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EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER
ROCHESTER, NY · EIN 161487925 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE I80 · Crime & Legal-Related · Large ($10M-$50M) · empirejustice.org
revenue
$11.4M
expenses
$11.4M
net assets
$2.6M
employees
100
volunteers
156
program ratio
97%
mission · from form 990

THE EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER IS A STATEWIDE MULTI-ISSUE, MULTI-STRATEGYORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE SYSTEMS WITHIN WHICH POOR AND LOWINCOME FAMILIES LIVE. EMPIRE JUSTICE PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSEIN NEED, OFFERS TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,AND WORKS TO IMPROVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED.

profile · synthesized from sources

Empire Justice Center is a statewide legal advocacy organization in New York that provides direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and training to support low-income individuals and families. It focuses on civil rights, housing, public benefits, disability, immigration, and consumer debt issues. The organization uses litigation, policy advocacy, and capacity-building for community organizations to address systemic inequities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $2.81M
    HOUSING AND TENANT ADVOCACY (SEE SCHEDULE O):SINCE 2012 EMPIRE JUSTICE HAS MANAGED MORE THAN 60 CONTRACTS WITH LEGAL SERVICES AND HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES WORKING IN FORECLOSURE PREVENTION OUTSIDE OF NYC, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AS PART OF THE NYS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HOMEOWNERSHIP PROTECTION PROGRAM (HOPP). AS A DIRECT SERVICES PROVIDER WORKING IN FORECLOSURE WITH FUNDING THROUGH HOPP, UNITED WAY AND THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, EMPIRE JUSTICE HELPED MORE THAN 100 MONROE COUNTY FAMILIES FACING FORECLOSURE, AVOIDING OR DELAYING LOSS OF THE HOME IN ALMOST HALF OF ALL CASES. WITH STATE FUNDING, HOUSING ADVOCATES IN ROCHESTER WORK UNDER THE TENANT DEFENSE PROJECT TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS FOR TENANTS FACING EVICTION WITH TELESCA CENTER FOR JUSTICE PARTNERS, THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER, LAWNY AND JUSTCAUSE. ON LONG ISLAND, ADVOCATES HELPED MORE THAN 120 FAMILIES FACING EVICTION IN 2024 WITH EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDING THROUGH THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE (OTDA), THROUGH A SUBCONTRACT WITH LEGAL SERVICES OF LONG ISLAND.
  2. #2 $1.75M
    PUBLIC BENEFITS AND DAP (SEE SCHEDULE O):EMPIRE JUSTICE CONTRACTS WITH NEW YORK STATE TO PROVIDE TRAINING, SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DISABILITY ADVOCACY PROGRAM (DAP) GRANTEES, DELIVERING 16 TRAININGS AND EDUCATING MORE THAN 650 STATEWIDE DAP ADVOCATES IN 2024. AS A DAP GRANTEE, EMPIRE JUSTICE PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WHO HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED OR TERMINATED FROM FEDERAL DISABILITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAMS, RETURNING $308K TO THE STATE IN INTERIM ASSISTANCE IN 2024. PUBLIC BENEFITS ADVOCATES HELP NEW YORK FAMILIES ACCESS FOOD STAMPS AND CASH ASSISTANCE AND NAVIGATE THE FAIR HEARING PROCESS TO CHALLENGE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BENEFITS. EMPIRE JUSTICE IS WORKING TO PROTECT EACH OF THE 50,000 RECIPIENTS OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) BENEFITS THROUGH ONGOING LEGAL ACTION. ITS AIM IS TO UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE BENEFITS TO RECEIVE TIMELY FAIR HEARING DECISIONS. STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AS WELL AS PRINCIPLES OF DUE PROCESS REQUIRE THAT OTDA ISSUE FAIR HEARING DECISIONS PROMPTLY - 60 DAYS FROM REQUEST FOR SNAP BENEFITS AND 90 DAYS FROM REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE. OTDA DATA REVEALS THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAIR HEARINGS WERE OVERDUE FOR A DECISION.
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

CFH and Immigration
Offers legal assistance to undocumented immigrants facing eviction and domestic violence, particularly in areas where federally funded legal aid cannot serve non-citizens, and manages contracts for housing counseling agencies.
Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP)
Provides outreach and tailored assistance to individuals navigating student loan repayment options, contracted through the Community Service Society in the Capital Region.
Housing and Tenant Advocacy
Provides legal representation and systemic advocacy for tenants facing eviction and homeowners at risk of foreclosure through the Homeownership Protection Program (HOPP) and Tenant Defense Project in partnership with local legal services.
LGBTQ Rights Project
Provides free legal services to low-income LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, focusing on name changes and anti-discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations.
Police Reform Project
Advocates for equity, antiracism, and social justice within law enforcement and pre-trial incarceration systems.
Public Benefits and DAP
Provides legal assistance to individuals denied disability, SSI, or public benefits; conducts training for Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) grantees; and engages in litigation to protect fair hearing rights for benefit recipients.
School Discrimination Helpline
Offers advice and counsel to low-income New Yorkers who have experienced discrimination in schools via a toll-free helpline.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 4 activities
    • Disability rights legal representation
      Provides advice, counsel, and legal representation to disabled New Yorkers in cases involving discrimination and appeals of denials of SSI or Social Security disability benefits in federal court.
    • Legal services for LGBTQ and intersex New Yorkers
      Provides free legal services to low-income LGBTQ and intersex New Yorkers, focusing on name changes and anti-discrimination in employment, education, housing, credit, and public accommodations, including representation in related legal actions.
    • School-based discrimination helpline and legal support
      Operates a helpline offering advice, counsel, and limited legal representation to low-income New Yorkers who have experienced school-based discrimination, including representation for students facing discrimination in educational settings.
    • Statewide legal network support
      Serves as the state support provider for the Crime Victims Legal Network, maintains NY Crime Victims Legal Help to connect victims with legal resources, and convenes the Domestic Violence Task Force.
  • Immigration Legal Services 2 activities
    • Direct legal representation for immigrant crime victims
      Provides direct legal representation to immigrant crime victims in Long Island and Westchester County, including assistance with U visas, VAWA petitions, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and naturalization applications.
    • Immigration and public benefits legal services
      Provides legal representation to immigrant New Yorkers seeking immigration status and access to public benefits.
  • Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 2 activities
    • Disability benefits advocacy and recovery
      Secured $308,000 in interim assistance for Western New York residents wrongly denied federal disability benefits in 2024 and represents claimants in appeals of Social Security disability determinations.
    • Public benefits legal representation
      Represents clients in fair hearings and legal actions related to public assistance, including reversing erroneous overpayment determinations and restoring full benefits to prevent utility shut-offs and evictions.
  • Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 2 activities
    • Legislative and policy advocacy
      Advocates for legislative and administrative changes to advance access to justice and social and economic justice by submitting testimony, memos of support, and joint comments on bills and policies related to housing, taxes, economic development, public protection, and access to operating funds.
    • Training and technical assistance for legal advocates
      Provides training, technical assistance, and policy advocacy for civil legal service providers, including webinars on redlining, Medicaid benefits coordination, landlord/tenant law, foreclosure prevention for Limited English Proficient homeowners, and condominium/cooperative foreclosure, with 8 trainings for over 600 advocates and a statewide convening of over 200 HOPP advocates in 2023.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Advocacy through litigation
      Engages in strategic litigation to advance civil rights and access to justice, including class action lawsuits on public assistance shelter allowances, unemployment disputes, nursing home income confiscation, and disability rights, securing relief for thousands of New Yorkers.
  • Emergency Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention 1 activity
    • Eviction prevention for immigrant families
      Assisted over 120 families facing eviction on Long Island in 2024 through emergency rental assistance and legal advocacy, including over 120 undocumented immigrants in 2023 who were excluded from other services due to funder restrictions.
  • Free Tax Preparation Services 1 activity
    • Free tax preparation and financial counseling
      Provides free tax preparation services and year-round financial advice to low-income families through the CASH Program, which consolidates tax assistance efforts in the Greater Rochester area and includes access to educational resources and support for basic needs planning.
  • Tenant Legal Advocacy & Support Services 1 activity
    • Housing legal advocacy
      Provides legal representation to tenants facing eviction and uninhabitable housing conditions, represents homeowners in mortgage and tax foreclosure actions to prevent home loss, and provided direct legal services to over 100 Monroe County families facing foreclosure in 2024.
  • Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Support Services 1 activity
    • Know Your Rights publications
      Published the “Opening Shelter Doors” guide to help transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary New Yorkers understand their rights and resources related to shelter access and intimate partner violence.
  • Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
    • Online legal resource portals
      Provides password-protected online portals for advocates to access specialized legal resources and services.
  • Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
    • Research and data analysis on financial equity
      Has published seventeen data-driven analyses since 1993 on home mortgage lending, small business lending, and access to credit, including the 2018 report “Too Big to Fail…Too Poor to Bank” analyzing financial services for low-income working families.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Class action and systemic impact litigation
      Filed a class action lawsuit against Batavia City School District on behalf of female softball players alleging gender-based disparities, and litigated Stewart v. Roberts to establish that automobile equity value—not market value—determines public assistance eligibility for low-income New Yorkers.
    • Community Reinvestment Act advocacy
      Submits data-driven comments on bank performance under the Community Reinvestment Act during federal and state exams, including for M&T Bank and Five Star Bank, to promote equitable access to credit.
    • Student loan repayment assistance
      Provided tailored student loan repayment assistance to nearly 200 clients in the Capital Region in 2023 through the EDCAP program.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$11.38M
Contributions & grants$759K7%
Program service revenue$10.55M93%
Investment income$42K0%
Other revenue$33K
expenses
Total expenses$11.45M
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$7.95M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.54M
Cash$1.30M
Investments$0
Liabilities$1.90M
Net assets$2.64M
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 7
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KRISTIN LILLEY BROWN PRESIDENT AND CEO 35 $195K
KRISTIN HUGHES COO 35 $182K
MAGGIE R ROBB SENIOR ATTORNEY DIRECTOR 35 $172K
SUSAN C ANTOS SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY 35 $154K
LINDA ANN BENNETT-RODRIGUEZ SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY 35 $153K
REMLA PARTHASARATHY PROJECT DIRECTOR - SENIOR ATTORNEY 35 $141K
ROBERT I CISNEROS SUPERVISING ATTORNEY 35 $141K
board members · 15
  • DARCIE FALSIONI ESQ — MEMBER
  • DEBORAH P AMORY PHD — MEMBER
  • EMILY WHALEN ESQ — CHAIR
  • ERIN E ELMOUJI ESQ — MEMBER
  • HILARY MOREIRA ESQ — MEMBER
  • JOHN S HO ESQ — SECRETARY
  • JUNIOR DILLION MA LMHC — MEMBER
  • KEVIN SPENCER BECKFORD — MEMBER
  • KRISTEN CLARK CPA FHFMA — TREASURER
  • LOLA W BRABHAM — MEMBER
  • MEGAN SHERMAN ESQ — MEMBER
  • PETER ELKOWITZ JR — MEMBER
  • RAMON PEGUERO ESQ — MEMBER
  • TINA M FOSTER — MEMBER
  • VANESSA GONZALEZ — MEMBER
relationships · 30

Who they work with

  • AIDS Institute Partner — Cosponsored a training on navigating the Medicaid pharmacy benefit for NYS Medicaid members.
  • Batavia City School District Partner — Filed a class action lawsuit against Batavia City School District on behalf of female student-athletes alleging gender-based disparities in treatment.
  • Bond Partner — Collaborated with Empire Justice Center on a lawsuit concerning public assistance shelter allowances.
  • Community Service Society Partner — Contracted by Community Service Society to implement the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP) in the Capital Region.
  • Crime Victims Legal Network Network — Empire Justice Center serves as the provider of state support for members of the Crime Victims Legal Network.
  • Greater Rochester Community Reinvestment Coalition Coalition — Convened by Empire Justice Center; coalition of over 35 organizations that submits joint comments on bank CRA performance in Rochester, NY.
  • Greater Upstate Law Project Coalition — Merged with Public Interest Law Office of Rochester to form Empire Justice Center in 1997.
  • Hudson Valley Poverty Law Center Partner — Operated by GULP in Westchester County, NY, as part of Empire Justice Center's historical organizational structure.
  • Hughes Hubbard Partner — Jointly filed a lawsuit with Empire Justice Center regarding housing shelter allowances in New York State.
  • Inclusive Housing Coalition Coalition — Member of the coalition that submitted joint comments on the City of Rochester’s new zoning code.
  • JustCause Partner — Works with JustCause on the Tenant Defense Project to address tenant evictions.
  • LAWNY Partner — Collaborates on the Tenant Defense Project in Rochester.
  • Legal Action Center Partner — Cosponsored a training on navigating the Medicaid pharmacy benefit for NYS Medicaid members.
  • Legal Aid Partner — Co-filed a lawsuit with Empire Justice Center against New York State over inadequate public assistance shelter allowances.
  • Legal Services of Central New York Partner — Coplitigated and overturned an archaic OTDA rule regarding public assistance eligibility in Stewart v. Roberts.
  • Legal Services of Long Island Partner — Subcontracted partner through which Empire Justice provides eviction prevention services on Long Island.
  • NYS Community Equity Agenda Coalition — Member of a broad-based coalition focused on racial and economic justice through legislative and regulatory reform in New York State.
  • Nassau Suffolk Law Services Partner — Subcontracted partner through which Empire Justice delivers legal services to undocumented immigrants facing eviction on Long Island.
  • National Center for Law and Economic Justice Partner — Collaborated on class action litigation and ongoing advocacy to protect public benefits recipients.
  • National Community Reinvestment Coalition Network — Collaborates on community reinvestment efforts to increase private capital flow into underserved communities.
  • New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Partner — Collaborates on policy and training initiatives, including co-presenting legislative updates on domestic violence.
  • New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Partner — Hosted a policy expert from the coalition to present a legislative update on domestic violence laws.
  • New Yorkers for Responsible Lending Coalition — Member of a statewide coalition promoting economic justice through legislative and policy advocacy.
  • Public Interest Law Office of Rochester Coalition — Merged with Greater Upstate Law Project to form Empire Justice Center in 1997.
  • Public Interest Law Office of Rochester (PILOR) Partner — Created under the GULP corporate umbrella to provide unrestricted direct legal services, part of Empire Justice Center's historical development.
  • Telesca Center for Justice Partners Partner — Collaborates on the Tenant Defense Project to develop systemic solutions for tenants facing eviction in Rochester.
  • The Legal Aid Society of Rochester Partner — Partners on the Tenant Defense Project to support tenants facing eviction.
  • UB School of Law Partner — Partnered with Empire Justice Center to secure a landmark settlement on pandemic-era unemployment disputes.
  • United Way of Greater Rochester Partner — Brought together more than a dozen organizations in 2002 to create the CASH program.
  • Western New York Legal Counsel for the Elderly Partner — Coparticipated in CCONRAD v. PERALES litigation to stop unlawful confiscation of income from elderly nursing home residents.
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.

  • Data-Driven Legal Advocacy
    methodology: data_driven_advocacy
    By using data analysis of lending patterns and legal outcomes to identify disparities, the organization initiates targeted engagement and litigation, producing measurable systemic change because evidence-based arguments strengthen advocacy with regulators, courts, and financial institutions.
  • Direct-Service-Informed Advocacy
    methodology: direct_service_informed_policy
    By grounding policy advocacy in insights from direct legal service delivery, the organization produces more effective and targeted systemic reforms because lived client experiences reveal systemic gaps and prioritize high-impact interventions.
  • Financial Inclusion Through Tax-Time Engagement
    methodology: tax_time_engagement
    By using free tax preparation as an entry point, the organization engages low-income families in long-term financial planning and resource access, producing sustained economic stability because tax time creates a trusted touchpoint for financial education and service linkage.
  • Integrated Legal Advocacy Model
    methodology: integrated_legal_advocacy
    By combining direct legal services, policy advocacy, and legal training into a cyclical system, each component informs and strengthens the others, producing systemic change because frontline experience grounds advocacy in real-world conditions and ensures relevance and impact.