9/11 Community
The 9/11 community is comprised of a diverse and growing population of individuals who were impacted by the terrorist attacks: family members of the victims who died; thousands of survivors who escaped the destruction; Lower Manhattan residents, workers, and community members; thousands of responders and volunteers who went to the 9/11 disaster sites to help; and now, the families of the thousands of responders and survivors who have died from 9/11-related illnesses stemming from their exposure to toxins released in the air that day and during the 9-month recovery effort.
In the years since 9/11, this community has come together to support each other; commemorate those who have died on, and since, 9/11; advocate for issues that are important to the community and to the country; and, to channel their grief into serving other communities impacted by tragedy.
The VOICES staff is honored to continue our support of the 9/11 community as we help to bolster its sense of unity and promote healing and resilience through our efforts.
Victims’ FamiliesVOICES has always been guided by the principle that families of victims require continuity of care and benefit from programs that promote resiliency in their lives. With the passage of time, those needs are more important than ever. VOICES provides a wide range of support services to address the ongoing needs of those who lost a loved one on 9/11.
RespondersAfter the attacks, 90,000 responders worked in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site, 0000 at the Pentagon and 0000 at Shanksville, PA. Today, over 40,000 responders have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses, including most cancers and mental health conditions. VOICES works with 9/11 responders and their families to provide assistance finding available support services, including application to the WTC Health Program.
SurvivorsThousands of people escaped the towers and the Pentagon on 9/11, and it is estimated that 400,000 more lived, worked or went to school in Lower Manhattan. Many of these individuals lost friends and jobs or were displaced from their homes, workplaces, and schools. Some have suffered life-threatening illness and mental health conditions. VOICES assists survivors in the process of enrolling in the World Trade Center Health Program.
Responder/Survivor FamiliesVOICES was created to meet the urgent needs of the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 to obtain accurate information and to navigate complicated systems. Families were looking for a single source of information about such diverse issues as how to file for a death certificate and how to obtain assistance from social service agencies, local and national charities and other organizations.
Community ResourcesVOICES has evolved to meet the ongoing needs of victims of mass violence, providing support services and educational programs. Through the Wolfgruber Institute, we share best practices and guide communities in planning for, and responding to, acts of mass violence.
9/11 Living MemorialVOICES created the 9/11 Living Memorial Digital Archive to provide families with an opportunity to commemorate their loved ones’ lives, and to document the harrowing stories of responders and survivors. The Living Memorial is an extensive collection of over 85,000 photographs and personal mementos, and the collection has been shared with the 9/11 Memorial Museum, where it is a core component of the In Memoriam Exhibit