We’re ready to see justice in 2017.
Throughout an eventful year, we've remained firmly committed to serving our clients as image bearers of our Creator.
We invite you to meet and join us.
The law is a powerful tool against poverty. We bring it directly to low-income and homeless New Yorkers at soup kitchens and shelters across the city.
We were founded in 2009 by attorneys called to use their skills to serve the city.
The group began volunteering at the Father’s Heart, an East Village soup kitchen.
Since then, we’ve grown dramatically in response to demand from other soup kitchens and shelters, including the Bowery Mission, New York City Rescue Mission, and Exodus Transitional Community.
Hundreds of practicing attorneys like William Seo, an insurance attorney, have been trained by our staff in basic poverty law so they can also serve.
We met Joseph at our legal aid desk in East Harlem at the Relief Bus, a partner that provides mobile outreach to the poor.
Clients here experience homelessness (which affects even children), drug use and alcohol abuse, and often have nowhere to turn. The poverty is very real.
We’re thankful for volunteers like Liza Sohn, who serve here despite the challenges. Rain or shine, we're here for this community.
In 1975, Joseph was convicted of attempted robbery at the age of 17. Adjudicated as a youthful offender, he was sentenced to five years of probation.
He has no other criminal history, has attended seminary, has served as a deacon and assistant pastor at Christ Church and as a Rikers chaplain, and has started a family. Still, he almost lost his job due to this offense.
Christian T. Becker is a partner at Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman LLP. His practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and complex commercial litigation.
He’s been involved since 2013 after finding out about our work through Hope for New York.
Christian also serves as an elder at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
We applied for a pardon for Joseph under the Governor's recent youthful offender pardon announcement. We also obtained pro bono counsel through Mr. Becker and his firm. After much work, they ultimately helped Joseph get his job back!
Elsa lives in Harlem in a rent-controlled apartment. As rents around her increase, so does pressure to leave.
Elsa's landlord has failed to complete serious repairs and also wrongfully combined her electricity box with another apartment so that she was left with a bill she couldn't pay.
Elsa's case is typical of the unchecked harassment that vulnerable tenants experience because they can’t afford legal consultation.
Already past the age of retirement, and living in a city where affordable housing is hard to find, it’s essential that Elsa can stay in her home.
Elsa came to meet with us at the Community Hope Center in East Harlem, where Candace Chung conducts intake every week.
Candace started volunteering in 2013. She’s dedicated thousands of hours to our clients, not only at the Community Hope Center, but also at the Father’s Heart in East Village, the Relief Bus in East Harlem, and the New York City Rescue Mission in Lower Manhattan.
She's one of the many volunteers who help Open Hands meet clients right where they are.
We’re working with Elsa to cancel the $1,000 of wrongful debt she’s incurred. Elsa can rest assured that her electricity will not be shut off.
We're also advising her on how to get the repairs to which she's entitled.
Surrounded by advocates, she no longer feels pressured or intimidated.
Crystal Persaud Telesco is an associate in Reed Smith’s Real Estate Industry Group. She’s been at the Father’s Heart almost every month since 2010, except for when she got married!
In her search for an affordable apartment, Anne fell into a rental scam. Eventually, she was being harassed and wrongfully sued for unpaid moneys she didn't owe.
Tony Telesco is one of our most loyal supporters. An NYPD sergeant, he helps teach our "Know Your Rights" seminar on police rights.
Our clients are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. Many of them also experience “stop and frisk.”
Tony helps us cross lines with grace, understanding and reconciliation.
"Every opportunity I had to volunteer for Open Hands truly opened my heart."
A volunteer took on Anne’s case with his firm pro bono. He got the frivolous lawsuit dismissed without prejudice. Our community rejoiced!
Unaddressed, civil legal issues snowball.
Matthew grew up in foster care. By the time he met with us, he was facing challenges related to workers' compensation, public benefits, custody, name changes, outstanding warrants, and housing.
Sophie Flynn has been volunteering since 2012. She’s most often at All Angels’ Church, where we conduct “Know Your Rights” seminars and legal aid desks at their community meals.
A mother of three, Sophie is extremely dedicated to our clients. One of the few times she’s missed our desks was when she gave birth to her youngest child!
We utilize a “one attorney, whole client” model, which is unique, efficient, and provides us the opportunity to minister to clients more fully.
Because of our unique model, we’re able to help Matthew navigate all the legal barriers to his success.
Teri is 55. Because of a severe disability, she can stand for only short periods of time.
Teri was facing challenges in collecting her social security benefits. She had worked in a grocery store for 12 years, but that work was reported under the wrong social security number so she wasn’t receiving the right amount.
Andrew H. Yong is an associate at Simpson Thacher. He began supporting us this year and has quickly become one of our most helpful friends.
He’s introduced several new supporters to us and has also leveraged his firm’s pro bono contacts to serve clients.
Andrew also serves as an elder at Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
Teri didn’t know where to turn when she realized she wasn’t receiving all her benefits. She met us at the Relief Bus.
We advised Teri on how she could straighten out the errors. She’s now able to collect her benefits and support herself!
“Can I be an Open Hands intern so I can help others like me?”
We first met Precious at All Angels' Church. She's come to see us on several occasions for income maintenance.
Many low-income and homeless New Yorkers aren’t aware of the public benefits available and don’t know how to navigate the system. They experience major hardship when they can’t.
Linda Jun began volunteering in 2012. She serves at our desks and on our Young Professionals Network. She’s also a team leader for Hope for New York, coordinating their volunteers who serve.
Linda works as a lawyer at MFY Legal Services, a not-for-profit law firm.
“Serving with Open Hands is one more day of work for me, but I believe so much in what they do.”
Our volunteers help clients like Precious obtain life-sustaining benefits. These prevent homelessness and hunger.
“Robert” was terminated from his job at a drug store after he was wrongfully accused of shoplifting. A civil penalty was imposed.
Colleen Vitali began volunteering in 2016 and is an extraordinary advocate. She serves with us at the New York City Rescue Mission and in our office. She now has her own caseload.
Low-wage workers are often taken advantage of. We advocate for them when they're denied the right to work in safe conditions or experience wage theft, illegal termination, and intimidation.
We obtained a settlement without any civil penalty for Robert.
Kiva and her 18-month old son Tjayda were living in a shelter while he was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Because sharing a bathroom and kitchen compromised Tjayda’s immune system, it was essential that the family have their own.
Through our advocacy, the Department of Homeless Services located a unit that met Tjayda’s needs.
After moving into suitable housing, Kiva was also able to get custody of two of her daughters who had been living in foster care.
“[Open Hands] means opportunity, it means hope, it means… love. That felt like love.”
Thank you for meeting the amazing people who are pressing onward as we move toward our ultimate vision: All lives transformed by the power of justice and hope.
Will you join us?
Your gift can help hundreds more people like Kiva, Joseph and Precious.
Let's start 2017 with hope.
