Hope Rides
Uber and Alliance for HOPE International Partner to Provide Free Rides to Survivors of Interpersonal Violence
The new "Hope Rides" program will expand access to support services through Family Justice Centers across the U.S.
San Francisco, CA
Today, Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) and Alliance for HOPE International announced the launch of Hope Rides, a new national partnership aimed at removing transportation barriers for survivors of interpersonal violence. Through this initiative, Uber will provide free rides to 15 Family Justice Centers (FJCs) across nine states for survivors to access critical services.
Family Justice Centers are a recognized best-practice model for supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other forms of abuse. By co-locating social services, legal aid, law enforcement, and additional support under one roof, these centers offer comprehensive, trauma-informed care that can be life-saving.
“Hope Rides is more than transportation—it’s a lifeline. By meeting survivors exactly where they are, it offers a compassionate bridge to safety, shelter, counseling, and legal support. It’s about empowering each person to take that first courageous step toward healing and hope.” - Tony West, Chief Legal Officer at Uber.
“Transportation for domestic violence survivors saves lives,” said Casey Gwinn, the President of Alliance for HOPE International, and the visionary behind the Family Justice Center movement in America. “Survivors often don’t seek help because they cannot access the lifesaving services of Family Justice Centers. Uber’s support for no-cost rides for survivors will be the difference between life and death for survivors and their children in 15 Family Justice Center communities in this country.”
Strengthening Communities Through Partnership
In New York City we have partnered with the Mayor’s Fund and the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) to distribute these free rides at their five borough-based Family Justice Centers, which provide free, trauma-informed and confidential assistance to more than 2,300 clients per month.
"New York City is proud to be the launching pad for 'Hope Rides' to ensure that every survivor of domestic and gender-based violence can access free transportation in times of crisis," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "Connecting survivors with this vital service at our five Family Justice Centers reflects our unwavering commitment to keeping New York City the safest big city in America, and sends a clear message that we will do everything we can to support our most vulnerable and at-risk, including through creative partnerships like this one."
“Trying to leave a harmful situation is often the most dangerous time for a survivor of gendered violence. In these critical moments, access to a safe, immediate way out can be lifesaving,” said Saloni Sethi, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.“ We’re proud to partner with Uber, Alliance for HOPE International and the Mayor’s Fund to reduce transportation barriers and help counter the financial control many survivors face by providing 50,000 free credits for emergency rides as well as emergency food throughout our Family Justice Centers.”
"The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City is thrilled to be partnering with Uber and ENDGBV on this incredibly important program," said Kate R. Smith, Executive Director of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. "Piloting Hope Rides here in New York City is a historic step in ensuring survivors have access to the resources they need through rides to Family Justice Centers across the five boroughs. We applaud the work of Uber, ENDGBV, and Alliance for HOPE International in their dedication to safety and supporting survivors of abuse."
Breaking Down Barriers to Safety
Transportation challenges are often a major obstacle for survivors seeking help. Many Family Justice Centers already rely on rideshare services informally as an essential community resource to connect individuals with services. The Hope Rides program formalizes and expands this support, helping centers serve more survivors and meet urgent needs in real time.
This announcement builds on Uber’s broader efforts to advance safety, including in-app safety features, education campaigns, and partnerships with leading anti-violence organizations. Hope Rides demonstrates how technology and community collaboration can work together to help create safer, more accessible pathways to support.
NYC Family Justice Center, Manhattan
80 Centre Street, 5th Floor
212-602-2800
About Alliance for HOPE International
Alliance for Hope International’s mission is creating communities of safety, hope, and healing. We focus on creating innovative, collaborative, trauma-informed, hope-centered approaches to supporting survivors and their children. Our mission is to create pathways to hope through collaborative, integrated multi-disciplinary centers, teams, and initiatives in order to break the generational cycle of violence and abuse in families across the United States and around the world.
About Uber
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 61 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up new possibilities.
About NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
ENDGBV supports survivors of domestic and gender-based violence by developing and delivering accessible and inclusive services to survivors, their families, and communities through collaboration with government agencies, community partners, survivors, and philanthropy. We strive to ensure that the City's services and resources reduce barriers, address gaps in service, and create new pathways to safety through program development, legislative and policy advocacy, research, training, community-based initiatives and engagement, and operation of the five New York City Family Justice Centers that service more than 2,300 clients per month.
About Mayor’s Fund
The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City is a not-for-profit organization that works with over 50 city agencies and offices, 300 institutional funders, and 100 community-based partners. Through cultivating partnerships that combine the incomparable reach of government with the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector, the Mayor's Fund works to create a stronger and more just city for all New Yorkers.
