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COMMUNITY ACCESS INC
New York, NY · EIN 237399839 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE F33Z · Mental Health & Crisis Intervention · Very Large (>$50M)
revenue
$51.2M
expenses
$50.0M
net assets
$31.7M
employees
416
volunteers
19
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS TO LIVE LIVES OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORTIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PEER TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, CREATING ALTERNATIVES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING PSYCHIATRIC CRISES, AND ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEM-WIDE REFORMS IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Community Access Inc is a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with mental health concerns through housing, crisis intervention, and employment training. The organization operates peer-driven residential crisis programs as an alternative to hospitalization, provides assertive community treatment for those in the shelter system, and runs the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center to train and place people with lived experience into health and human services jobs. It also advocates for systemic reform in mental health service delivery.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $10.78M
    TREATMENT SERVICES AND RESIDENTIAL CRISIS SUPPORT: OUR RESIDENTIAL CRISIS SUPPORT PROGRAM IS NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST PEER-DRIVEN ALTERNATIVE TO HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING AN EMOTIONAL CRISIS. ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT) AND INTENSIVE MOBILE TREATMENT (IMT) PROGRAMS HELP PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS IN THE NYC SHELTER SYSTEM OR WHO OTHERWISE LACK PERMANENT HOUSING TO ACCESS PERMANENT HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. OUR SELF-DIRECTED CARE (SDC) PROGRAM PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES TO REACH THEIR WELLNESS GOALS, ALONGSIDE SKILLED RESOURCE CONSULTANTS WHO HELP TO DEVELOP RECOVERY ACTION PLANS AND BUDGETS. OUR ART COLLECTIVE USES ART AS A HEALING TOOL FOR HELPING PEOPLE TO FURTHER THEIR SKILLS AS ARTISTS AND LEADERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR TREATMENT SERVICES AND CRISIS SUPPORT PROGRAMS SERVE MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
  2. #2 $876K
    TRAINING AND EDUCATION: IN 1995, WE LAUNCHED THE HOWIE THE HARP ADVOCACY CENTER (HTH) TO TRAIN AND PLACE INDIVIDUALS WITH A HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE USE, AND INCARCERATION INTO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR. MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE TRAINING, AND A SATELLITE HTH PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 2012 AND IS NOW OPERATING IN FOUR CITIES IN THE NETHERLANDS. BLUEPRINT SUPPORTED EDUCATION HELPS INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. OUR TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 400 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.
named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult Home Initiative
Program assisting approximately 2,000 individuals in transitioning from adult homes to more integrated community housing.
Art Collective
Program using art as a healing tool to help individuals develop artistic skills and leadership within their communities.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT)
Mobile and community-based treatment programs that help people with mental health concerns who are in the NYC shelter system or lack permanent housing to access stable housing and mental health services.
Blueprint Supported Education
Program supporting individuals with mental health issues in pursuing post-secondary or continuing education.
Care Coordination Program
Service that improves communication among primary care, psychiatric, and housing providers on behalf of participants to enhance overall wellness outcomes.
East Village Access (EVA)
Curriculum-based program offering structured opportunities in recovery, employment, housing, life skills, and social engagement for adults with mental health concerns.
Howie the Harp Advocacy Center (HTH)
Training program established in 1995 that prepares individuals with lived experience of mental health concerns, homelessness, substance use, or incarceration for competitive employment in health and human services; replicated in the Netherlands.
Residential Crisis Support Program
New York City's first peer-driven alternative to hospitalization for individuals experiencing emotional or psychiatric crises, providing residential support and recovery services.
Self-Directed Care (SDC)
Program that provides individuals with resources, recovery action planning, and budgeting support through skilled consultants to achieve personal wellness goals.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
    • Advocates for mental health and housing policy change
      Supports individuals in advocating for policy changes at city and state levels, including leading the NY NY I campaign to secure long-term supportive housing commitments. Published position papers critiquing Assisted Outpatient Treatment and advocating for alternative mental health investments.
  • Healthcare Compliance and Ethics Programs 1 activity
    • Conducts compliance and vendor training
      Conducts annual training for vendors, subcontractors, staff, and volunteers as part of its compliance program to ensure adherence to organizational and regulatory standards.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Delivers supported employment and job retention services
      Provides free supportive employment services through the Assisted Competitive Employment (ACE) program and extended job-retention support via the Ongoing Integrated Supported Employment (OISE) program for New York City residents in mental health recovery. The ACE program includes a 20-week training and 12-week internship to prepare individuals for roles as Peer Providers.
  • Creative Arts Therapy Programs 1 activity
    • Hosts Art Collective workshops
      Runs Art Collective workshops that use creative expression—such as visual arts and filmmaking—as a method for emotional healing and recovery. The Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival is a featured program, now available for streaming on major platforms.
  • Community Wellness Movement Classes 1 activity
    • Offers community health and wellness programs
      Provides community-based health and wellness activities including shared meals, mind-body movement programs (e.g., chair yoga, Zumba, meditation), gardening, and DIY workshops on eco-friendly home products. These include annual events like Wellness Month in June and harvest festivals, promoting holistic well-being.
  • Behavioral Health and Human Services Training 1 activity
    • Operates a peer workforce academy
      Runs the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, New York City’s first workforce academy for mental health peers, offering training and placement into direct service and management roles in human services. Over 1,200 people have graduated from the program, which has been replicated internationally.
  • Mobile Mental Health Crisis Intervention 1 activity
    • Operates peer-driven crisis support programs
      Runs the first Adult Crisis Residence in New York City and the first peer-driven alternative to emergency hospitalization for individuals experiencing psychiatric or emotional crises. These programs provide a non-clinical, recovery-oriented environment to prevent hospitalization and support stabilization, serving over 1,000 people annually.
  • Comprehensive Care Management Services 1 activity
    • Provides care coordination and recovery support
      Operates Assertive Community Treatment, Intensive Mobile Treatment, and care coordination programs that help individuals access permanent housing, mental health services, and primary care. Coordinators facilitate communication among providers to improve wellness outcomes, with recovery planning and self-directed care support.
  • College Access and Success Support 1 activity
    • Provides supported education services
      Offers the Blueprint Supported Education program to help adults aged 18+ with mental health conditions pursue post-secondary education. Services include assistance with admissions, financial planning, course registration, academic skill-building, and advocacy for accommodations, serving approximately 200 people annually.
  • Supportive Housing for Mental Illness 1 activity
    • Provides supportive and affordable housing
      Develops and operates permanent supportive and affordable housing for individuals with mental health concerns, including those with histories of homelessness. The organization has developed 21 properties across New York City through over $500 million in real estate investments, providing housing for over 2,000 individuals and families. Recent developments include Baez Place (154 units) and River Avenue (245 units) in the Bronx.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Publishes community impact and educational materials
      Produces and distributes C Magazine, highlighting contributions of tenants, participants, and staff, to advance community impact and organizational learning.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
    • Supports transitions from adult homes to community housing
      Runs the Adult Home Initiative to support approximately 2,000 individuals in transitioning from institutional adult homes to integrated, community-based housing with supportive services.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$51.15M
Contributions & grants$3.17M6%
Program service revenue$44.50M87%
Investment income$1.90M4%
Other revenue$1.57M
expenses
Total expenses$49.98M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$24.86M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$67.64M
Cash$7.36M
Investments$37K
Liabilities$35.89M
Net assets$31.75M
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -1.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 9
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CAROLYN HEDIGAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40 $369K
ADEM GERAGHTY SR. PHYSICIAN NURSE PRACTIONER 40 $254K
CHRISTOPHER LACOVARA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER THRU APRIL 2025 40 $250K
MORENIKE ERICKA WILLIAMS CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER 40 $233K
JOHN WILLIAMS CHIEF DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 40 $230K
JAVIER AGET-TORRES PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER 40 $229K
MICHELLE DES ROCHES CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER 40 $219K
PATRICIA ANNE JOHNSON CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40 $218K
ANDREATER RAMBARANULU PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER 30 $172K
board members · 16
  • ADIL NATHANI — BOARD MEMBER
  • BARBARA MALATESTA — BOARD MEMBER
  • BRAD SOTO — BOARD MEMBER
  • CATHERINE G PATSOS — BOARD MEMBER THRU JAN. 2025
  • DAN WURTZEL — VICE PRESIDENT
  • DENIS JACOB — BOARD MEMBER
  • DIANE LOUARD-MICHEL — BOARD MEMBER
  • DR CYNTHIA B GREEN — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOSE VAZQUEZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • LAURA GOULD LCSW — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARTHA DABAGIAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARY D'SOUZA — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARY M MASSIMO PHD — SECRETARY
  • RADHIKA VARS — BOARD MEMBER
  • RAMESH SHAH — TREASURER
  • RICHARD GROSSMANN — BOARD MEMBER AS OF MAY 2025
relationships · 59

Who they work with

  • Alembic Community Development Partner — Development partner in affordable housing projects
  • Amie Gross Architects Partner — Architect partner in affordable housing developments
  • Artec Construction and Development Corp. Partner — Development partner in affordable housing projects
  • Aufgang Architects Partner — Architect partner in affordable housing developments
  • Bank of America Funder — Investor in affordable housing projects
  • Becker & Becker Associates Partner — Architect partner in affordable housing developments
  • Beth Cooper Lawrence Partner — Architect partner in affordable housing developments
  • Bovis Lend Lease Partner — Development partner in affordable housing projects
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Government — Funder of supportive housing projects
  • Citibank Funder — Investor in affordable housing projects
  • Clarett Group Funder — Funder of affordable housing projects
  • Community Preservation Corp. Funder — Funder of affordable housing projects
  • Cooper Square Committee. Partner — Development partner in affordable housing projects
  • Corporation for Supportive Housing Network — Awarded Community Access the Supportive Housing Champion Award in 2011
  • Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Funder — Funds the HTH Peer Training Program
  • Dunn Development Corp. Partner — Development partner in affordable housing projects
  • Enterprise Foundation Funder — Investor in affordable housing projects
  • Facebook Partner — Social media channel used for community connection and information dissemination
  • Facebook Partner — Social media channel used for community connection and updates
  • Fannie Mae Foundation Funder — Awarded Community Access the Maxwell Award of Excellence in 2002
  • Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Government — Funder of affordable housing projects
  • Galaxy General Contracting Corp. Partner — Development partner in affordable housing projects
  • Grow NYC Partner — Partners with Community Access to provide CSA food distribution to tenants.
  • HLS Builders Corp. Partner — Development partner in affordable housing projects
  • HSBC Funder — Investor in affordable housing projects
  • HSBC Bank Funder — Funder of affordable housing projects
  • Howie the Harp Advocacy Center Partner — Trains and places individuals with lived experience into competitive employment in health and human services; satellite program operating in the Netherlands.
  • Instagram Partner — Social media platform used for public engagement and outreach
  • Lighthouse Hotline Services Partner — Partner organization through which anonymous misconduct reports are received.
  • LinkedIn Partner — Professional network used for organizational visibility and engagement with stakeholders
+ 29 more
strategies · 5

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.

  • Food-Centered Community Health Justice
    methodology: food_centered_health_justice
    By integrating food access and community-building through culturally appropriate, food-centered activities, we advance mental wellness and health justice because shared nourishment fosters connection, dignity, and resistance to systemic inequity.
  • Harm Reduction and Trauma-Informed Care
    methodology: harm_reduction
    By using harm reduction and trauma-informed practices, we produce sustained engagement and recovery because meeting individuals where they are—without judgment—builds trust and addresses root causes of distress.
  • Housing First Model
    methodology: housing_first
    By providing immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions such as sobriety or treatment, we produce stability and support recovery because housing is a foundational human need that enables engagement with other services.
  • Peer-Driven Service Model
    methodology: peer_led_model
    By employing individuals with lived mental health experience in service delivery and leadership, we produce more effective and trustworthy support because shared experience fosters empathy, reduces stigma, and improves engagement.
  • Person-Centered and Self-Directed Care
    methodology: person-centered_care
    By aligning services with individuals' self-identified goals and allowing them to direct their own recovery, we produce greater engagement and well-being because autonomy and choice enhance dignity and personal agency.