irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $926KTHE WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND MEDIATION CENTER PROVIDES MEDIATION, ARBITRATION AND TRAINING SERVICES TO THE LARGER WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND COMMUNITIES. THROUGH A CONTRACT AWARDED TO THE CENTER FROM THE NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT, MEDIATION IS OFFERED AS AN OPTION TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING A CURRENT LEGAL DISPUTE IN PARTNERED SMALL CLAIMS AND FAMILY COURTS. MEDIATION IS ALSO OFFERED TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ON A SLIDING SCALE BASIS WHEN DISPUTES ARE SELF-REFERRED. THE CENTER OFFERS MEDIATION SERVICES FOR FAMILY, CIVIL, LANDLORD-TENANT, TRUST AND ESTATE, COMMERCIAL AND MATRIMONIAL MATTERS. THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ASSOCIATION (NYSDRA), THE WESTCHESTER ROCKLAND MEDIATION CENTER PROVIDES LEMON LAW ARBITRATION SERVICES FOR CASES REFERRED IN WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND COUNTY FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. SPECIAL EDUCATION MEDIATION IS ALSO OFFERED AND PROVIDED THROUGH A NYSDRA CONTRACT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (NYSED). IN 2024, THE MEDIATION CENTER PROVIDED OVER 721 MEDIATIONS IN CIVIL, FAMILY, SUPREME, SURROGATES COURTS, AND SCHOOL-GENERATED CASES.
- #2 $596KCLUSTER'S EVICTION PREVENTION SERVICES PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SINGLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING EVICTION DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF RENT AS WELL AS INTRA AND INTER-PERSONAL DISPUTES. POTENTIAL EVICTIONS HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH HAS BEEN THE FOCAL POINT OF OUR DIRECT SERVICE SINCE 2020. CLUSTER CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE ON-SITE ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS IN DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS) DISTRICT OFFICES IN YONKERS AND MT. VERNON, AND IN OUR MAIN OFFICE LOCATED IN YONKERS, NY. AS PART OF OUR OVERALL ASSESSMENT, CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE DETAILED BUDGET REVIEWS, FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO PREVENT CLIENTS FROM BECOMING HOMELESS. IN 2023, CLUSTER PROVIDED FUNDS TO HALT EVICTIONS FOR MORE THAN 150 SINGLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Housing Resource Center
Offers eviction prevention, tenant education, code enforcement assistance, emergency aid, and short-term financial assistance with case management for low-to-moderate income residents of Yonkers
Mental Health Residential Services
Supports individuals with mental health challenges in attaining stable permanent housing and community integration through coordinated psychiatric, social, and vocational services
Westchester and Rockland Mediation Center
Provides mediation, arbitration, and training services for family, civil, landlord-tenant, special education, and lemon law disputes; serves over 3,000 individuals annually through court-referred and self-referred cases
Youth & Family Programs
Provides academic support, after-school enrichment, summer camp, and restorative justice programming for children and teens to promote healthy development and educational success
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Emergency Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention 1 activity
- Emergency financial assistance and housing preservationProvides short-term financial assistance, emergency aid for displaced families, and intensive case management to prevent evictions and preserve housing for low-to-moderate income households in Yonkers. Secured over $305,445 in 2020 and provided funds to halt evictions for hundreds of individuals and families between 2021 and 2023.
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Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
- Family and household support servicesProvides direct services including budgeting assistance, counseling, and case management to more than 600 families or individuals, addressing over 200 cases and serving up to 60 households in 2022.
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Conflict Mediation & Resolution Services 1 activity
- Mediation and conflict resolution servicesProvides free or sliding-scale mediation services in civil, family, supreme, and surrogates courts, as well as school-generated cases, to individuals in Westchester and Rockland counties. Assisted over 3,000 individuals annually through offices in Yonkers and Spring Valley, with more than 721 mediations conducted in 2024.
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Supportive Housing for Mental Illness 1 activity
- Mental health residential servicesProvides residential mental health support to help clients achieve stable permanent housing and community integration, including psychiatric care, socialization, and vocational services in partnership with treatment providers.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Youth development and after-school programsOffers academic support, enrichment activities, and youth development programs including an ongoing Teens Program and a Summer Day Camp. Ninety percent of after-school program participants showed improvement in grades and attendance.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.64M
Contributions & grants$4.78M63%
Program service revenue$2.86M37%
Investment income$6000%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$8.25M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$4.19M
Grants paid out$2.31M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.81M
Cash$255K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.92M
Net assets$1.89M
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREDA MACON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $175K |
| KRISTINA YAMIN | CO-DIRECTOR OF MH | 38 | $148K |
| CLAUDINE WILLIAMS-HAYE | DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH | 38 | $142K |
| TAJAE GAYNOR | DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35 | $132K |
| BARBARA BRILL | DIRECTOR OF FISCAL SERVICE | 35 | $124K |
board members · 10
- ADAM WEISS — PRESIDENT
- DORIS CORREA CAPELLO — DIRECTOR, THRU JUNE 2024
- HEATHER BRAVE — DIRECTOR
- IVON SILVER — DIRECTOR
- JOHN DIETZ — DIRECTOR
- JOHN SCHOPFER — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN K POLLACK — VICE PRESIDENT
- MICHELLE HOLMES — DIRECTOR
- RINKU BHATTACHARYA — TREASURER
- YVETTE LOPEZ — SECRETARY
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- City of Yonkers Government — Primary grant funder of the Housing Resource Center
- Department of Social Services (DSS) Government — Host agency for on-site case management services in Yonkers and Mt. Vernon
- My Brother’s Keeper Yonkers Partner — CLUSTER supports the work of My Brother’s Keeper Yonkers, collaborating on youth and emerging adult programs.
- NYS Unified Court System Government — Requires a 35-hour mediation course and apprenticeship for mediators, which CLUSTER's mediators complete.
- New York State Government — Grant funder of the Housing Resource Center
- New York State Department of Education (NYSED) Government — Funder and contract partner for special education mediation services
- New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) Partner — Contract partner administering lemon law arbitration and special education mediation services
- New York State Unified Court Government — Contract partner providing referral pathway for court-attached mediation services
- Trudy Junkroski Partner — Restorative Justice Supervisor involved in the Teens Program
- Westchester County Government — Grant funder of the Housing Resource Center
- other treatment providers Partner — Collaborates with external treatment providers to deliver psychiatric, socialization, and vocational services.
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.
- Community-Based Staffing Modelmethodology: community-based_staffingBy employing staff who live in the communities they serve, we enhance trust and engagement because shared lived experience strengthens relationships and improves service relevance and accessibility.
- Eviction Prevention through Education and Financial Assistancemethodology: eviction-prevention-through-education-and-financial-assistanceBy combining tenant education with direct financial and negotiation support, we prevent evictions and reduce homelessness because addressing both immediate economic pressures and systemic housing barriers leads to sustainable housing stability.
- Housing-First with Supportive Servicesmethodology: housing-first_with_supportive_servicesBy providing long-term housing integrated with mental health services, we produce community integration and productivity because stable housing is foundational to addressing mental health and enabling individuals to engage in society.
- Party-Centered Mediationmethodology: party-centered mediationBy using a mediation model that centers the needs and voices of disputing parties, we achieve more equitable and sustainable resolutions because active participation and tailored communication increase ownership and adherence to agreements.
- Youth Development through Integrated Supportmethodology: youth_developmentBy integrating academic support with enrichment and holistic development activities, we enable youth to reach their full potential because coordinated services address multiple barriers to success simultaneously.