named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Artel Work Cooperative
Vocational program where residents produce and sell religious items such as rosaries, icon frames, and crosses to support the shelter and teach skills
Chapel of St. John of Kronstadt
Orthodox Christian chapel providing regular Divine Services, confession, and communion for residents and the wider Russian-speaking Orthodox community
House of Labor
Residential shelter and rehabilitation program offering housing, structured prayer, detoxification support, and spiritual counseling for homeless Russian-speaking addicts
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 2 activities
- Operating a 12-bed rehabilitation shelter for Russian-speaking homeless menOperates a 12-bed shelter in Coney Island, Brooklyn, established in 2017, providing housing and a structured rehabilitation program for formerly homeless Russian-speaking men recovering from substance use disorders. The program supports residents in achieving sobriety, securing employment, and transitioning to independent housing, typically housing 8–10 residents at a time.
- Operating a dedicated phone line for access to homelessness and addiction support servicesProvides direct access to support services for individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction through a dedicated phone line, enabling connection to shelter, food, and rehabilitation resources.
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Mental Health Education and Awareness 1 activity
- Conducting seminars and webinars on homelessness and recoveryOrganizes seminars and webinars focused on homelessness and recovery, delivered through volunteer efforts to educate and engage the community.
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Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Services 1 activity
- Delivering spiritual and religious programming for residents and communityProvides structured Orthodox Christian religious services and spiritual programming for shelter residents and the broader community, including daily mandatory prayers, mealtime devotions, reading of saints’ lives, and regular chapel services conducted by affiliated clergy. The organization built a chapel in 2018 and expands capacity during holidays using rented spaces.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Organizing recreational and educational outings for residentsOrganizes recreational and educational outings for shelter residents, such as museum visits, to support personal development and community reintegration.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Providing weekly food distribution and outreach to homeless individualsConducts regular, multi-day weekly food distribution and outreach programs for homeless individuals in Brighton Beach and surrounding areas of Brooklyn, including under bridges, oceanfront gazebos, and subway station lobbies. Activities include distributing hot meals, clothing, shoes, and medication, and offering bathing and laundry services, with distributions occurring up to six days per week through volunteer and church partner efforts.
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Employment Support for Recovery 1 activity
- Resident engagement in work and rehabilitation projectsEngages shelter residents in structured work and rehabilitation activities, including renovation projects (e.g., workshop and facility improvements), restoration of religious icons and furniture, and production of religious goods such as rosaries, icon frames, and clergy vestments through the Artel work program. These activities support recovery, personal development, and skill-building.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$67K
Contributions & grants$55K83%
Program service revenue$1K2%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$101K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$4K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$56K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$56K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -50.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIKHAIL KUKISHVUILI | SOBER COUNSELOR | 15 | $4K |
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- AA Partner — Residents attend AA meetings as part of ongoing rehabilitation programs.
- Antiochian Archdiocese Partner — Has good relations with the Antiochian Archdiocese and other canonical Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States.
- Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary “The Inexhaustible Chalice” Partner — Hosts the House of Work for Christ shelter and shares spiritual and physical space with the program in Brighton.
- Holy Trinity Church Partner — Collaborates with the foundation through shared spiritual mission and leadership connections, including the rector's family.
- Home for the Elderly Partner — Hosts Sunday Orthodox services in its 10th-floor solarium for the shelter community.
- Lutheran Church Partner — Rents space to host expanded Orthodox religious services during major holidays for the shelter community.
- Monasteries in Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia Partner — Collaborates with the Artel to produce and distribute clergy vestments in the U.S. and Canada, with formal representation authorized by Metropolitan Laurus.
- Orthodox Church in America Partner — Maintains good relations with parishes of the Orthodox Church in America.
- Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA Partner — Provided spiritual leadership and consecration for the shelter through Father Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov).
- Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Government — Provides ecclesiastical oversight and blessing for the chapel and ministry, including approval from Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan.
- Russian Orthodox Church in the United States Partner — Works closely with patriarchal parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States.
- St. John the Baptist Church (Washington) Partner — Provided initial funding raised by parishioners to help establish the shelter in Brooklyn.
- St. Nektarius Monastery Partner — Provides intercessory prayer, material aid, and pilgrimage opportunities in support of the ministry.
- nearest similar organization Partner — Refers individuals to nearby organizations providing similar services when located outside Brooklyn.
- two churches in Brooklyn Partner — Collaborates with two Brooklyn churches to expand food distribution to six days per week.
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.
- Faith-Based Rehabilitation with Restorative Gracemethodology: faith_based_rehabilitationBy centering Orthodox Christian faith and spiritual practices as the core mechanism of rehabilitation, the organization produces personal transformation and sustained recovery because it restores spiritual identity and dignity; relapse is met with forgiveness and renewed support, increasing long-term re-engagement through a grace-centered model.
- Integrated Support for Homelessness and Addictionmethodology: integrated_supportBy addressing homelessness and addiction concurrently through integrated services, the organization produces more sustainable recovery outcomes because co-occurring challenges are treated as interdependent rather than sequential.
- Relational Outreach Through Food Distributionmethodology: relational_outreachBy using food distribution as an initial point of contact, the organization builds trust with homeless individuals, enabling engagement in long-term rehabilitation and reintegration programs because sustained relationships are foundational to behavioral change.
- Work-Based Rehabilitation for Purpose and Stabilitymethodology: work_based_rehabilitationBy requiring residents to participate in creative and maintenance work, the organization fosters psychological and spiritual recovery because structured labor restores a sense of purpose, accountability, and contribution to community.