irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.47MHOUSING SERVICES:OUR HOUSING UNIT PROVIDES HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES, TENANT ORGANIZING SERVICES, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME TENANTS IN QUEENS. IN 2024, OUR HOUSING UNIT PREVENTED OR DELAYED EVICTIONS FOR 21 HOUSEHOLDS, ASSISTED 77 RENT-STABILIZED HOUSEHOLDS IN APPLYING FOR SCRIE/ DRIE BENEFITS, AND PROVIDED ADVICE AND COUNSEL TO 158 CLIENTS ON HOUSING MATTERS.
- #2 $446KEMPLOYMENT SERVICES:OUR EMPLOYMENT UNIT PROVIDES ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-WAGE WORKERS ON A VARIETY OF WORKPLACE ISSUES, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE RECOVERING UNPAID WAGES, OPPOSING DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT, OBTAINING SICK AND FAMILY LEAVE BENEFITS, AND ADVISING WORKERS OF THEIR RIGHTS. IN 2024, THE EMPLOYMENT UNIT OBTAINED $2,000,677.90 FOR 151 LOW-WAGE IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN SETTLEMENTS AND JUDGEMENTS FOR UNPAID WAGES AND DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Employment Unit
Provides legal assistance to low-wage immigrant workers on unpaid wages, discrimination, workplace safety, sick leave, and unemployment insurance claims
Housing Unit
Offers free legal representation and tenant organizing for low-income tenants in Queens, including eviction defense, repair enforcement, SCRIE/DRIE applications, and tenant association building
Immigration Unit
Provides free legal services in naturalization, asylum, DACA, TPS, family reunification, U/T visas, VAWA, SIJS, and deportation defense through four teams: Removal Defense, Affirmative, Naturalization, and Pro Se Plus Project
Pro Se Plus Project
Collaborative initiative launched in 2023 to assist newly arrived unrepresented immigrants with asylum applications, employment authorization, and immigration court motions
Tenant Organizing Program
Supports formation of tenant associations, conducts Know Your Rights education, and mobilizes community actions through coalitions like Right to Counsel NYC and Rent Justice Coalition
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
- Advocating against rent increases and for tenant rightsMobilizes community members annually to oppose rent increases at Rent Guidelines Board public hearings by recruiting tenant testimony and coordinating transportation for participants from neighborhoods like Sunnyside and Woodside. This advocacy effort amplifies tenant voices in policy decisions affecting housing affordability.
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Immigrant Rights Education & Legal Preparedness 1 activity
- Conducting community legal education and outreachProduces multilingual educational materials, videos, and printable resources on immigration, housing, and employment rights, particularly for encounters with ICE. Conducts in-person and virtual know-your-rights trainings, reaching over 8,400 tenants and 4,100 workers during the pandemic. Provided housing rights education to 7,794 individuals in 2022. Also conducts outreach at Queens Housing Court via “Court Watch” to inform tenants about the Right to Counsel and connect them with legal resources.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Providing free employment legal services to low-wage workersDelivers free legal assistance to low-wage immigrant workers on unpaid wages, discrimination, unsafe working conditions, and unemployment insurance claims. Represents workers before labor and human rights agencies and has secured significant financial recoveries: $2,000,677.90 in 2024 for 151 workers, $656,137.19 in 2023 for 58 workers, and over $534,000 in 2020. Services are provided regardless of immigration status, including to undocumented workers.
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Tenant Legal Advocacy & Support Services 1 activity
- Providing free housing legal services and tenant organizingProvides free legal representation to low-income tenants in Queens on eviction defense, nonpayment cases, illegal lockouts, and DHCR matters for rent-stabilized units. Prevents or delays evictions, secures repairs, recovers overcharged rent, and improves housing conditions. In 2024, prevented/delayed evictions for 21 households, assisted 77 with SCRIE/DRIE, and advised 158 clients. Also supports tenant organizing by forming tenant associations, training leaders, conducting rights education, and organizing rallies.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Providing free immigration legal servicesOffers free legal advice and representation to immigrants regardless of status on matters including naturalization, asylum, DACA, TPS, family reunification, U and T visas, VAWA, SIJS, deportation defense, and fee waiver applications. Operates specialized teams for Removal Defense, Affirmative applications, Naturalization, and the Pro Se Plus Project for newly arrived immigrants. Provided services to over 1,200 clients in Brooklyn and Queens, with multilingual support and community education resources.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.42M
Contributions & grants$6.30M98%
Program service revenue$28K0%
Investment income$106K2%
Other revenue$-13K
expenses
Total expenses$5.91M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$4.71M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$12.21M
Cash$5.04M
Investments$0
Liabilities$4.76M
Net assets$7.45M
Liquid reserves10.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAGDALENA BARBOSA ESQ | DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES | 40 | $151K |
| JOHNATHAN COHEN | MANAGING ATTORNEY | 40 | $142K |
| RALUCA ONCIOIU | MANAGING ATTORNEY | 40 | $142K |
| LYNN NEUGEBAUER ESQ | SUPERVISING ATTORNEY | 40 | $128K |
| ALICE F DAVIS | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $122K |
board members · 18
- ANDREA M ALONSO ESQ — DIRECTOR
- CATHERINE L LOU — TREASURER
- CHAUMTOLI HUQ ESQ — DIRECTOR, THRU OCT 2024
- CRAIG EATON ESQ — DIRECTOR
- DAWN A HEWITT — DIRECTOR
- EMMIE GLYNN RYAN ESQ — CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- GREGORY CERCHIONE ESQ — DIRECTOR
- JANET MARCIC — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH COROZZO ESQ — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH ROSATO ESQ — PRESIDENT
- MSGR ALFRED LOPINTO CHIEF — EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THRU MARCH 2024
- PATRICIA KAKALEC ESQ — DIRECTOR
- RICHARD COPPOLLA ESQ — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT DAVID MCCREANOR ESQ — DIRECTOR
- SANDRA MUNOZ ESQ — DIRECTOR
- VERY REV PATRICK J KEATING ESQ — DIRECTOR
- VINCENT IANNELLI — DIRECTOR
- WILLIAM DEVITO ESQ — DIRECTOR
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Network — Receives referrals from Catholic Charities’ social services programs as an affiliate organization.
- Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens Partner — Affiliated provider of legal services under the Catholic Charities network
- Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens Partner — Collaborates on public awareness efforts and shares organizational affiliation.
- Diocese of Brooklyn Government — Maintains affiliation and hosts community events and workshops in churches throughout the Diocese.
- Diocese of Brooklyn Government — Originally established as the Catholic Migration Office within the Diocese of Brooklyn; continues to maintain institutional ties.
- LEAP Coalition Coalition — Partner in coalition focused on legal empowerment and advocacy for tenants in New York.
- National Labor Relations Board Government — Agency where Catholic Migration Services represents workers in legal proceedings.
- New York City Commission on Human Rights Government — Agency where Catholic Migration Services represents workers in legal proceedings.
- New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Government — Agency where Catholic Migration Services represents workers in legal proceedings.
- New York State Department of Labor Government — Agency where Catholic Migration Services represents workers in legal proceedings.
- New York State Division of Human Rights Government — Agency where Catholic Migration Services represents workers in legal proceedings.
- Pro Bono corporate partners Partner — Collaborates with pro bono corporate partners to conduct community legal clinics and Know Your Rights presentations.
- Pro Se Plus Project Partner — Refers newly arrived immigrants in removal proceedings to the Pro Se Plus Project for resources and self-representation support.
- Rent Justice Coalition Coalition — Active participant in coalition advocating for fair rent policies and tenant rights reform.
- Right to Counsel NYC Coalition Coalition — Member organization participating in coalition advocacy for universal access to legal representation in housing court.
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn Government — Religious governing body with which the organization is affiliated
- Stabilizing NYC Coalition — Member of coalition working to preserve affordable housing and strengthen tenant protections in New York City.
- The Tablet Partner — Published an editorial highlighting the mission and work of Catholic Migration Services.
- U.S. Department of Labor Government — Agency where Catholic Migration Services represents workers in legal proceedings.
- educational institutions Partner — Partners with educational institutions to deliver Know Your Rights presentations to low-wage workers.
- elected officials Partner — Partners with elected officials to deliver Know Your Rights presentations to low-wage workers.
- non-profit organizations Partner — Partners with non-profit organizations to deliver Know Your Rights presentations to low-wage workers.
- other legal service organizations Partner — Collaborates with other legal service organizations to hold community legal clinics and Know Your Rights presentations.
- religious organizations Partner — Partners with religious organizations to deliver Know Your Rights presentations to low-wage workers.
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, Culturally Embedded Service Deliverymethodology: community_embedded_service_deliveryBy delivering services through a faith-based framework and employing bilingual staff via culturally specific apostolates, the organization builds trust and improves engagement among immigrant communities, because shared religious and cultural identity reduces barriers and enhances service accessibility.
- Human Dignity and Universal Rights Frameworkmethodology: human_dignity_centered_advocacyBy grounding legal and social services in the principle of human dignity and universal constitutional rights regardless of immigration status, the organization fosters equitable access to justice and strengthens advocacy, because affirming inherent dignity increases client agency and legitimizes claims within legal and policy arenas.
- Integrated Legal and Community Advocacymethodology: integrated_legal_advocacyBy combining legal services with community-based support and rights education across immigration, housing, and employment, the organization increases access to justice and systemic advocacy for low-income and marginalized populations, because integrated models address root causes and structural barriers more effectively than siloed interventions.
- Progressive and Full-Spectrum Legal Interventionmethodology: progressive_legal_interventionBy offering a continuum of legal support—from informal dispute resolution to formal representation and pro se assistance—the organization maximizes access and appropriateness of intervention, because matching service intensity to client need increases efficiency, equity, and outcomes in legal processes.