irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $881KFAIR HOUSING PROGRAMWRO'S FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM WORKS TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION IN THE HOUSING AND LENDING MARKETS. THE PROGRAM HANDLES COMPLAINTS AND CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING BOTH SYSTEMIC AND COMPLAINT-BASED TESTING, AND ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INVESTIGATIONS. ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS ARE CONDUCTED TO PROMOTE HOUSING ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WRO'S FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO CONSUMERS, CIVIC AND BUSINESS AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRAINS REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, CO-OP BOARDS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO COMPLY WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWS. IN 2024, 167 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED WITH FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS, AND 16 REAL ESTATE AGENCIES INCLUDING OVER 350 INDIVIDUAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS AND 133 CO-OP APARTMENT DIRECTORS WERE TRAINED IN OUR FAIR HOUSING WORKSHOPS.ADDITIONALLY, WRO MANAGES AN AFFIRMATIVE HOUSING MARKETING PROGRAM FOR RENT AND RESALE OF FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOMES. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WRO COLLECTS APPLICATIONS AND ADMINISTERS A LOTTERY FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. IN 2024, WRO MARKETED OVER 500 RENTAL UNITS IN SIX RENTAL DEVELOPMENTS, TWO OWNERSHIP UNITS IN ONE DEVELOPMENT, AND ASSISTED IN THE CLOSING OF TWO RE-SALES OF EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOMES.
- #2 $462KEVICTION PREVENTION & RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMWRO ASSISTS QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS FACING RENTAL AND/OR UTILITY ARREARS, BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS AGAINST THOSE ARREARS. WRO ALSO WORKS WITH HOUSEHOLDS LOOKING TO SECURE RENTAL HOUSING BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR SECURITY DEPOSITS, MOVING EXPENSES, FIRST MONTH'S RENT, ETC.IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE PROGRAM (1) PROVIDES COUNSELING TO PRIMARILY LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO FIND AND MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, (2) NEGOTIATES WITH LANDLORDS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED, AND (3) MAKES REFERRALS AS APPROPRIATE TO LOCATE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM ASSISTED 620 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, AND DISBURSED ALMOST $209,000 IN RENTAL ARREARS GRANTS TO 55 HOUSEHOLDS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Affirmative Housing Marketing Program
Manages applications and lotteries for affordable rental and ownership units, facilitating fair access to subsidized housing developments.
Eviction Prevention & Rental Assistance Program
Provides financial assistance for rent and utility arrears, security deposits, and moving costs, along with counseling and landlord negotiation to help low-to-moderate income households remain housed.
Fair Housing Program
Investigates housing discrimination complaints, conducts testing and accessibility surveys, and provides education and training to consumers and real estate professionals on fair housing laws.
Home Buying Educational Program
HUD-approved workshops covering credit, budgeting, mortgages, real estate agents, home inspections, and insurance, required for certain down payment assistance grants.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Emergency Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention 2 activities
- Eviction and rental assistance counselingProvides free counseling to prevent evictions, mortgage defaults, and utility shut-offs, including financial assistance for rental arrears. In 2024, served 588 individuals and families with eviction prevention and disbursed nearly $209,000 in rental arrears grants to 55 households.
- Senior housing assistance and benefits navigationProvides bilingual (English and Spanish) housing counseling for seniors, including help finding subsidized rental apartments, overcoming financial barriers like rent arrears or security deposits, and applying for public benefits such as SNAP, LIHEAP, and Veterans Aid and Attendance.
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Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
- Advocacy for affordable housing access and policy protectionAdvocates for improved access to affordable housing through technology and legal action, including supporting the launch of Westchester County’s HomeSeeker platform and urging appellate courts to preserve New York’s housing discrimination protections.
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Affordable Housing Development and Management 1 activity
- Affirmative marketing of affordable housingActively markets affordable rental and ownership units to underserved populations. In 2024, marketed over 500 rental units across six developments and two ownership units in one development, and assisted in the closing of two re-sales of affordable homes.
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First-Time Homebuyer Support Services 1 activity
- First-time homebuyer education and counselingOffers in-person and online homebuyer education workshops that meet requirements for down payment assistance programs, along with one-on-one counseling. Issues certificates accepted by First Home Club Grant, CHI Grants, SONYMA, and Homeownership Choice Voucher programs.
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Home Accessibility Modifications 1 activity
- Home modification services for aging in placeProvides home modification services to support older adults in maintaining independent living and safely aging in place.
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Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
- Homeless outreach and connection to servicesOperates a Homeless Outreach Program that engages individuals experiencing homelessness and connects them to shelter, housing, healthcare, mental health treatment, benefits, and other community supports.
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Supportive Housing for Mental Illness 1 activity
- Supportive housing services for individuals with mental illnessOperates scattered-site apartments and a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Program offering case management, 24/7 staff support, and intensive services to promote long-term housing stability for individuals living with mental illness.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Fair housing complaint assistance and professional trainingAssists families and individuals with fair housing complaints and conducts training for real estate professionals and co-op apartment directors on fair housing practices. In 2024, assisted 167 clients and trained 350 professionals; in 2023, assisted 197 and trained 600 professionals and 119 directors.
- Housing vacancy referral serviceMaintains a weekly list of lower-cost housing vacancies in Westchester County sourced from newspapers, websites, and private landlords, focusing on units without broker fees or additional costs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.48M
Contributions & grants$3.69M83%
Program service revenue$598K13%
Investment income$184K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$4.17M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$2.32M
Grants paid out$1.26M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.26M
Cash$477K
Investments$3.89M
Liabilities$1.05M
Net assets$5.21M
Liquid reserves12.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -6.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARLENE ZARFES | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 34 | $173K |
| ANDREW SMITH | DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $149K |
| ELIZABETH ELLISON | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 23 | $100K |
board members · 14
- ALAN R WOLFERT ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- BARRY KRAMER — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID MOORE — BOARD MEMBER
- DEBRA BUDETTI — CO-CHAIR
- DEBRA THOMPSON — BOARD MEMBER
- DENNIS D PARKER ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- HENRY J CARNAGE — TREASURER
- KEITH ROSENTHAL — ASSISTANT SECRETARY
- LAURENCE BEILENSON — CO-CHAIR
- LEAH CARO — BOARD MEMBER
- MARGARET M FLINT ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- RICHARD STERN — BOARD MEMBER
- THOMAS RICE ESQ — SECRETARY
- WENDY MARIE WEATHERS ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- ECBAWM Partner — Coordinated with WRO and other fair housing groups to file a joint advocacy action urging preservation of New York’s housing discrimination protections.
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Government — Helps seniors access home energy assistance through LIHEAP.
- Nonprofit Westchester Network — WRO is a member of Nonprofit Westchester, a network of nonprofit organizations in the region.
- Private Landlords Partner — Source of vacancy listings for subsidized and low-fee rental housing in Westchester County.
- PruTech Solutions Partner — Partnered with WRO and Westchester County to develop the HomeSeeker platform for affordable housing access.
- SNAP Program Government — Assists seniors in applying for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- SONYMA Partner — WRO's home buying education program fulfills the education requirements for SONYMA down payment assistance.
- Veterans Aid and Attendance Program for Home Care Government — Supports veterans in applying for home care benefits through the Aid and Attendance Program.
- Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Government — Refers individuals to WRO's Independent Living Program through its Single Point of Access (SPOA) process.
- Westchester County Department of Planning Government — Collaborated with WRO on the development and announcement of the HomeSeeker affordable housing platform.
- Westchester County Department of Planning Partner — Collaborated with WRO on the development and launch of the HomeSeeker affordable housing platform.
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.
- Fair Housing Enforcement through Systemic Testingmethodology: fair_housing_enforcementBy conducting systemic and complaint-based testing and investigations, the organization identifies and addresses housing discrimination, thereby advancing fair housing and ensuring compliance with fair lending and accessible design laws because direct evidence of discriminatory practices enables targeted enforcement and policy change.
- Holistic Support for Housing Stabilitymethodology: supportive-services-modelBy integrating case management, supportive services, and community resource connections, the organization builds individual capacity for self-sufficiency and sustained housing stability because comprehensive support addresses structural and personal barriers simultaneously, increasing long-term success rates.
- Proactive Integration via Affirmative Marketingmethodology: affirmative_marketingBy proactively marketing affordable housing units to underserved populations, the organization increases access and counters residential segregation because targeted outreach disrupts historical patterns of exclusion and promotes racially and economically integrated communities.
- Trust-Based Engagement to Reduce Barriersmethodology: trust-based-outreachBy prioritizing trust-building and relational outreach, the organization reduces psychological and social barriers to participation, supporting movement toward permanent housing because strong client-staff relationships increase engagement, especially among marginalized or system-avoidant populations.