Urban Resource Institute (URI)

As we observe Homelessness Awareness Month and enter a season centered on family and reflection, it is important to remember the complexities so many people carry. For URI’s Tara Lockhart, this includes the memory of her father, Brian “Lucky” Lockhart, a gifted poet from Greenwich Village who died homeless at 42. His story drives her work to help families secure the safety and stability he never had. Homelessness is never one moment. It is a tangle of trauma, loss, and resilience. Every night, thousands turn to URI seeking shelter, counseling, and a chance to rebuild. This is the heart of our Keys to Hope. Keys to Home. campaign, because every family deserves the key to a safe future. We invite you to read Tara’s powerful story, share it with your community, and support URI’s work as we help families move from trauma to triumph during the holidays and beyond.   👉 Read the story and support survivors: https://lnkd.in/ePMAamaA

PEOPLE Magazine | PEOPLE.com shines a spotlight on URI’s groundbreaking People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) program, which allows survivors of domestic violence to heal alongside their pets.   In this exclusive feature, survivor Hope Dawson Sessoms shares her courageous story of escaping abuse and rebuilding her life with her beloved dog by her side. Her journey reminds us that healing happens best when every member of the family—human and animal—can stay together.   Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e7uJczGt

We are proud to celebrate Nathaniel Fields, CEO of Urban Resource Institute (URI), who was honored with the Social Impact Award at this year’s BlackStars Experience, a powerful gathering created by founders Sandra Babu-Boateng and Isaac Babu-Boateng. Nathaniel also participated in an inspiring leadership panel alongside Abigail Epane-Osuala, MBA, (Chief Culture & Belonging Officer, HR Strategy; President, GE HealthCare Foundation, GE HealthCare) and Frank Sanders (Vice President, Global Chain, Intel Corporation), moderated by LaShonda Anderson-Williams (Chief Customer & Commercial Officer, Industries, Salesforce). Join us in congratulating Nathaniel, all honorees, and the BlackStars community. His leadership continues to advance URI’s mission to break cycles of violence, expand pathways to healing, and build futures where survivors and families can thrive. #BlackStarsExperience #SocialImpactAward #LeadershipInAction #NathanielMFields #URINYC

CEO Nathaniel Fields, Vice President of Government Affairs Lauren Schuster, and Senior Director of Government Affairs Samantha Cardenas were proud to represent Urban Resource Institute (URI) at #SOMOS2025 in Puerto Rico. They stood alongside Assembly Members, public officials, legal partners, and grassroots organizations to champion safety, housing access, and equity for all families. We show up because collaboration is the only way to break cycles of violence and homelessness. Together with partners like Make the Road New York The Legal Aid Society New Destiny Housing Corporation and NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development, we are building solutions that last. #URINYC #SOMOS2025 #HousingJustice #CommunityPower

Proud to see Urban Resource Institute (URI) and our CEO Nathaniel Fields featured in Black Enterprise Magazine for leading innovative, trauma-informed solutions to end domestic violence. From pet-inclusive shelters to youth prevention and accountability programs, URI is reshaping what safety and healing look like for survivors and families. This work matters. This work saves lives. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ejff8iTv #Leadership #DVPrevention #TraumaToTriumph #URINYC

Healing Begins with Safety. Hope Begins with Home. Healing starts when you are safe. Hope grows when you have a place to call home. URI’s comprehensive programs bring both within reach. #KeysToHopeKeysToHome #HealingBeginsWithSafety #HopeBeginsWithHome

Keys to Hope. Keys to Home. 🔑 When violence forces you out, hope can feel lost — and home can feel unreachable. At URI, we hand you the keys: safety, shelter, stability, and a path from trauma to triumph. This #HomelessnessAwarenessMonth, your support ensures URI can keep doors open and continue giving families the safety, stability, and hope they need. Donate: urinyc.org. #EndHomelessness #KeysToHope #KeysToHome

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close, URI continues to shed light on the ongoing crisis of domestic violence. In Ms. Magazine’s podcast 'On the Issues with Michele Goodwin', URI’s Lauren Schuster, Vice President of Government Affairs, discusses how domestic violence remains stubbornly high, reflecting both a lack of awareness and underinvestment in programs designed to disrupt the cycles—often intergenerational—that fuel abuse. Lauren also highlights how federal policy changes, budget shifts, and ongoing systemic challenges create a chaotic landscape that can make it difficult for advocates to operate effectively. She shares how URI is addressing these challenges through comprehensive, survivor-centered programs. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/euSVsHAj #DVAM2025 #Trauma2Triumph #EndDV

Almost ten years ago, Hope Dawson Sessoms was trying to leave an abusive relationship and find a safe place for her two children and their dog, Coco. She found safety through Urban Resource Institute (URI)’s People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) program, which provides co-living spaces and support for people and their pets. “The thing that keeps us from leaving is the fear. If you are aware that URI and the PALS program exists now, the lie that we don't have any place safe to go is dispelled,” she says. Read more in People Inc. https://lnkd.in/e7uJczGt #DVAM2025 #Trauma2Triumph #StayTogetherHealTogether

Six-year-old Maya arrived at Urban Resource Institute (URI) with her mom and little brother with nothing but the clothes on their backs—and the courage to start over. That first night, warm meals and groceries turned fear into comfort. With SNAP at risk from the federal shutdown, families need your help. Every donation feeds, shelters, and supports survivors. Give hope today: urinyc.org