crisis support service is available to residents in the United States and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including incidents of mass violence. Call or text the hotline at 800–985–5990.
Victim Compensation
New York’s Crime Victims' Compensation Program, funded in part through the OVC-administered Crime Victims Fund, may help offset a victim’s financial burden related to funeral, mental health, medical, and other expenses. Contact this program at:
New York State Office of Victim Services
Phone: 800–247–8035
Email: https://ovs.ny.gov/contact
National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center
The mission of the OVC-funded National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center is to improve community preparedness and the nation’s capacity to serve victims recovering from mass violence through research, planning, training, technology, and collaboration. In response to the shooting, the NMVVRC compiled a list of resources that may be helpful to everyone in Buffalo. Additional NMVVRC materials are highlighted in sections below.
Tops Friendly Market (Buffalo, NY) Shooting resources document