irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $656KLegal, Mediation and Referrals: Provides direct legal and mediation assistance by acting as a tenant or tenant association representative.
- #2 $75KHomeownership: Provides technical assistance and training to tenant associations enrolled in the Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) apartment purchase program, Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program (ANCP). We also assist and organize shareholders living in low income Housing Development Fund Corporations (HDFC).
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Bodega Friday
Initiative addressing food insecurity in the community by distributing food and connecting residents with nutrition resources.
Homeless Prevention
Community-based intervention program that combats illegal evictions and preserves rent-stabilized housing through legal and organizational support.
Homeownership Program
Offers technical assistance and training to tenant associations in the Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) and Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program (ANCP) to support cooperative housing ownership.
Legal Services
Provides direct legal representation and mediation assistance to tenants and tenant associations in housing court, rent overcharge cases, and landlord disputes.
Stand & Deliver
Youth empowerment initiative in Manhattan and the Bronx that engages young people in anti-homelessness advocacy and community leadership.
Tenant Organizing and Leadership Development (T.O.L.D.)
Supports the formation and capacity-building of tenant associations to enable collective action against landlord abuse and unsafe conditions.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 3 activities
- Advocate for policy changes in tenant-interim lease buildingsOrganized advocacy efforts that led to program changes across 157 city-owned properties, securing succession rights for family members in Tenant Interim Lease buildings.
- Operate community-based intervention to prevent illegal evictions and preserve rent-regulated housingRuns a program to combat illegal evictions and protect rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments in New York City through legal and organizational support, including organizing tenant associations and advocating for repairs and services.
- Support formation and capacity-building of tenant associationsAssists tenants in forming formal associations to collectively advocate for repairs, services, and protection from harassment, organizing over 80 tenant associations representing 6,448 apartments.
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Tenant Legal Advocacy & Support Services 3 activities
- Negotiate rent reductions and refunds for tenants in substandard housingSecures rent reductions for tenants living in poor conditions and obtains refunds for rent overcharges; secured reductions for 1,918 families and $7.6 million in rent refunds through complaints and court settlements.
- Provide legal and mediation assistance to tenants and tenant associationsOffers direct legal representation and mediation services to tenants and tenant associations to address issues such as illegal rent increases, unsafe living conditions, and landlord harassment, including filing HP actions and Article 7A litigation. Represented 1,778 families and conducted 95 legal workshops.
- Secure restitution for tenants affected by rent overchargesAdvocates for tenants to recover illegally overcharged rents, securing millions of dollars in reimbursements through legal complaints and settlements.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Deliver technical assistance and training to tenant associations and HDFC co-opsProvides technical support and training to tenant associations in the Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) and Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program (ANCP), and to shareholders in low-income Housing Development Fund Corporations (HDFC) to build organizational capacity and support cooperative ownership.
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First-Time Homebuyer Support Services 1 activity
- Facilitate homeownership through education, financial assistance, and support servicesGuides individuals and families through the homeownership process by providing financial assistance, education, and support services, including online training for prospective homeowners.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Operate weekly food distribution program in HarlemRuns a weekly food pantry every Friday serving 300–400 clients, providing groceries, hygiene products, and prescription discounts to address food insecurity in the local community.
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Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
- Operate youth empowerment programs to combat homelessness and build skillsRuns year-round programs in Manhattan and the Bronx that engage at-risk youth in efforts to combat homelessness while training them in leadership, academic, and marketable skills; provided 347 internship opportunities through the Stand & Deliver program.
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Affordable Home Construction & Rehabilitation 1 activity
- Preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing unitsRepairs and upgrades rent-stabilized and low-income housing units in partnership with NYC Housing Preservation & Development, preserving 12,649 apartments and rehabilitating 1,532 units across 15 buildings.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.21M
Contributions & grants$1.21M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5770%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$1.38M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$560K
Grants paid out$10K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.60M
Cash$329K
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.01M
Net assets$593K
Liquid reserves2.9 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -4.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELSIA VASQUEZ | Executive Director | 40 | $145K |
board members · 7
- BASIL SMIKLE — Board Member
- EDWIN TORRES — Treasurer
- JAIR SANCHEZ — Board Member
- LUISA RODRIGUEZ — Chair
- RAMON MORILLO — Board Member
- TIM COLLINS — Board Member
- TRACY GREENE — Secretary
relationships · 47
Who they work with
- Adriano Espaillat Government — U.S. Representative who recognizes P.A.'L.A.N.T.E.'s role in helping families facing eviction and advocating for tenant needs.
- Al Taylor Government — New York State Assembly Member who acknowledges the organization's positive community impact.
- Alianza Dominicana Partner — Partner organization working with PALANTE HARLEM INC to support Dominican and Latino communities in New York.
- Carlina Rivera Government — NYC Council Member who depends on P.A.'L.A.N.T.E. to inspire tenant protection legislation.
- Carmen De La Rosa Government — NYC Council Member who emphasizes the importance of the organization’s advocacy in ending landlord harassment.
- Catholic Charities Partner — Collaborative partner in delivering social and community services to Harlem residents.
- Collins, Dobkin & Miller LLP Partner — Legal services partner providing pro bono or advisory support to PALANTE HARLEM INC.
- Columbia Neighbors Partner — Community engagement partner, likely supporting neighborhood development initiatives in Harlem.
- Cordell Cleare Government — New York State Senator who credits the organization with fostering community pride and youth engagement.
- Crystal Hudson Government — NYC Council Member who partners with the organization in holding the city accountable to residents.
- Daniel O'Donnel Government — New York State Assembly Member who credits P.A.'L.A.N.T.E. with strengthening community building.
- Diana Ayala Government — NYC Council Member who notes the organization has helped thousands of low-income families.
- Division of Housing & Community Renewal Government — Submitted rent overcharge complaints to DHCR resulting in financial restitution for tenants.
- Eric Adams Government — Former New York City Mayor who expressed support for institutionalizing the relationship with P.A.'L.A.N.T.E.
- Gale Brewer Government — NYC Council Member who states the organization plays a vital role in preventing the erosion of affordable housing.
- George Alvarez Government — New York State Assembly Member who commends the organization for lifting vulnerable residents and delivering justice.
- Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben, Donoghue & Joseph LLP Partner — Legal services partner offering legal support or advocacy collaboration.
- Inez Dickens Government — New York State Assembly Member who recognizes the organization as a fighter for tenants in landlord disputes.
- Janus Partners Partner — Corporate or real estate partner supporting community development efforts.
- Jose Cotto, Esq. Partner — Individual legal professional providing legal services or advocacy support in partnership with the organization.
- Keith L. Wright Government — New York State Assembly Member who expresses gratitude for the organization's strides in tenant advocacy.
- Linda B. Rosenthal Government — New York State Assembly Member who references the organization's Demystifying Housing Conference connecting residents with legal professionals.
- Lower East Side People's FCU Partner — Financial services partner collaborating on economic empowerment or financial literacy programs.
- Manny De Los Santos Government — New York State Assembly Member who highlights the organization's role in connecting New Yorkers to legal representation and tenant tools.
- Mark Levine Government — New York City Comptroller who confirms the organization has secured millions in tenant reimbursements for rent overcharges.
- NYC Housing Preservation & Development Partner — Partnered on building repairs and tenant protections through HPD's Proactive Preservation and Alternative Enforcement Programs.
- NYC Housing Preservation & Development Partner — Partnered on the repair of 1,532 rent-stabilized units through the Proactive Preservation Initiative and Alternative Enforcement Programs.
- Neighborhood Preservation Coalition of New York State Coalition — Member coalition focused on neighborhood preservation and anti-displacement efforts across New York State.
- New York City Government — Partnered with the City's 7A Administrative program to remove landlords from management and rehabilitate buildings.
- New York City Department of Youth & Community Development Government — Government agency providing funding and programmatic support for youth and community development services.
+ 17 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.
- Collective Tenant Power through Organizing and Bargainingmethodology: collective_bargainingBy organizing tenants into associations and supporting collective actions like rent strikes, we increase their bargaining power in negotiations with landlords, leading to improved housing conditions and protections, because unified groups can exert pressure that isolated individuals cannot.
- Community-Based Intervention to Prevent Displacementmethodology: bottom-up_community_interventionBy using a bottom-up, community-driven approach, we prevent illegal evictions and preserve rent-stabilized housing, because local leadership and knowledge ensure timely, culturally relevant interventions that protect vulnerable residents from displacement.
- Grassroots Tenant Organizing with Legal Advocacymethodology: grassroots_tenant_organizing_with_legal_advocacyBy combining resident organizing, education, and direct legal action (such as HP and Article 7A petitions), we compel landlords to make repairs and comply with housing regulations, because collective tenant power increases leverage and produces enforceable outcomes that individual efforts cannot achieve.
- Peer-Led Youth Empowerment Modelmethodology: peer-led_youth_empowermentBy engaging youth in peer-led, hands-on programs that combine skill development with community action, we foster personal growth and reduce homelessness, because peer relationships increase engagement and model leadership in ways top-down programs do not.
- Tenant Ownership and Homeownership Empowermentmethodology: tenant_ownership_supportBy supporting tenant ownership cooperatives and guiding individuals through homeownership, we promote long-term housing stability and financial security, because permanent control over housing reduces vulnerability to displacement and builds intergenerational wealth, especially in communities of color.