Barrier Free Living Inc
City-funded organization
Barrier Free Living is a nonprofit founded in 1981 that serves people with disabilities and Deaf survivors of domestic violence, based in New York City. Its programs include Freedom House (an emergency domestic-violence shelter), Secret Garden (community-based counseling), and supportive and permanent housing through Freedom Village and BFL Apartments. It holds $34 million in active NYC contracts as of August 2026 (2 contracts) with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Homeless Services, and Department of Social Services, including "Congregate Supportive Housing" ($31 million, a negotiated contract) and "Prov of Non-Residential Prgm Support Svcs Citywide" ($3 million, an RFP award), part of $85 million awarded across 25 contracts since 2006 ($54 million paid to date). 88% of that lifetime contract value ($75 million across 22 contracts) was awarded without a fresh competitive bid; the organization also received $32,562 in City Council discretionary funding across 5 award years between FY2009 and FY2022 (none in FY2026), and its CEO Cynthia Amodeo was reported at $200,361 in compensation in the FY2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- Industry (per city contracts)
- Human Services
- City contracts (active)
- $34,123,943 · 2 contracts
- Awarded all-time
- $84,702,441 · 25 since 2006, incl. expired
- Paid to date
- $53,631,279
- Won without a fresh bid
- 88% of contract value · $74,513,498 · 22 contracts
- Discretionary funding (FY2009-FY2027)
- $32,562 · 5 awards
- Funding history
- Funded 5 years (FY2009–FY2022); not in FY2027
- Top officer pay (FY2023)
- $200,361 · Cynthia Amodeo, Chief Executive Officer
- Based in
- New York, NY
Holds contracts at
- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene City agency
- Department of Homeless Services City agency
- Department of Social Services City agency
City contracts
Registered city contracts, largest first by current contract value (not amount spent): running now, then registered to start later, then ended. Totals count every registered contract. Each line shows its Checkbook contract ID. The tag on each row is how it was awarded (“no-bid” = non-competitive).
- Congregate Supportive Housing Department of Health and Mental Hygiene · CT181620248800144 $31,136,929
- Prov of Non-Residential Prgm Support Svcs Citywide Department of Social Services · CT106920268804382 $2,987,014
- Permanent & supportive housing in Bronx-COVID-19 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene · CT181620180002312 · ended 2020 $7,489,505
- FY22 Renewal - Supportive Housing Services Department of Health and Mental Hygiene · CT181620228800121 · ended 2023 $6,858,217
- PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS TO INCR BASELINE CONTRACT AMT Department of Homeless Services · CT107120070000944 · ended 2011 $6,623,933
- PROVIDE SHELTER SERVICES TO PHYSICALLY DISABLED ADULTS Department of Homeless Services · CT107120120001517 · ended 2016 $6,393,371
- NY/NY III Congregate Supportive Housing Department of Health and Mental Hygiene · CT181620151410593 · ended 2017 $5,247,290
- Renewal of Non-Residential Domestic Violence Services. Department of Social Services · CT106920181425186 · ended 2022 $3,056,200
- Permanent & supportive housing in Bronx Department of Health and Mental Hygiene · CT181620210001219 · ended 2021 $2,587,885
- NON-RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Department of Social Services · CT106920151423643 · ended 2018 $1,954,639
Discretionary funding received
City Council discretionary (member-item) awards, largest first. Covers FY2009-FY2027.
- Pandemic Support for Human Service Providers Pandemic Support for Human Service Providers · Dhmh · FY2022 $15,302
- Food Pantries Food Pantries · DYCD · FY2015 $6,760
- Local DOHMH · FY2009 $3,500
- Local DYCD · FY2011 $3,500
- Boro Boro · DYCD · FY2012 $3,500
Officer & key-staff pay
Reportable compensation from this organization's IRS Form 990 (Part VII), latest available filing (FY2023). Includes pay from related organizations where reported; an annual figure, not a running total. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
- Cynthia Amodeo Chief Executive Officer $200,361
- Ian Bates Chief Fiscal Officer $142,751
- Dejon Alescia Buie Chief Program Officer $112,115
Officer pay over time
Total officer pay changed -11% from FY2020 to FY2023. Top-officer reportable compensation by year (org-paid only), with each year's share of total revenue. Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer 990 filings.
- FY2020 Paul Feuerstein · 9.51% of revenue $218,133
- FY2021 Paul Feuerstein · 8.4% of revenue $216,611
- FY2022 Paul Feuerstein · 11.88% of revenue $237,558
- FY2023 Cynthia Amodeo · 8.56% of revenue $200,361
Federal awards
Federal awards made directly to this organization in fiscal years 2023 through 2026. Each amount is what the federal government has OBLIGATED on that award as recorded on USAspending.gov as of 2026-08-31 — money committed, not money paid out. These are prime awards only: federal money this
- Department of Justice 16.889 Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations · Offices, Boards and Divisions · Grant $450,000