named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Know Your Rights Seminars
Interactive educational sessions developed in response to client needs and delivered at partner organizations, covering rights related to homelessness, police interactions, and other civil legal issues
Legal Aid Desks
Mobile legal aid desks staffed by volunteer attorneys providing on-site legal assistance in civil matters such as housing, family, employment, and immigration law at partner shelters and soup kitchens across New York City
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 2 activities
- Operate mobile legal aid desks and conduct outreach at community sitesRuns one of the only mobile legal aid desks in New York City, providing services at soup kitchens, shelters, and other nonprofit host sites. Combines legal consultations with "Know Your Rights" seminars on topics such as tenants' rights, NYCHA housing, rent stabilization, and police interactions.
- Provide free civil legal services to low-income individualsDelivers free, limited-scope legal advice, consultations, and referrals in civil matters to low-income New Yorkers through attorney-led legal aid desks. Services are provided directly at host nonprofit organizations and mobile locations across New York City, reaching approximately 900 clients annually.
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Tenant Legal Advocacy & Support Services 1 activity
- Deliver legal assistance in housing, family, immigration, and public benefits mattersProvides direct legal support in key areas including eviction defense, unsafe housing conditions, landlord harassment, child support modifications, immigration status renewal and naturalization, and access to public benefits such as food stamps, Social Security, and rent assistance.
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Language Access Services 1 activity
- Provide interpretation services for non-English-speaking clientsOffers interpretation services during in-person and phone consultations at mobile legal aid desks through volunteer interpreters, ensuring access to legal services for non-English-speaking clients.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Support immigration and citizenship applicationsAssists eligible permanent residents with replacing Green Cards (Form I-90), applying for U.S. citizenship, responding to USCIS requests for evidence, and replacing lost or missing naturalization certificates. Services include procedural guidance, form preparation, and fee waiver support.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Train volunteer attorneys and legal professionalsConducts mandatory and ongoing training sessions for volunteer attorneys and legal professionals, including new volunteer orientation and substantive legal trainings on poverty law topics. Trainings are offered remotely and in-person multiple times per year, with CLE credit available for attorneys.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Utilize non-attorney volunteers and law students in legal service deliveryEngages paralegals, law students, and non-attorney volunteers to support client intake, legal research, note-taking, and operational tasks under the supervision of licensed attorneys at legal aid desks.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$470K
Contributions & grants$472K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$-4K
expenses
Total expenses$546K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$489K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$146K
Cash$120K
Investments$0
Liabilities$7K
Net assets$139K
Liquid reserves2.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Mahoney | Executive Director | 40 | $108K |
board members · 11
- Crystal P Persaud — Vice-Chair
- Elizabeth Leonard — Director
- Eric Yoon — Director
- Ida Mutoigo — Director
- Jennifer Lanni — Director
- Jonathan Lee — Treasurer
- Kenia Andujar — Secretary
- Richard Chen — Director
- Tony Telesco — Director
- Vanessa Holliday — Director
- Wallace Larson Sr — Board Chair
relationships · 38
Who they work with
- All Angels' Episcopal Church Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- All Angels' Episcopal Church Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Another non-profit Partner — Collaborated with another non-profit organization to support a client's housing placement.
- Bowery Mission Men's Center Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Bowery Mission Men's Center Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Bowery Mission Tribeca Campus Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Bowery Mission Tribeca Campus Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Bowery Mission Women's Center Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Bowery Mission Women's Center Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- City Relief Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- City Relief Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- City Relief Harlem Partner — Hosts a shared legal aid desk in Harlem, NY.
- Exodus Transitional Community Center Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Exodus Transitional Community Center Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Father's Heart Ministries Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Father's Heart Ministries Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Father's Heart Ministries Partner — Hosts a shared legal aid desk at 545 East 11th Street, New York, NY.
- New Life Community Development Corporation Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- New Life Community Development Corporation Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Partnership for the Homeless Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Partnership for the Homeless Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Prison Fellowship Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Prison Fellowship Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- Restore Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- Restore Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- The Open Door of NJNY Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- The Open Door of NJNY Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- The Salvation Army Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desk and legal services
- The Salvation Army, East Harlem Partner — Host site for mobile legal aid desks and legal services delivery
- USCIS Government — Agency with which Open Hands interacts to resolve requests for additional information on citizenship applications.
+ 8 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Client-Centered and Integrated Legal Servicesmethodology: integrated-legal-servicesBy using client-centered approaches and identifying co-occurring legal opportunities during representation—such as naturalization eligibility—we improve long-term client outcomes because integrated, proactive service delivery addresses root causes and systemic barriers holistically.
- Faith-Integrated Legal Advocacymethodology: faith-integrated_legal_advocacyBy integrating prayer and spiritual care into legal advocacy, we provide holistic client support because spiritual reassurance strengthens emotional resilience and trust, improving engagement and satisfaction during complex legal processes.
- Mobile and Community-Based Outreachmethodology: mobile-outreachBy delivering legal services directly to soup kitchens, shelters, and community locations, we increase access for underserved populations because proximity reduces barriers related to geography, mobility, information access, and social marginalization.
- Supervised Volunteer Modelmethodology: supervised_volunteer_modelBy engaging volunteer attorneys without specialized legal expertise under professional supervision, we expand legal service capacity and increase access to justice for low-income populations, because it leverages community resources while maintaining quality and accountability.